Teresa K. Woodruff joined an elite group of Americans who have received two national medals of honor when President Joe Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science on Jan. 3.
Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented Woodruff with the medal at a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on the same date.
Established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. A statement from the White House said that “those who earn these awards embody the promise of America by pushing the boundaries of what is possible. These trailblazers have harnessed the power of science and technology to tackle challenging problems and deliver innovative solutions for Americans and for communities around the world.”
The first person from Michigan State University to receive the National Medal of Science, Woodruff has made significant global contributions in scientific research, improvements to the scientific process and broadening of research teams. Woodruff, who also received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2011, is an MSU Research Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at MSU College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at MSU’s College of Engineering. She was named provost of MSU in August 2020 and served as the university’s interim president from 2022-2024.
Woodruff’s scientific work is focused on the female reproductive system. She has made breakthroughs in molecular science, reproductive medicine and cancer research. Three independent discoveries from her lab have been cited as “Discoveries of the Year” by Discover magazine and one by the Chinese Academy of Medicine. She has more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles, including interim president at Michigan State University.