“Bringing research development support for The Texas A&M University System members

to support the research enterprise across the System.”

Issue 46

December 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

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TAMUS Research Excellence Fund

TAMU-CT Student Research Symposium

Around the System

Rural Impact at Work: Highlights & Features

Research Development Resources

Events

Funding Opportunities

Communities of Practice

Sponsor News

Chief Research Officers

The Texas A&M University System Research Excellence Fund

The Texas A&M University System proposes the establishment of a Research Excellence Fund (REF) to significantly elevate research capacity, competitiveness, and impact across the A&M System. The REF will accelerate research growth at all member institutions with dedication to strategic programs that advance discovery, innovation, workforce development, and national competitiveness.

The fund will operate as a competitive, merit-based program, with priority placed on collaboration among A&M System members, alignment with state and national priorities, and high-return investments that create long-term research advantages.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Central Texas hosts 3rd annual Student Research Symposium

Texas A&M University‑Central Texas recently held its third annual Student Research Symposium, where undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of majors, including engineering, cybersecurity, psychology, organizational studies, and more, presented original research in an open-format poster session. The event was organized by the school’s Division of Research and Innovation, in collaboration with its University Center for Applied Research and Engagement (UCARE). It included faculty judges who evaluated the presentations.

Among the projects showcased were a sustainability initiative to design vertical-axis wind turbines to power campus light poles and cybersecurity work focused on secure smart homes and privacy in machine learning, illustrating how students are tackling real-world technical and societal challenges. The symposium emphasizes translating academic research into broadly understandable insights, helping participants build communication, teamwork, and applied-research skills.

Around the System: Headline News

Texas A&M Launches $25 Million Initiative To Expand Faculty And Boost Academic Capacity

Texas A&M University, College Station, will invest $25 million to hire approximately 167 new faculty universitywide over the next two years, following a recent meeting where The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the allocation of Available University Funding (AUF).

UTA, TEES open biomanufacturing hub

The University of Texas at Arlington and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station celebrated the grand opening of a new biomanufacturing training and research hub at Pegasus Park in Dallas on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. The National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing satellite campus (NCTM2) will provide hands-on training for students and industry partners, state-of-the-art lab space, and support for biotech startups, expanding workforce development and research opportunities in North Texas.

Texas A&M Research Breakthrough Could Help Regrow Lost Limbs – 256 Today

Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, have uncovered a key element of joint cartilage regrowth, bringing them one step closer to regrowing human limbs. Their goal is to help the 2.1 million people in the United States living with limb loss, a population expected to more than triple by the year 2060 because of the increase in vascular diseases such as diabetes.

Texas A&M Partners with Sandia National Laboratories to Build the Next Generation of National Security Experts – TAMUS Nuclear Security Office

Texas A&M University, College Station, continues to strengthen its role as a leader in national security education and workforce development through its partnership with Sandia National Laboratories’ Critical Skills Recruiting (CSR) Program—a unique initiative that prepares graduate students to address some of the most pressing technological and cybersecurity challenges facing the United States.

Temple College and A&M–Central Texas Sign Agreement to Launch University Center – TAMUCT

Temple College and Texas A&M University–Central Texas signed a memorandum of understanding that expands their partnership and establishes TAMUCT as the sole university partner operating within the new University Center inside Temple College’s recently opened Main Building. The agreement, signed by Temple College President Dr. Christy Ponce and TAMUCT President Dr. Richard Rhodes, formalizes a growing collaboration that provides students seamless transfer opportunities to earn four-year, upper-division degrees on the Temple College campus.

WT Establishes Panhandle Institute for Engineering Research – KFDA News

West Texas A&M University has announced the establishment of a new institute and its first funded project, which will investigate new water sources for farming and livestock operations. The project, which will develop units to access and convert brackish water into usable water sources for farming and livestock operations, is the first project under the banner of the Panhandle Institute for Engineering Research or PIER.

Texas A&M University Again Ranks In The Top 10 Public Schools For Game Design – TAMU PVFA

Texas A&M University, College Station, is once again ranked among the top 10 public schools nationally for game design, according to recent rankings by Animation Career Review. Game design is part of the Visualization program in the College of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Arts.

Texas A&M Student Helps Create the First 3D Turkey Gut Model to Fight Blackhead Disease In Turkeys – KBTX

Leila Chang, an undergraduate at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, is part of a research breakthrough that could help protect the turkey industry from a devastating disease. Chang helped develop the first-ever three-dimensional model of a turkey gut, a laboratory tool that researchers say will enable them to study and combat blackhead disease outside of live birds.

Texas A&M Students Preserve NASA History for New Aerospace Medicine Library – Houston Chronicle

Texas A&M students are working to catalogue, digitize, and preserve the declassified documents, VHS tapes, and photos of Dr. John Charles, former chief scientist of NASA’s Human Research Program. The collection was donated to Dr. Jeffery Chancellor, Director of the Aerospace Medicine Program at the College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, who worked with Charles.

