University of Chicago Professor Neil Shubin has been nominated as the next president of the National Academy of Sciences. The Council of the National Academy of Sciences selected Shubin to succeed Marcia McNutt when her term ends on June 30, 2026.
"I’m honored and excited to be nominated to lead the National Academy of Sciences. For over 160 years the Academy has recognized and convened the world’s leading experts to advise our government on science-related matters,” said Shubin, who has been a member since 2011. “I look forward to continuing this critical work at a time when both the knowledge of science and the use of it in decision making becomes essential for our well-being and national competitiveness."
Shubin is known for his fossil hunting expeditions and discoveries, including Tiktaalik roseae, a transitional form between fish and land animals. He authored two popular science books: "Your Inner Fish" (2008) and "The Universe Within: The Deep History of the Human Body" (2013).
“Neil Shubin is a rare scientist and leader, with a long record of pathbreaking scientific discovery and a special talent for engaging with the public. His dedication to science and public engagements have long enriched the University of Chicago community,” said University President Paul Alivisatos. “I am thrilled that he will be leading the National Academy of Sciences.”
At UChicago, Shubin leads a molecular biology and paleontology lab, inspiring students in developmental biology research. He also serves as associate dean for basic science research and academic strategy.
“From his fascinating discoveries on the evolutionary origins of limbs to his work popularizing the wonders of science through his books and television series, Neil Shubin is an exemplary scientist," said Mark Anderson, dean at UChicago's Biological Sciences Division.
A faculty member since 2000, Shubin was previously affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. He holds numerous honors including receiving awards like the Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award in 2019.
The National Academy of Sciences is a nonprofit institution established in 1863 under President Abraham Lincoln's charter. It recognizes scientific achievement through membership election by peers.