Two Duke Faculty Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Distinguished honor includes providing policy advice to the federal government

Headshots of Robert Calderbank on left and Amy Gladfelter on right, over a stylized blue gothic architecture background.
Robert Calderbank, left, and Amy Gladfelter join the National Academy of Sciences in 2026.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently announced the election of 120 members and 25 international members "in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research."

Two Duke faculty join the ranks of this prestigious organization:

Robert Calderbank is Charles S. Sydnor Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and professor of mathematics at Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Pratt School of Engineering, an associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society, and a member of the Duke Quantum Center.

Calderbank is an information technology pioneer, making important contributions to communications technology. He developed voiceband modem technology used in more than a billion devices worldwide; signal coding for wireless standards incorporated into 3G, 4G, and 5G; and theoretical frameworks for quantum computation. Learn more about Calderbank in this recent story on Trinity College of Arts & Sciences.

Amy Gladfelter is Duke Health Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University School of Medicine. She is also professor of biomedical engineering at Pratt School of Engineering and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute.

Gladfelter uses a cross-disciplinary approach to investigate how cells that have multiple nuclei organize and function. These kinds of multi-nucleated cells are important components of human muscles and the placenta, as well as in some cancers and in fungi. Learn more about Gladfelter in this recent story on Duke University School of Medicine and in their announcement.

Four women stand at an outdoor patio, smiling slightly off camera
Four NAS members from the departments of cell biology and biochemistry celebrate together. From left to right: Lorena Beese, Brigid Hogan, Amy Gladfelter, and Jane Richardson. Credit: Colin Duckett
Five people stand in a row in an academic office setting smiling at the camera with a crowd milling behind. There are some decorations and a celebratory mood is palpable.
Celebrating the 2026 NAS election, from left to right, Dean Jerome Lynch (Pratt), Dean Amy Herring (Natural Sciences), Robert Calderbank, Chair Hai “Helen” Li (ECE), Dean Gary Bennett (Trinity). Credit: Andrew Tie

"Congratulations to Robert Calderbank and Amy Gladfelter on their election to the National Academy of Sciences," said Provost Alec Gallimore. "Their distinguished careers and many contributions to their fields are the result of an enduring commitment to advancing knowledge that is the essence of science, and we are proud to count them as members of Duke’s faculty."

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and – with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine – provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.