Texas A&M University at Galveston lands gift, mulls new programs – Houston Business Journal

Texas A&M University at Galveston has received an endowment at a scale it has never seen and is considering adding new programs to support the growing shipbuilding industry on the Gulf Coast.

Texas A&M establishes statewide horticultural advisory council – AgriLife Today

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, has announced the establishment of the Texas Horticulture Industry Advisory Council—a coalition of leaders representing one of the state’s most diverse and economically significant sectors. The council brings together voices from across Texas’s $70 billion horticulture industry.

Vince Kellen Named Chief Information Officer for The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System today named Dr. Vince Kellen as its next Chief Information Officer, effective December 1. Kellen brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and enterprise information technology, including a strong record of success in AI, supercomputing, and digital transformation.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas Names Dr. John Howe as Next Dean of Students

Texas A&M University–Central Texas has named Dr. John Howe as its next dean of students, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Clifton W. Jones, said Dr. Howe will bring an experienced leader to guide the services and programming designed to support students’ success and degree attainment.

Dr. Barry Lambert Named Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Barry Lambert has been named Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tarleton State University, following approval by The Texas A&M System Board of Regents. Dr. Lambert brings more than two decades of academic leadership and research experience to the role, most recently serving as Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Student Retention and Persistence at Tarleton State University.

AgriLife Extension names new district administrator in South Texas

Dr. Andrea Valdez has been appointed as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service district administrator of over 20 counties in District 12, headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, effective Dec. 1. Dr. Valdez is a certified culinary medicine professional and has spent much of her career educating the community on health, chronic disease prevention, mental wellness and healthy living.

Around the System: Funding Success

Dr. Andrea M. Ogilvie, Assistant Dean for Student Success at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, received a $5 million grant to establish an industry-focused semiconductor scholarship program. Awarded through the National Science Foundation’s S-STEM program, this grant funds the Semiconductor Manufacturing, Research and Testing (SMART) Scholars program. The program aims to directly address the need for engineers in the semiconductor industry by levera… between the Texas A&M University College of Engineering and Blinn College District.

Dr. Nandita Chaudhuri, Senior Research Scientist at the Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, was awarded $2,480,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enhance support systems for older adults across Texas. Lasting three years, the grant will fund two major initiatives aimed at integrating behavioral health, chronic disease management, and social engagement into Senior Nutrition Programs.

Dr. Jianrong Li, Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, was awarded $2,170,748 by the National Institutes of Health to research BIN1, the second most prevalent genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. This study is expected to uncover potential pathogenic mechanisms for this common risk factor.

Timothy D. Ramsey, Director of IT for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, was awarded $1,394,260 from the National Science Foundation to test a new approach to expanding research data infrastructure support to emerging research institutions.  The project will produce a publicly available Pilot-to-Scale Blueprint, annual symposia, and evaluation reports to support the national replication of its findings. 

Dr. Chukwuzubelu Ufodike, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology & Industrial in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is  a co-investigator on a three-year, NASA-funded $1,200,000 project, “VITAL: Virtual Institute for Temporal and Additive Learning.”  VITAL will develop AI-driven, biodegradable sensor networks to monitor vulnerable coastal and deltaic ecosystems that are increasingly at risk from extreme weather and biodiversity loss.

Dr. Rebecca Anne Seguin-Fowler, Professor of Nutrition at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, was awarded $538,998 from the National Institutes of Health to implement Deep in the Heart, a contextually tailored, evidence-based, multilevel intervention addressing the cardiac health of women in Rural South Texas.

Drs. Mathew Kuttolamadom and Jyhwen Wang from the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station were awarded $457,172 from the National Science Foundation to support a three-year REU Site: Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Metrology & Inspection for a cohort of undergraduate students.

Dr. Albert Mulenga, Professor and Department Head of Veterinary Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, was recently awarded $423,106 by the National Institutes of Health to investigate unstudied roles of tick inhibitors of metalloproteases in the transmission of the Lyme disease agent by blacklegged nymphal ticks. His goal is to provide insights into the intricate interactions at play, shedding light on the specific ways these proteins contribute to the success of the Lyme disease agent in establishing infection.

Dr. Shinjiro Sueda, Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, received $290,000 from the National Science Foundation to create a new class of computational tools for physiologically accurate human motion simulation by bridging the critical gap between computer graphics and biomechanics. This project will deliver a next-generation, open-source physics simulator that accurately models musculotendon dynamics for graphics and other fields.

Dr. Mark Olson, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, was recently awarded a $250,000 National Science Foundation grant to support the development of fluorescent molecular sensors for pollutant detection. An additional $70,000 award from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund fuels his team’s work on visible-light photopolymerization.

Dr. Matthew Minus, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Prairie View A&M University, has secured nearly $200,000 in NASA funding through the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to support a three-year research project focused on advancing Earth science, expanding research capacity at PVAMU, and strengthening pathways into the national STEM workforce.

