Learn more about sessions and speakers by viewing the agenda below:
O’Donnell Awards Summit Agenda: Day 1
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Welcome Dinner and Reception (Optional)
Franklin Barbecue Backyard
2027 Anchor Lane, Austin, Texas
The welcome dinner and reception will take place the evening of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Franklin Barbecue Backyard, 2027 Anchor Lane, in Austin, Texas.
This optional event requires the purchase of the $25 add-on in Eventbrite during registration.
O’Donnell Awards Summit Agenda: Day 2
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Summit Program
Crum Auditorium (RRH 1.400, First Floor), Robert B. Rowling Hall
The University of Texas at Austin
300 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, Texas
Agenda Subject to Change
Thursday Morning Sessions
8:00–9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
9:00–9:15 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Ganesh Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE ’16), TAMEST Board President
President Jim Davis, J.D., The University of Texas at Austin
The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, TAMEST Honorary Chair
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION SESSION
Session Emcee: Theodore Moise, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Dallas and Texas Instruments (Retired), 2012 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation
9:15–9:45 a.m.
Speaker: S.V. Sreenivasan, Ph.D. (NAE ’21), The University of Texas at Austin, 2010 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation
9:45–10:15 a.m.
Speaker: Kimberly A. Hambuchen, Ph.D., NASA Johnson Space Center, 2024 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation
10:15–10:30 a.m.
Panel with Technology Speakers on Impact and Legacy of O’Donnell Awards
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Break
SCIENCE SESSION
Session Emcee: Kim Orth, Ph.D. (NAS ’20), UT Southwestern Medical Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2011 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Biological Sciences
10:45–11:15 a.m.
Speaker: Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D. (NAM ’22, NAS ’14, FRS ’25), UT Southwestern Medical Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2007 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Biological Sciences
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Speaker: Xiaoqin Elaine Li, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, 2018 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Physical Sciences
11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Panel with Science Speakers on Impact and Legacy of O’Donnell Awards
Thursday Afternoon Sessions
12:00–1:00 p.m.
Lunch (Special Events Room 5.210, 5th floor, Rowling Hall)
12:15–12:45 p.m.
Lunch Panel: Elevating Rising Stars
Moderator: Frances S. Ligler, D.Phil., D.Sc. (NAE ’05), Texas A&M University
O’Donnell Awards Committee Chair
Panelist: Nicholas A Peppas, Sc.D. (NAM ’08, NAE ’06), The University of Texas at Austin
Additional Panelist to Be Announced Soon
MEDICINE SESSION
Session Emcee: Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D. (NAM ’13), Baylor College of Medicine, 2009 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine
1:00–1:30 p.m.
Speaker: Margaret Goodell, Ph.D. (NAM ’19, NAS ’25), Baylor College of Medicine, 2011 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine
1:30–2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Jennifer Wargo, M.D. (NAM ’23), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine
2:00–2:15 p.m.
Panel with Medicine Speakers on Impact and Legacy of O’Donnell Awards
2:15–2:30 p.m.
Break
ENGINEERING SESSION
Session Emcee: Jodie Lutkenhaus, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 2022 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering
2:30–3:00 p.m.
Speaker: Antonios G. Mikos, Ph.D. (NAM ’12, NAE ’12), Rice University, 2007 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering
3:00–3:30 p.m.
Speaker: Jeffrey Rimer, Ph.D., University of Houston, 2020 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering
3:30–3:45 p.m.
Panel with Engineering Speakers on Impact and Legacy of O’Donnell Awards
3:45–4:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
