William R. Jacobs Jr., Ph.D., an internationally recognized tuberculosis researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS), one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies, whose early members included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Dr. Jacobs is professor of microbiology & immunology and genetics and holds the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair. Throughout his career, he has pioneered the genetic manipulation of mycobacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

“The Einstein community is proud and inspired by Dr. Jacobs’ election to the AAAS,” said Yaron Tomer, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein and chief academic officer at Montefiore Einstein. “It is a well-deserved recognition of his innovative work, which has helped transform tuberculosis research, as well as his leadership and mentorship of generations of scientists and students.”

Among Dr. Jacobs’ landmark achievements was the invention of a "shuttle phasmid,” a foundational technology that enabled scientists to introduce DNA into the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. This advance provided scientists with new methods to study the bacterium, resulting in discoveries about how it causes disease, survives in the body, and develops drug resistance. Additionally, it helped lead to improved vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments.

Dr. Jacobs' work began by isolating mycobacteriophages from his Bronx backyard, including Bxb1—a natural virus he nicknamed the "Bronx Bomber." He also discovered that vitamin C can kill tuberculosis bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, in laboratory cultures. Beyond tuberculosis research, Dr. Jacobs has published influential studies on vaccine development and cellular immunity of influenza, dengue, and herpes viruses.

“I share this wonderful honor with my collaborators, students, and postdoctoral fellows who have contributed to my lab’s research achievements,” said Dr. Jacobs. “Together we remain dedicated to advancing human health and finding ways to fight infectious diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.”

Dr. Jacobs is among the more than 250 scientists, physicians, artists, scholars, and public leaders who were elected to the academy in 2026, and will be formally inducted at a ceremony on October 10 in Cambridge, Mass. His election adds to a distinguished list of honors recognizing his scientific contributions. Dr. Jacobs was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2013 and the National Academy of Inventors in 2017. He also served for 30 years as an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Ten other Einstein faculty members have been elected to the AAAS since 1967, including current active faculty member Robert Singer, Ph.D.