Biochemist Bennett named AIMBE fellow

George Bennett

George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Rice, has been elected a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). He will be inducted at the organization’s annual event March 23-25 in Washington, D.C. 

AIMBE is a nonprofit organization representing 50,000 leaders in medical and biological engineering, consisting of academic, industrial, professional society councils and elected fellows. The institute chooses the top 2 percent of its members as fellows based on their important contributions to biomedical engineering through research, industrial practice and education. 

Bennett and his Rice group focus on the metabolic engineering of microbes to address complex issues in biology, biofuels and the environment. In recent years, his research has developed a method to produce succinic acid, a widely used chemical for plastics, textiles, drugs, solvents and food; looked at molecules that could inhibit gastrointestinal disease; and worked on the production of specialty chemicals, such as fragrance esters and biofuels from plant feedstocks. 

Bennett is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Academy of Microbiology.