University of Tulsa alumnus William Murphy (Ph.D. ’97) has received one of science’s highest honors: election into the National Academy of Sciences. Currently a professor in the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Murphy is one of 144 new members elected during this cycle.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this recognition,” Murphy said. “I am indebted to many outstanding students, colleagues, and mentors with whom I have worked throughout my career. I owe special thanks to the TU faculty of biology, most notably my Ph.D. adviser, Dr.Glen Collier. I will always fondly remember the rich and stimulating environment at TU, where I developed my great appreciation for and love of science.”
Established in 1863, the academy is a private, nongovernmental institution that works to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. In tandem with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences provides independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conducts other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions, such as encouraging education and research and recognizing outstanding contributions to knowledge. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research.
Murphy joined Texas A&M in 2004 and serves as the James E. Womack University Professor of Genetics in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences. He was elected for his research using comparative genomics to describe and understand evolutionary processes in mammals that result in different species, adaptations, and overall biological diversity. His work has helped redefine the mammalian tree of life and transform scientists’ understanding of biology. His research on genomes of various cat species, including lions and tigers as well as domestic cats, was published in the journal Nature Genetics last fall.
Murphy has published more than 160 articles in peer-reviewed journals during his career. After receiving his doctorate in biological sciences from UTulsa, he served as a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, where he was later named a senior scientist.