Dr. James J. Cochran and Dr. Xinyue Ye have been elected 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Cochran and Ye are among the nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized for their scientific and socially distinguished achievements by the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.
“We are excited and proud to see two outstanding University of Alabama faculty members recognized as AAAS fellows, reflecting the quality, world-leading vision, and impact of their scholarship,” said Dr. Bryan Boudouris, UA’s vice president for research. “Their work advances knowledge in ways that benefit the state of Alabama and beyond.”
James J. Cochran Professor of Applied Statistics and the Mike and Kathy Mouron Chair, Culverhouse College of Business
Cochran’s groundbreaking research at the interface of statistics and operations research, improving the quality of statistics education in developing nations, and fostering the application of statistics to societal and humanitarian problems led to his election as an AAAS fellow.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the value of sustained scientific inquiry, collaboration, and service to the scientific community,” Cochran said. “I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to contribute to work that I hope advances science and benefits society.”
Xinyue Ye Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence, Barefield College of Arts and Sciences
Ye’s distinguished contributions at the intersection of geography, urban planning, and data science, particularly through pioneering research in GeoAI, digital twin, and urban resilience, with an interdisciplinary, community-centered approach, led to his election as an AAAS fellow.
“To me, this recognition reflects the growing importance of interdisciplinary scholarship and the power of building bridges across geography, urban planning, and data science,” Ye said. “I look forward to continuing this work to advance scientific innovation and create more resilient, intelligent, and human-centered communities.”
Lifetime Honor
Election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, dating back to 1874, where all Fellows are expected to meet commonly held standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. Distinguished past honorees include Ellen Ochoa, Steven Chu, Grace Hopper, Alan Alda, Mae Jemison, and Ayanna Howard.
“This year’s Fellows have demonstrated research excellence, made notable contributions to advance science, and delivered important services to their communities,” said Dr. Sudip S. Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “These Fellows and their accomplishments validate the importance of investing in science and technology for the benefit of all.”
