Aberdeen academics named as Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows

Aberdeen academics named as Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows

Leading academics from the University of Aberdeen are among 66 distinguished individuals who have been elected to become Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

The University’s two Fellows are Professor Alison Murray, Roland Sutton Chair of Radiology at the University’s Institute of Applied Medicine, and Professor Joerg Feldmann, Chair in Chemistry at the School of Natural and Computing Sciences.

Professor Murray is an internationally-recognised clinical neuroradiologist who specialises in ageing and dementia. 

As Director of the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, her brain imaging research into the Aberdeen Birth Cohorts has led to novel discoveries in the key risk factors for brain lesions associated with cognitive decline, including socioeconomic circumstances experienced in early life.

She is Director of the Scottish Imaging Network, SINAPSE, which has trained imaging scientists from all over the world and promoted Scotland as the leading place for the development and training of excellence in imaging science.

Professor Feldmann is Chair in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, and a former recipient of the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Interdisciplinary Prize for his work at the interface between chemistry and other disciplines.

His research in the areas of elemental speciation and elemental bio-imaging methodologies has led to the development of chemical methods to ensure safe levels of arsenic in rice and rice-based products, resulting in changes to EU law.

Commenting on the new Fellows, current President of the RSE, Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE, said: “Each year we welcome a selection of nominated extraordinary individuals into the Fellowship and this year is no exception.

“The diverse range of achievements of these individuals will be an asset to the RSE and I am sure they will strengthen the RSE’s standing as a national academy committed to providing public benefit to Scottish society.

“I also welcome the increasing number of female Fellows to the RSE, something we have focused on improving in past years and part of our wider commitment to diversity.”