Biological sciences professor Magdalena Bezanilla has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, according to a March 27 announcement. The recognition highlights her pioneering research on plant cell growth and development.
The honor is considered one of the highest in science and underscores Bezanilla’s impact in her field. She is among nearly 449 scientists, engineers, and innovators elected as 2025 AAAS Fellows.
Bezanilla said, “I’m deeply honored that the scientific community values the contributions that my lab has made over the years.” Her work focuses on understanding how cells shape themselves and their environment, particularly through studying moss as a model system. She explained, “I really don’t think there’s another organism that allows us to do what we can do with moss. We can watch the plant develop from a single cell over the period of days to weeks under the microscope and get an unparalleled view of development at the resolution of a single cell.”
Bezanilla’s laboratory has developed new genetic techniques such as multi-gene silencing and tailored gene editing tools for moss. These innovations have enabled real-time tracking of proteins in living cells and provided insights into tissue patterning. A recent study led by Bezanilla identified cellulose synthase-like D as crucial for plant growth, while another revealed how calcium ions help direct where growing cells add material.
Jane Lipson, associate dean for the sciences, said: “Professor Bezanilla’s research has been key to elucidating the underlying mechanisms that control cell shape, and this award is fitting recognition of her importance to the field.” Lipson added that Dartmouth is proud to count Bezanilla among its faculty leaders.
Bezanilla’s previous honors include being named a fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists in 2023—the first woman recipient—and receiving awards such as the National Science Foundation CAREER award and Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
