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A researcher at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – a prestigious honor from the world’s leading general scientific society.

Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., senior advisor of data and cancer modeling for the Biostatistics Shared Resource and a member of the Cancer Biology research program at Massey, was recognized for his contributions to the field of health data science, particularly oral epidemiology and cancer, as well as for his commitment to graduate education and his exemplary service to the profession. Bandyopadhyay is also a professor in the Department of Biostatistics at VCU’s School of Public Health.

“The election of Dr. Bandyopadhyay to the esteemed ranks of AAAS fellows is a testament to the exceptional caliber of research and scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University,” said P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. “His groundbreaking work in health data science exemplifies VCU's commitment to advancing knowledge that lifts lives across the world. This prestigious recognition underscores the profound impact of his career-long dedication and could not be more well-deserved.”

Bandyopadhyay’s research is primarily focused on developing statistical models to advance public health dentistry, particularly to better understand the epidemiology of oral and craniofacial health issues. He has worked significantly in studying periodontal (gum) disease in Gullah African-American communities in the South Carolina sea islands. He also applies innovative statistical modeling to advance research in cancer, organ transplant epidemiology, substance abuse and alcohol addiction, medical imaging and neurological disorders.

“I am deeply grateful for the nurturing and stimulating environment I have received from VCU, the School of Public Health, the School of Medicine and the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center throughout my career,” Bandyopadhyay said. “The leadership, supportive colleagues in the Department of Biostatistics and Massey, and my network of national and international collaborators have all played a critical role in enabling me to make significant contributions to my field, and to be recognized as an AAAS fellow. I am proud to be a member of the VCU community and look forward to continuing my work here for many years to come.”

A designation that dates back to 1874, AAAS fellows are recognized for their achievements across disciplines – from research, teaching and technology to administration in academia, industry and government, as well as to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. Fellows are elected each year by the AAAS Council.

The AAAS Fellowship is a highly selective honor, as it recognizes not a single innovation but a career-long dedication. With this distinction, Bandyopadhyay joins a notable group of scholars and innovators who have significantly shaped (or are shaping) the future of science and society, such as inventor Thomas Edison; sociologist and activist W.E.B Du Bois; engineer-astronauts Mae Jemison and Ellen Ochoa; and computer scientist and mathematician Grace Hopper.

This year, 471 scientists, engineers and innovators will receive this lifetime honor. New fellows will be presented with a certificate and blue and gold rosette at the annual Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., on June 7.

Last fall, Bandyopadhyay was recognized as the Lowell Reed Lecturer of 2024 by the Applied Public Health Statistics Section of the American Public Health Association. Bandyopadhyay was also named the 2020 Gertrude M. Cox Lecturer, sponsored by the Washington Statistical Society (the largest and oldest chapter of the American Statistical Association) and RTI International.

Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at VCU’s School of Medicine and the director of the Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at VCU, was also named among this year’s AAAS fellows for his contributions to the understanding of the genetics of psychiatric disorders.

This was repurposed from an article originally published by VCU News.

Written by: Olivia Trani