This post is by UI IBEST Communications Coordinator Amberly Beckman.
University of Idaho Distinguished Professor James A. Foster
The University of Idaho recently named Prof. James A. Foster a University Distinguished Professor, the highest rank for faculty at the University. Foster is one of only fourteen faculty members to receive this honor, since its inception in 2011.
The University of Idaho established the rank of Distinguished Professor to acknowledge faculty who embody excellence in teaching, scholarship, outreach and service. The selected nominees are faculty who have been with the University for at least seven years, and received national or international recognition.
Foster is a professor of Biological Sciences with a background in evolutionary biology, computer sciences, and philosophy. His work with both the Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, and the Beacon Center for the Study of Evolution in Action has brought together interdisciplinary study of evolution across campus and the country.
He founded the IBEST Computational Resources Core, co-founded the Bioinformatics and Computation Biology program at IBEST (with Prof. Paul Joyce), and co-founded IBEST itself (with Prof. Holly Wichman). In addition, he is the director of the BEACON project at University of Idaho.
The University Awards for Excellence are held annually and recognize excellence at many academic levels. The ceremony is scheduled for 6:00pm on Tuesday, April 16 at the Bruce M. Pitman Center’s International Ballroom.
Also receiving the rank of University Distinguished Professors are Paul Joyce, and Nilsa Bosque-Perez. Past IBEST awardees include Holly Wichman, Larry Forney, and Lizette Waits.
