TAMEST Member News Roundup – March 2025
TAMEST In The News
Innovation Map: Four Houston Innovators Join Prestigious Group of Inventors as Senior Members, TAMEST Member Birol Dindoruk, Ph.D. (NAE), University of Houston
Forbes: How to Solve the Energy Sector’s Growing Skills Shortage, TAMEST Member Brian A. Korgel, Ph.D. (NAE), The University of Texas at Austin
The Daily Texan: UT Researchers Discover Communication Between Growth, Immunity Pathways in Plants, TAMEST Member Keiko Torii, Ph.D. (NAS), The University of Texas at Austin
Houston Chronicle (Subscription Required): How a Proposed $3B Fund Could Transform Dementia Research in Texas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio Report: Governor Abbott Wants a San Antonio Cyber Command. UTSA has a Plan to Make That Happen, The University of Texas at San Antonio
University Star: Texas State Pushes for R1 Status by 2027, Texas State University Vice President for Research Shreekanth Mandayam, Ph.D.
Member Briefs
In Memoriam: TAMEST Member Scott M. Grundy, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM)
TAMEST mourns the loss of beloved TAMEST Member Scott M. Grundy, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM), UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Grundy was a brilliant visionary in cardiovascular prevention and a true trailblazer in every sense. We honor and cherish his expert leadership and guidance of TAMEST as a former member of our Board of Directors and Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Committee, as well as his dedication to fostering the next generation of leaders in science and medicine. Read More
UTA Team Wins Prize for Vital United States Magnet Technology
Ping Liu, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Arlington, is the Co-PI for the 2025 Hill Prize in Physical Sciences for pioneering new ways to design magnets that power high-tech devices, along with PI James Chelikowsky, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin. Awarded by TAMEST and Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the prize recognizes groundbreaking innovations with the potential for real-world impact. The UTA-UT Austin team will use AI, quantum simulations and experimental techniques to develop magnets that eliminate the need for rare-earth elements. With the prize, the researchers will explore alternatives with comparable magnetic properties, aiming to enhance U.S. energy security and accelerate the transition toward more sustainable energy solutions. Read More
Two Engineering Faculty Honored as University Distinguished Professors
In recognition of groundbreaking contributions to their disciplines, TAMEST Members Ali Erdemir, Ph.D. (NAE) and Elaine S. Oran, Ph.D. (NAE, FREng), Texas A&M University, have been named University Distinguished Professors, among only eight faculty from Texas A&M honored with this prestigious title. The designation of University Distinguished Professor is reserved for individuals who stand at the forefront of their respective disciplines, having demonstrated exceptional expertise, made at least one transformational contribution, or provided an intellectually substantial “leap forward” in their discipline. Read More
Presidential Research Impact Award for TAMEST Member David Allen
The University of Texas at Austin will celebrate this year’s University Research Excellence Awards and the President’s Research Impact Award on Monday, April 7, 2025. The 2025 Celebration of Research ceremony will recognize the awardees including TAMEST Member David T. Allen, Ph.D. (NAE) who will be awarded the President’s Research Impact Award. Read More
UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Leadership Provides Divisional Updates Ahead of Integration
President of The University of Texas at San Antonio and Acting President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Taylor Eighmy, Ph.D., recently shared information regarding the university’s new executive cabinet — a leadership team that unites leaders from both The University of Texas at San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio in anticipation of our forthcoming integration. Read More
Rice’s Sylvia Dee Battling Climate-Driven Diseases Through Texas Virosphere Project
Sylvia Dee, Ph.D., Rice University, has joined forces with 2025 Hill Prize in Public Health Recipient and TAMEST Member Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM), Baylor College of Medicine, and a team of scientists at Baylor College of Medicine on a groundbreaking initiative called the Texas Virosphere Project. This ambitious undertaking seeks to predict and prevent climate-driven infectious disease outbreaks in Texas and the Gulf Coast. By integrating climate science, metagenomics and machine learning, the research team aims to identify high-risk areas before they become epicenters of public health crises. Read More
NAE Awards The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering Grants for Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research
Two Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering Grants of $30,000 each have been awarded to attendees of the 2024 Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, a program of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Among the recipients of the Grainger Grants is TAMEST 2025 Protégé Xingpeng Li, Ph.D., University of Houston and Satyajith Amaran, Dow, for their project titled “Electrical Grid Congestion: Analysis, Implications and Enhancement.” Read More
Webinar: Tipping the Scales Toward Health
Find out the latest in obesity prevention and management at UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “Tipping the Scales Toward Health,” at 11 a.m. Central on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The webinar will feature experts from the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio including TAMEST Member Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H. (NAM), to explore the issue of obesity and related chronic health conditions like diabetes and related cancers that are impacting South Texas. Read More
Katja Michael Becomes First Female UTEP Researcher Named to National Academy of Inventors
Katja Michael, Ph.D., The University of Texas at El Paso, has been named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Dr. Michael is the first female member of the UTEP faculty to earn this honor, joining 162 emerging academic inventors in the 2025 class of Senior Members. Read More
CPRIT Awards UT Health San Antonio $3.2 Million to Accelerate Cancer Research, Launch Novel Clinical Trial
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received more than $3.19 million in new academic research awards as part of the latest $68 million funding round announced on February 19 by the Cancer Research Prevention Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The state agency, which focuses on the fight against cancer, has now awarded $163.6 million to UT Health San Antonio since 2010. Read More
San Antonio’s Infectious Disease Hub Says It’s Inoculated Itself Against Federal Cuts
In its nearly 85 years, Texas Biomedical Research Institute has grown into a globally recognized name in scientific exploration synonymous with advancing the COVID-19 vaccine, finding the initial Ebola treatment and developing the first Hepatitis-C therapy. Texas Biomed’s status as an independent nonprofit, gives the organization a chance to showcase that fewer federal dollars doesn’t have to mean less science, said Larry S. Schlesinger, M.D., CEO and President of Texas Biomed. Read More
