TAMEST Congratulates 14 Texans Elected to The National Academy of Engineering

TAMEST welcomes 11 new members and congratulates three current members on their election to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2025.

Of the 14 new NAE members from Texas, three are current members, four are past TAMEST Protégés, two have served as TAMEST conference co-chairs and two are past speakers at the TAMEST annual conference.

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions afforded to an engineer. This year, the NAE elected 128 new members and 22 international members, which brought the total U.S. membership to 2,487 and the number of international members to 336.

TAMEST will welcome these and other new members at the opening reception of the TAMEST 2026 Annual Conference on Feb. 2, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

Their election brings the current TAMEST membership to 365.

Learn more about our new members:

• Samuel Achilefu, Ph.D., Professor and Lyda Hill Distinguished University Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center*

For contributions and international leadership in the molecular imaging of cancer and molecular nanotherapeutics using biophotonics and nuclear technologies. 

*Dr. Achilefu is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2021 and was the Medicine Co-Chair of the TAMEST 2025 Annual Conference.

• Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, Ph.D., Professor, Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil and Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University

For contributions to metrology, optical sensing, bioengineering, technology transfer and engineering education.

*Dr. Bagnato is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 2023.

• Osvaldo A. Bascur, Ph.D., Principal, OSB Digital LLC

For applying phenomenological modeling techniques in mineral and processing plant performance optimization.  

• Rodney D.W. Bowersox, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Ford I Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University*

For leadership and contributions in hypersonic aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics through the development of experimental facilities and diagnostic techniques. 

*Dr. Bowersox is a past TAMEST Protégé (2008) and past TAMEST Annual Conference speaker (2018).

• Lisa Brannon-Peppas, Ph.D., Founder and President, PeppChem Consulting

For contributions to the targeted drug delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and contributions to biomaterials swelling and for biomedical leadership.  

• Patrick Chapman, Ph.D.,Chief Executive Officer, Stormentum, Inc

For the development of reliable inverters enabling large-scale photovoltaic energy system deployment. 

• Denise C. Johnson, Group President, Caterpillar Inc.

For overseeing the development of zero-emission and autonomous mining equipment. 

• Lydia E. Kavraki, Ph.D., Kenneth and Audrey Kennedy Professor, Department of Computer Science, Rice University*

For developing randomized motion-planning algorithms for robotics and robotics-inspired methods in biomedicine. 

*Dr. Kavraki is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2012, is a past TAMEST Protégé (2004) and was the Medicine Co-Chair of the TAMEST 2023 Annual Conference.

• Dale E. Klein, Ph.D., Reese Endowed Professor, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

For leadership in the development of programs that enhance the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide. 

• Donald Mark Lipkin, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University*

For innovations of coatings and rhenium recovery that contributed to higher efficiency and sustainability of jet engines and gas turbines.

*Dr. Lipkin is a past TAMEST Protégé (2024).

• Karen McKee, President, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Co.

For leadership and innovation in growing sustainable global petrochemical businesses. 

• Mark Papermaster, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, Advanced Micro Devices*

For leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors. 

*Mr. Papermaster is a past TAMEST Annual Conference speaker (2024). 

• Ellen M. Rathje, Ph.D., Janet S. Cockrell Centennial Chair, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin*

For contributions to seismic slope assessment and site response analysis and the development of cyberinfrastructure for natural hazards engineering. 

*Dr. Rathje is a past TAMEST Protégé (2005; 2006).

• Jim Wiethorn, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman, International Crane & Construction Safety Solutions LLC

For research on and analysis of crane accidents, saving lives through improved technology and training.