TAMEST Member News Roundup – May 2025
TAMEST loves to share the accolades of our membership. If you have been nominated for an award, been interviewed by the media or otherwise have a reason to celebrate, please share your news with TAMEST.
TAMEST In The News
UH Newsroom: TAMEST Names UH Professor as President for the First Time, TAMEST Board President Ganesh C. Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE), University of Houston
Houston Public Media: Rice University Announces Strategic Plan to Expand Student Population by Nearly 30 Percent, Rice University President and TAMEST Member Reginald DesRoches, Ph.D. (NAE)
Nature: Whole-Genome Sequencing Susses Out Rare Diseases, TAMEST Past President Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM), Baylor College of Medicine
National Technology: Intel and Shell Launch First Certified Cooling Solution for Data Centers, TAMEST Board Treasurer Selda Gunsel, Ph.D. (NAE), Shell
SciTechDaily: AI Unlocks Long-Standing Biomedical Mystery Behind Alzheimer’s, TAMEST Member Peter G. Wolynes, Ph.D. (NAS, FRS), Rice University
Science Blog: Alzheimer’s May Be a Whole-Body Disease, Not Just a Brain Disorder, TAMEST Member Hugo J. Bellen, D.V.M., Ph.D. (NAS), Baylor College of Medicine
UT News: The Future of Technology is Being Built in Texas, 2010 O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation Recipient S.V. Sreenivasan, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin
SciTechDaily: Machine Learning Powers New Approach to Detecting Soil Contaminants, TAMEST Member Naomi J. Halas, Ph.D., D.Sc. (NAE, NAS), Rice University
Big City Small Town: The Scientist Who Transformed Texas Biomed—and San Antonio’s Scientific Standing, President and CEO of Texas Biomedical Research Institute Larry S. Schlesinger, M.D.
Rio Grande Guardian: Dr. Can Saygin Discusses UTRGV’s New Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Senior Vice President for Research Can Saygin, Ph.D.
The Dallas Morning News: What to Know About the Next UT Dallas President, The University of Texas at Dallas
KXAN: UT System Board of Regents Names John Zerwas as Acting Chancellor, The University of Texas System
Member Briefs
TAMEST mourns the loss of beloved TAMEST Member Ray H. Baughman, Ph.D. (NAE), The University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Baughman was a pioneering scientist in the field of nanotechnology and a treasured member of the TAMEST community. Dr. Baughman’s legacy of mentorship, collaboration and boundless generosity touched all who had the privilege of working with him. Read More
UT Southwestern Biochemist Elected to United Kingdom’s Royal Society
TAMEST Member Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D. (NAM, NAS, FRS), UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. One of the world’s leading experts on innate immunity, Dr. Chen has been recognized with numerous honors for his research, including the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. He was also the recipient of the 2007 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science from TAMEST. Read More
University of Houston Lands $2.8M Grant to Power Next-Gen Military Drones
A major grant will position the University of Houston at the forefront of redefining how military drones operate. The grant, totaling $2.8 million, will fund a new induction machine-based electrical power generation system designed to replace the older, less efficient synchronous generator systems currently used in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The goal is to create a power source that is lighter, more efficient and more cost-effective. The project is led by TAMEST Member and Hill Prizes Committee Member Kaushik Rajashekara, Ph.D. (NAE), who serves as PI, and TAMEST Member Hao Huang, Ph.D. (NAE), co-PI. Read More
Kenneth Hargreaves Named Dean of UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
2025 Hill Prize in Medicine Recipient Kenneth M. Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D., a nationally recognized leader in dental research and education, has been named Dean of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. A member of the UT Health San Antonio faculty since 1997, Dr. Hargreaves brings to the role a career defined by scientific innovation, academic mentorship and visionary leadership. He will serve a three-year term as dean. Read More
Karen Lozano Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
TAMEST Member Karen Lozano, Ph.D. (NAE), Rice University, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest and most prestigious learned societies in the nation. Dr. Lozano is among nearly 250 new members elected in 2025, joining a historic community that includes leaders in academia, business, government and the arts. Read More
Engineers of Impact: Frances Ligler
A pioneer in the field of optical biosensors, TAMEST Member and Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Committee Member Frances S. Ligler, D.Sc., D.Phil. (NAE), Texas A&M University, has made positive impacts on her field and the scholars she mentors. Dr. Ligler’s biosensors have a wide range of applications, from diagnostics for human and animal health to military operations to environmental and food safety. Read More
UTSW Joins with Other Scientists Nationwide to Celebrate Molecular Biology’s 30th Anniversary
More than 800 scientists gathered for a symposium marking the 30th anniversary of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Molecular Biology. Attendees included UTSW faculty, students, staff, alumni and guests from other institutions. The event celebrated the Department’s Founder and Chair, TAMEST Member Eric Olson, Ph.D. (NAM, NAS), and its remarkable group of scientists. Read More
AACR: Five MD Anderson Researchers Honored with 2025 Scientific Achievement Awards
Five scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including TAMEST Member Ronald A. DePinho, M.D. (NAM, NAS), were recognized with Scientific Achievement Awards and honors at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025. These awards highlight significant achievements in translational research and oncology leadership from both early career and internationally renowned scientists and clinicians. Read More
UTA Faculty Earn Top Honors for Research Excellence
Three faculty members from The University of Texas at Arlington were recognized for their research and creative contributions as part of the university’s research honors. 2025 Hill Prize in Physical Sciences Co-PI J. Ping Liu, Ph.D., received the University Award for Distinguished Record of Research or Creative Activity. Read More
Exploring a Rare Genetic Disorder that Almost Exclusively Affects Girls
TAMEST Member and Hill Prizes Committee Member Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D. (NAM, NAS), Baylor College of Medicine, shared her research on Rett Syndrome at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke on May 1. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, winner of the Kavli Prize, and has spent decades investigating diseases like Rett syndrome, autism and bipolar disorder. Read More
‘Deeply Meaningful:’ Rice President Reginald DesRoches Named ASCE Distinguished Member
Rice University President and TAMEST Member Reginald DesRoches, Ph.D. (NAE), a nationally recognized leader in resilient infrastructure and engineering education, has been elected to the 2025 class of distinguished members of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) — the organization’s highest honor short of the presidency. Read More
FDA-Designated Orphan Drug Could Increase Radiation Efficacy in Lung Cancer
An FDA-designated orphan drug that can target a key vulnerability in lung cancer shows promise in improving the efficacy of radiation treatments in preclinical models, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers including TAMEST Member and Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship Committee Chair Ralph J. DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM). The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest a new way to enhance the response to radiotherapy by inhibiting DNA repair in lung cancer cells. Read More
Tsu-Jae King Liu Named President of National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has announced the appointment of Tsu-Jae King Liu, Ph.D., as its next president. With a remarkable career spanning academia, industry, and research, she is internationally recognized for her pioneering contributions to semiconductor technology. Dr. Liu will begin her six-year term on July 1, 2025. Read More
