Four academics from Dundee University have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Professor David Muir Wood, Professor Jason Swedlow, Professor Caroline Wilkinson and Professor Kate Storey have all been made Fellows in recognition of their achievements within their discipline or profession.
University principal Professor Pete Downes said: ”I am delighted to see these four distinguished scientists being recognised as new Fellows of Scotland’s national academy of science and letters.
”It is a source of pride for the whole university, and fitting recognition for their considerable professional achievements.”
The Dundee contingent are among the 46 new UK and International Fellows joining the RSE’s 1500-strong fellowship of experts in the sciences, arts, humanities, the professions, industry and commerce.
New Fellows are elected after a rigorous four-stage selection process culminating in a ballot of the entire Fellowship.
Once admitted to the RSE, Fellows are encouraged to contribute to the aims and objectives of the society, including the provision of expert policy advice to Government and Parliament, outreach education programmes for young people, and public engagement events including conferences and discussion forums.
The central aim of the society is the advancement of learning and knowledge.
David Muir Wood is professor of geotechnical engineering at the university.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1998, and has written three books on soil mechanics.
Jason Swedlow is professor of quantitative cell biology in the College of life sciences.
He was named Innovator of the Year at the 2011 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Impact Awards for his work on the Open Microscopy Environment a revolutionary venture into open source software.
Caroline Wilkinson is Professor of craniofacial identification within the university’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).
She is a member of the board of governors of the International Association of Craniofacial identification (IACI), and was president of the organisation from 2008-10.
She was also previously President of the British Association of Human Identification (BAHID).
Kate Storey is professor of neural development and head of the division of cell and developmental biology.
Her lab carries out leading-edge research into neural differentiation in embryos and embryonic stem cells.
Sir John Arbuthnott, president of the RSE and an eminent microbiologist, said: ”In my first year as president I am pleased to welcome such a talented group of people to the RSE.”
The RSE was founded in 1783 by royal charter and is Scotland’s National Academy of Science and Letters.