Reka Albert Named a Fellow of the American Physical Society

Reka Albert, professor of physics at Penn State University, has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Albert's election to the society is based on her "pioneering work in understanding the organization and dynamics of biological networks."

Albert's research concerns the underlying network structure of complex systems such as the World-Wide Web and the cell. She investigates problems in biological systems — such as drought stress in plants and diseases in animals — by creating computational representations called network models. "Network modeling is based on a synthesis of experimental information available about the processes taking place in a system," said Albert. "These models lead to predictions that motivate new experiments."

Albert's research accomplishments have been recognized with the Shaheen Graduate School Award from the University of Notre Dame in 2001, a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2004, and a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2007. She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the Society for Mathematical Biology. She serves as a reviewer for more than 20 journals and several foundations, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Prior to joining Penn State in June of 2003, Albert was a postdoctoral associate at the University of Minnesota from 2001 to 2003, and a research assistant and teaching assistant at the University of Notre Dame from 1996 to 2001. She also was a teaching assistant at the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania from 1995 to 1996.

Albert received her bachelor's degree and master's degree in physics from the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania in 1995 and 1996, respectively. She received a doctoral degree in physics from the University of Notre Dame in 2001.

The American Physical Society's Fellowship Program recognizes members who have made advances in knowledge through original research and publication, have made significant and innovative contributions in the application of physics to science and technology, or have made significant contributions to the teaching of physics or service and participation in the activities of the society.

CONTACTS:

Reka Albert: (+1) 814-865-6123, ralbert@phys.psu.edu

Barbara Kennedy (PIO): (+1) 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu