A Jupiter, Florida researcher is part of a select group to receive one of the highest honors in science. Dr. David Fitzpatrick, CEO and Scientific Director of the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, as part of the organization’s class of 2026.

Election to the NAS is rare and highly respected amongst scientists, as membership requires special nomination and rigorous peer review. Being selected as a member designates that a researcher has made exceptional contributions to discovery and innovation.  Dr. Fitzpatrick is one of only 31 living researchers in Florida who are members of the NAS and the only one who has been elected while performing his research at the Jupiter Campus in Palm Beach County.

"I am deeply honored by this recognition from the National Academy of Sciences. The membership affirms that fundamental research remains essential to understanding neurological and psychiatric disease. I look forward to contributing to the Academy's work alongside colleagues whose commitment to rigorous science and real-world impact I genuinely admire," said Dr. Fitzpatrick.

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1862 through a congressional charter signed by Abraham Lincoln. In addition to recognizing outstanding achievements in research, members play an important advisory role in federal policy, providing independent recommendations and evidence-based guidance on critical scientific issues facing our society.

NAS is an independent nonprofit organization, and this year’s class of inductees brings total membership to 2,705, including 557 international members. Dr. Fitzpatrick is one of four Max Planck Society researchers inducted in this year’s class, including Dr. Ferenc Krausz, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics. Since its founding, the NAS has counted approximately 200 Nobel Prize winners amongst its ranks.