Who We Are

TAMEST (The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas) provides broader recognition of the state’s top achievers in medicine, engineering and science and further positions Texas as a national research leader. TAMEST fosters the next generation of scientists and increases awareness of and communication among the state’s best and brightest scientists and researchers.

Our members make new discoveries, lay the groundwork for tackling critical issues and change the course of funding, legislation and society.

Our Mission

TAMEST brings the state’s top scientific, academic and corporate minds together to further position Texas as a national research leader.

With more than 300 members, TAMEST is composed of the Texas-based members of the three National Academies (National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Sciences) and the state’s nine Nobel Laureates. Our members make new discoveries, lay the groundwork for tackling critical issues and change the course of research, legislation and society.

TAMEST helps enhance Texas’ reputation as a destination for world-class research, promotes rising-star researchers in the state and serves as an intellectual resource to policy makers, industry leaders and society.

Our History

TAMEST was co-founded in 2004 by the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison and Nobel Laureates Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Richard E. Smalley, Ph.D. TAMEST’s unique, interdisciplinary model has become an effective recruitment tool for top research and development centers across Texas. Since our founding, over a hundred TAMEST members have been inducted into the National Academies or relocated to Texas.

TAMEST’s unique, interdisciplinary model has become an effective recruitment tool for top research and development centers across Texas. Since our founding, over a hundred TAMEST members have been inducted into the National Academies or relocated to Texas.

Honorary Chair Kay Bailey Hutchison and Founding Co-chairs Michael Brown and Richard Smalley.

TAMEST Board of Directors 2018

The Honorable Gordon R. England, President

Chairman of the Board
V1 Analytical Solutions
NAE Member

Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., Vice President

Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research
Dielmann Chair, Health Disparities and Community Outreach
UT Health San Antonio
NAM Member

David W. Russell, Ph.D., Past President

Vice Provost
Dean of Basic Research
Eugene McDermott Distinguished Chair in Molecular Genetics
Professor, Biophysics and Molecular Genetics
UT Southwestern Medical Center
NAS Member

Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Treasurer

Robert and Janice McNair Endowed Chair in Molecular and Human Genetics
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
NAM Member

Melanie H. Cobb, Ph.D., Secretary

Jane and Bill Browning, Jr. Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
NAS Member

C. Thomas Caskey, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.M.G., F.R.S.C.

Professor, Molecular & Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
NAM, NAS Member

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D.

Ashbel Smith Professor and Director of Pediatric Transplantation Surgery
UT Health San Antonio
NAM Member

Brian Clark, Ph.D.

Retired Fellow
Schlumberger
NAE Member

Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Aerospace
Director, TEES Institute
TEES Institute of Engineering Education & Innovation
Texas A&M University
NAE Member

Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.

President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute
Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology
Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
NAM Member

David J. Mangelsdorf, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Alfred G. Gilman Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology
Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Molecular Neuropharmacology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
NAS Member

David J. Meltzer, Ph.D.

Henderson-Morrison Professor of Prehistory
Executive Director, Quest Archaeological Research Program
Southern Methodist University
NAS Member

Bob Metcalfe, Ph.D.

Venture Partner, Polaris Venture Partners
Professor of Innovation and Murchison Fellow of Free Enterprise
The University of Texas at Austin
NAE Member

Antonios G. Mikos, Ph.D.

Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Director, J.W. Cox Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering and the Director of the Center for Excellence in Tissue Engineering
Rice University
NAE, NAM Member

Sharon L. Wood, Ph.D.

Dean, Cockrell School of Engineering
Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering #14
The University of Texas at Austin
NAE Member

Honorary Chair

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison

United States Senator, 1993-2013

Founding Co-chair

Michael S. Brown, M.D.

UT Southwestern Medical Center
Nobel Laureate, 1985
NAM, NAS Member

Founding Co-chair – In Memorium

Richard E. Smalley, Ph.D.

Rice University
Nobel Laureate, 1996
NAS Member

TAMEST Member Institutions

As Texas continues to attract more and more top-tier scientists and researchers, the number of TAMEST member institutions also continues to grow. TAMEST member institutions are Texas universities where TAMEST members hold positions on the faculty or in the administration.

Annual dues from these member institutions is a crucial resource for TAMEST’s mission. TAMEST recognizes the following institutions for their generous support:

Baylor College of Medicine
Houston Methodist Research Institute
Rice University
Southern Methodist University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University Health Science Center
Texas Tech University
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
University of Houston
University of North Texas
UT Health San Antonio
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Presidents and Chancellors

Member institutions are Texas universities where TAMEST Members hold positions on the faculty or administration. The presidents and chancellors of these institutions who are not National Academies members are affiliate members of TAMEST.

Richard C. Benson, Ph.D.

President

The University of Texas at Dallas

David L. Callender, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.

President

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, M.D.

President

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)

Robert L. Duncan

Chancellor

Texas Tech University System

Taylor Eighmy, Ph.D.

President

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Gregory L. Fenves, Ph.D. (NAE)

President

The University of Texas at Austin

Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D.

President and CEO

Houston Methodist Research Institute

William L. Henrich, M.D., M.A.C.P.

President

UT Health San Antonio

Vistasp Karbhari, Ph.D.

President

The University of Texas at Arlington

Renu Khator, Ph.D.

Chancellor

University of Houston System

President

University of Houston

Paul Klotman, M.D.

President and CEO

Baylor College of Medicine

David W. Leebron

President

Rice University

Peter WT Pisters, M.D.

President

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D. (NAM)

President

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Lesa B. Roe

Chancellor

University of North Texas System

Lawrence Schovanec, Ph.D.

President

Texas Tech University

John Sharp

Chancellor

Texas A&M University System

Neal J. Smatresk, Ph.D.

President

University of North Texas

R. Gerald Turner, Ph.D.

President

Southern Methodist University

Michael K. Young

President

Texas A&M University

Industry and Community Affiliates (ICA) Committee

The ICA Committee is composed of industry and community leaders across the state that advise TAMEST on issues of importance to the state’s industrial sector.