Election to the National Academy of Sciences is one of the highest honors that can be earned by a U.S. scientist.  In recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original biomedical research, three Damon Runyon alumni were inducted this April: 
Stephen M. Beverley, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘79-‘81), Marvin A. Brennecke Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Chair, Department of molecular microbiology, Washington University, St. Louis
Daniel A. Portnoy, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘83-‘85), Professor of biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology, Department of molecular and cell biology, University of California, Berkeley
Robert H. Singer, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘70-‘72), Co-director, Gruss Lipper Biophotonics Center, and Professor and Co-chair, Department of anatomy and structural biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx