Thomas Baer, founder and CEO of microgenomics firm Arcturus, has been elected to the rank of Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
The election of Thomas Baer to Fellow of AAAS cites "exceptional service to the biomedical research community through inventive developments in advanced electro-optical technology and their effective commercial dissemination." Baer, along with other newly elected fellows, will be recognised at a special forum as part of the AAAS annual meeting in Boston on 16 February 2002.
AAAS Fellowship recognises members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its application are scientifically or socially distinguished.
Founded in 1848, the AAAS is the world's largest general science organisation, with 138,000 members.
Dr Baer has been a pioneer in many areas of laser development and application, optical instrumentation and medical diagnostic devices.
He holds over 45 patents.
His career has included positions of vice president and director of research for Biometric Imaging (BMI), a biotechnology company that is now part of Becton Dickinson; vice president and director of research for Spectra-Physics; founder of Spectra-Physics Laser Diode Systems; and managing partner of Incubic, a biomedical/telecommunication incubator.
Baer holds a BA in physics from Lawrence University, and MS and PhD degrees in atomic physics from the University of Chicago.
