image: Dr. Aruna Kilaru at East Tennessee State University.
Credit: ETSU
A trailblazing researcher with a global footprint, Dr. Aruna Kilaru earned another international recognition – this time as a newly named Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB).
This 100-year-old society, with a legacy of advancing plant science, is currently represented by over 2,500 members across 57 countries and remains a leading voice in the global plant biology community.
Kilaru, a professor in East Tennessee State University’s Department of Biological Sciences, serves as Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences. She joins a distinguished group of scholars selected for their contributions to the advancement of plant biology. ASPB’s Fellow designation is a career honor reserved for long-term members who have made distinguished contributions to the field.
It’s the latest in a growing list of accolades for Kilaru.
Her work spans critical issues like food insecurity, biotechnology and clean energy. Since joining ETSU in 2011, she has secured over $3 million in grant funding and built international partnerships, and fellow scholars have cited her work more than 2,500 times.
“This honor reflects Dr. Kilaru’s tremendous impact not only in the lab, but in classrooms, policy circles, and international collaborations,” said ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle. “She is a brilliant scientist, a tireless mentor, and I am thrilled to support her work as a Faculty Fellow. We are fortunate to have her at ETSU.”
Whether advising federal agricultural policy, mentoring future researchers or pushing the boundaries of sustainable biotechnology, her career is marked by leadership and service.
She has been a science adviser for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where she recently published insights on agricultural solutions to food waste and climate change.
In 2021, the Tennessee Academy of Sciences awarded Kilaru its Distinguished Scientist Award, citing her role in addressing “the globally important tasks of feeding a growing world population” and producing sustainable biofuels.
Kilaru has also earned some of ETSU’s highest faculty honors, including the Distinguished Faculty Award in Research, the Notable Women of ETSU Award, and an appointment as Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences. The Office of the Provost sponsors the fellowship to support Dr. Kilaru’s leadership of the university's bioscience efforts.
Beyond research, teaching and mentorship are central to her mission.
“There is immense satisfaction in seeing students and mentees grow, develop and transform into confident and capable professionals,” Kilaru said.
Kilaru collaborates with institutions across the globe, including in Germany, Mexico, China, India, and multiple U.S. states.
From groundbreaking discoveries to workforce development, Kilaru is a part of an ETSU faculty that regularly generates cutting-edge scholarship.