Jack Gilbert Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Jack Gilbert, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at University of California San Diego has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology.

Gilbert is one of 65 fellows elected this year through a highly selective, peer-review process based on his records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.

“Fellows are pioneers in their field, driving discovery and innovation that push the boundaries of science and benefit society at large,” said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., chair of the American Academy of Microbiology governors. “Being named an academy fellow is a prestigious honor, and I am thrilled to extend my congratulations and warm welcome to Jack Gilbert as a member of the 2025 Cohort.”

Gilbert who also serves as the associate vice chancellor for marine science at SIO, and director of the Microbiome and Metagenomics Center, leads a highly interdisciplinary group of researchers who are leading the way in medical and environmental microbiology and microbial ecology research, as well as biotechnology development.

“It is always wonderful to be recognized, especially by your peers,” said Gilbert. “Academia can often be quite lonely, and you wonder whether anyone is actually paying attention to the research you are doing, so when you are notified that your colleagues are seeing the work and believe that what you and your team are doing is worthy of recognition, it is validation. That validation doesn’t drive the science, but the collaboration provided through academic societies like the American Academy of Microbiology are very important. They act as a home to support and amplify the voices and research of scientists and can enable more effective engagement with the wider community, politicians and industry. This is especially important in times when research is under attack, having a unified voice can help to get a clear message out there.”

Gilbert’s lab has profoundly advanced the scientific understanding of microbial ecology and its applications. He has pioneered the use of next-generation sequencing in microbiome studies and developed new methodologies that have become industry standards. One peer-nominator characterized Gilbert as a “prolific community builder,” noting that Gilbert's research transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, affecting clinical practices, public health policies, environmental conservation and even forensic science.

“I am proud to be recognized with this election, but I am most proud of the achievements of the scientists I have supported over the years - their scientific excellence and impact on the field make me prouder than any individual achievement of mine,” said Gilbert.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of more than 37,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.  This year’s fellowship class brings a wealth of knowledge of the microbial sciences with representation across the globe. The 65 fellows hail from 9 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.