September 10, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, AL — University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) marine biologist James B. McClintock, Ph.D., was recently named UAB University Professor in Polar and Marine Biology.
A University Professor is an academic rank bestowed upon an individual whose work transcends departmental and disciplinary lines and whose scholarly achievement, intellectual maturity and dedication to the highest standards of professional excellence reflect great credit upon UAB. Nominations are made from within the university and must have provost, presidential and board of trustees’ approval.
McClintock is recognized as a world authority in marine chemical ecology and echinoderm biology. He is Endowed Professor in Polar and Marine Biology, senior scientist in the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center and acting dean of the graduate school at UAB.
“Dr. McClintock is one of the most accomplished academicians at UAB,” said acting UAB Provost Eli Capilouto, D.M.D., Sc.D. “Not only is he dedicated to his research and students, his work in the Birmingham community with numerous groups and organizations, including K-12 schools and the McWane Science Center, is unprecedented. His efforts in interdisciplinary research and education have brought a great deal of international attention to UAB, and the university is grateful for the work he has done and for what he continues to do.”
McClintock has made major contributions to the understanding of polar and marine biology and is well known for his research in marine invertebrate chemical ecology, marine invertebrate reproduction and nutrition.
Much of his National Science Foundation-sponsored work over the last decade in the frigid waters of Antarctica has involved studying marine invertebrates’ chemical defenses against predators, more specifically, he has studied how noxious and toxic chemicals are used by marine organisms in defense or in mediating competitive interactions. His work in Antarctica shows great potential for the discovery of new pharmaceutical materials.
In 1999, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names honored McClintock by naming a point of land on the frozen continent after him in tribute to his contributions to the exploration of Antarctica. McClintock Point is located on the Ross Sea in western McMurdo Sound at the end of a three-mile stretch of land known as Explorers Cove.
McClintock has been published in notable peer-reviewed science journals, including Nature, American Scientist and Marine Biology. He has had more than 150 publications in other peer-reviewed journals and more than 200 invited presentations at professional meetings and conferences. He also is the editor or author of two books, including Marine Chemical Ecology, which is considered the standard in the field.
McClintock received the Carmichael Award in 1992 from the Alabama Academy of Science for an outstanding publication in the academy’s journal and won the Ireland Prize in 1993 as the Outstanding UAB Faculty Scholar. In 1999, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2001, he won the Wright A. Gardner Award from the Alabama Academy of Science for outstanding contributions to science and the Tyge Christensen Award for best paper for 2000-2001 in the peer-reviewed journal Phycologia.
In addition to his outstanding research, McClintock was dean of the UAB School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics from June 1998 until July 2003.
McClintock earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California in 1978 and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Florida in 1980 and 1984, respectively.