2023 FELLOWS

Jonathan Clark

Jonathan Clark earned his PhD in molecular genetics from Ohio State University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona, where he was the recipient of fellowships from the National Science Foundation and from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Working with Margaret Kidwell, he helped to establish the use of molecular phylogenetics to understand horizontal gene transfer, an area of genetics that is now mainstream. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Zoology at Weber State University, in Ogden, UT, where he maintains an internationally-recognized research program in genetics. His current focus is using genetic data to examine invertebrate diversity in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, a fascinating extreme environment of worldwide economic, cultural, and biological significance.

In addition to service to Sigma Xi, Jonathan was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the International Society for Salt Lake Research, the world’s leading organization focused on the study, management and conservation of saline lakes. He has conducted sabbatical research at the University of Valencia in Spain; the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC; and the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. He has given professional presentations at over 50 peer-reviewed meetings throughout the U.S. and in 14 different countries.

Professor Clark’s effectiveness in classroom instruction has been acknowledged with the College of Science’s highest teaching recognition, the Seager Distinguished Teaching Award, and the university’s George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Award. In addition to classroom excellence, Jonathan has a 25-year record of engaging students in high-impact teaching activities that have provided transformative educational experiences for undergraduate students of all backgrounds. These activities required multi-semester commitments to each of his mentored students in which they are involved in formulating research questions, learning relevant laboratory techniques, designing experiments, analyzing data, and disseminating their results in peer-reviewed publications and presentations It is worth noting that almost all of these research projects were funded by competitive grants written by students under Jonathan’s supervision, a total of over $50,000 from 14 different funding entities. Among the outcomes are presentations given by students at 19 national and international research conferences throughout the U.S., as well as in Japan and France. Eight different undergraduate students have been included as co-authors on peer-reviewed, international journal articles, most of which were based on research initiated and conducted under Professor Clark’s guidance.

Service to Sigma Xi
Professor Clark served as the President of the Weber State University chapter of Sigma Xi from 2001–2008, and again from 2018–present. He attended his first Sigma Xi meeting in 2002 in Galveston, Texas, and has represented his chapter at 13 additional meetings. He was elected in 2007 as Associate Director of Comprehensive Colleges and Universities and in 2011 as Associate Director of the Northwest Region. He subsequently served two terms on the national Board of Directors for Sigma Xi, as Director of Comprehensive Colleges and Universities (2008–2010) and as Director of the Northwest Region (2015–2107).

While Director of the Northwest Region, Jonathan worked to maintain and strengthen the association between the Pacific Division of AAAS and Sigma Xi and helped to organize events for Sigma Xi members at AAAS-Pacific meetings in California (2015, 2016, 2018), Hawaii (2017), and Oregon (2019). A collaboration between two of the world’s leading multidisciplinary scientific organizations benefits members of both societies and is consistent with Sigma Xi’s mission to advance the scientific enterprise and promote high standards of research integrity. The partnership has also provided additional opportunities for a diverse student cohort to participate in national scientific conferences and enhance their presentation and networking skills.

Perhaps the most significant accomplishment of Professor Clark’s long association with Sigma Xi was his supervision of numerous student research projects. In all, his students have given presentations at 12 Sigma Xi (or AAAS) meetings, and have been recognized with awards for best presentation at three of these, most recently at the iFoRE conference in 2022. His commitment to mentoring and passing on the honor of Sigma Xi membership is demonstrated by his nomination of over 40 successful associate member applications.

2023 FELLOWS

Jonathan Clark

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