Biostatistics professor named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics in the VCU School of Public Health, has been named a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The honor of AAAS fellow is bestowed upon scientists, engineers, and innovators who are recognized for their achievements in a variety of disciplines. Bandyopadhyay receives this honor for his distinguished contributions to the field of health data science, particularly oral epidemiology and cancer, for his unflinching commitment to graduate education, and for exemplary service to the profession.
With this honor, Bandyopadhyay joins notable Fellows of the past such as Thomas Edison, W.E.B DuBois, Mae Jemson, Ellen Ochoa, and Grace Hopper.
“The AAAS Fellowship is a highly selective honor. I am humbled. It recognizes not a single innovation but a career-long dedication,” Bandyopadhyay said. “This distinction makes me part of a legacy in joining a distinguished group of scholars and innovators who have significantly shaped (or are shaping) the future of science and society.”
This year, 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators spanning all 24 of AAAS’s disciplinary Sections will receive this lifetime honor. New Fellows will be presented with a certificate and blue and gold rosette at the annual Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
“Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s contributions to the School of Public Health and the Department of Biostatistics are truly remarkable,” said Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D., founding interim dean of the School of Public Health. “His dedication to advancing research, mentoring students, and addressing public health challenges is evident in all he does. This recognition is well deserved.”
“I am deeply grateful for the nurturing and stimulating environment I have received from VCU, the School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, and the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center throughout my career,” Bandyopadhyay said.
The leadership, supportive colleagues in the Department of Biostatistics and Massey, and my network of national and international collaborators have all played a critical role in enabling me to make significant contributions to my field and to be recognized as an AAAS Fellow. I am proud to be a member of the VCU community and look forward to continuing my work here for many years to come.
Bandyopadhyay’s research is primarily focused on developing statistical models to advance public health dentistry, particularly to better understand the epidemiology of oral and craniofacial health issues. He has worked significantly in studying periodontal (gum) disease in Gullah African-American communities in the South Carolina sea islands. He also applies innovative statistical modeling to advance research in cancer, organ transplant epidemiology, substance abuse and alcohol addiction, medical imaging, and neurological disorders.
Last fall, Bandyopadhyay was recognized as the Lowell Reed Lecturer of 2024 by the Applied Public Health Statistics Section of the American Public Health Association. Bandyopadhyay was also named the 2020 Gertrude M. Cox Lecturer, sponsored by the Washington Statistical Society (the largest and oldest chapter of the American Statistical Association) and RTI International.
Bandyopadhyay is one of two VCU faculty to be named an AAAS Fellow this year. Read the full story on VCU News.
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