Dr. Noushin Ghaffari, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Prairie View A&M University, has secured nearly $190,000 from Sandia National Laboratories to develop advanced machine learning techniques that aim to improve bioenergy crop research. The project, titled “Machine Learning Analysis of Hyperspectral Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy Data,” will focus on enhancing the identification and localization of photosynthetic pigments in plant cells.

Dr. Therese Pennell, Associate Professor of Communication at Prairie View A&M University, was awarded nearly $33,000 from a USDA-funded outreach initiative to help farmers in Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama grow and market native grassland seeds that support sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. The effort builds on PVAMU’s ongoing native grass research by connecting scientists, farmers, seed companies, and agencies to share best practices and strengthen regional networks.

Around the System: Honors

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved 17 faculty members as Regents Professors and 13 agency service, extension, and research professionals as Regents Fellows in recognition of their exemplary performance, professional service, and contributions to their fields. These prestigious designations honor individuals whose work advances research, education, outreach, and innovation across the A&M System and the state of Texas, and include a multiyear stipend and formal recognition for the duration of their System employment.

Three leading statistics professors at the College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Dr. Anirban Bhattacharya, Dr. Huiyan Sang, and Dr. Xianyang Zhang, have been awarded prestigious fellowships by the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. These fellowships are designed to recognize early- and mid-career faculty who exhibit excellence in both teaching and scholarship and show great promise for their future career.

Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, announced the recipients of its inaugural Rogers/Huang Medal, a prestigious award for the best collaborative research paper by a Ha…. This year’s winning paper, “Supersonic puncture-healable and impact resistant covalent adaptive networks,” is authored by Zhen Sang, Hongkyu Eoh, Kailu Xiao, Dmitry Kurouski, Wenpeng Shan, Jinho Hyon, Svetlana A. Sukhishvili, and Hagler Fellow Edwin “Ned” Thomas.

Dr. Hung-Jue Sue and Dr. Yue Kuo, distinguished faculty at Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, have been named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Class of 2025, one of the highest honors in academic innovation. Their pioneering work in nanomaterials, microelectronics, and semiconductor technologies, combined with their deep commitment to student mentorship and industry partnerships, underscores their far-reaching impact on both engineering research and real-world technological advancement.

Dr. Humberto Perotto, Associate Professor of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, was awarded the Paul Loeffler Fellow award from the Texas Section Society for Range Management in recognition of outstanding contributions to the rangeland management profession.

Hughes Simpson, Assistant Director to the Texas A&M Forest Service, received the Laurence C. Walker Distinguished Service to Forestry Award from the Western Gulf States Society of American Foresters for continual service and leadership in the field of forestry and service to their local or regional community.

Drs. Katherine Smith and Lawrence Murphy Smith from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi at RELLIS were recently awarded the KPMG Outstanding Published Manuscript Award for their research into human trafficking at the August 2025 annual meeting of the Gender Issues and Work-Life Balance Section of the American Accounting Association.

Dr. Mark Ward, Professor of Communication at Texas A&M University–Victoria, has been honored by the Religious Communication Association for his theoretical contributions to speech communication research in his original study, “Speech Codes in Private, Locally Public, and Communal Speaking,” with its 2025 Book Chapter of the Year.

Dr. Sonia Hernández, Professor of History at College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, has been selected to receive the Bolton-Cutter Award from the Western History Association. This award recognizes the best journal article on any phase of the history of the Borderlands (i.e., Floridas to the Californias) from the sixteenth century to the present.

Drs. Jennifer Denham and Stephanie Hart at West Texas A&M University were awarded the Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award. This award was established in 2018 to recognize teacher educators, those who prepare future instructors and train them to provide exemplary education in their eventual classrooms.

Around the System: Research Highlights

The National Science Foundation’s SECURE Analytics Initiative, led by Dr. Kevin Gamache, Chief Research Security Officer for The Texas A&M University System and Director of NSF SECURE Analytics, has expanded to include Finch AI as a new partner supporting the Argus analytics platform. The collaboration integrates advanced AI capabilities to strengthen research-security analysis and provide data-driven insights that help safeguard the U.S. research enterprise.

Dr. Deepti Gupta, assistant professor at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, has published a paper as part of her ongoing NSF-funded research project that develops advanced machine-learning methods for detecting and analyzing anomalies in smart environments. The study focuses on leveraging state-of-the-art algorithms to improve the accuracy and reliability of anomaly detection, with implications for enhanced monitoring and automation in cyber-physical systems.

Dr. Shashank M. Dravid and his laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, are working to understand the link between chronic pain and autophagy, the cell’s “cleanup crew” for non-opioid pain relief. This discovery marks a pivotal step toward reimagining chronic pain therapy, shifting the focus from symptom suppression to restoring the brain’s natural repair pathways.

Dr. Ana Diaz Artiles, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is leading research into parabolic flights operated by Novespace in Bordeaux, France. These flights create brief periods of microgravity, during which researchers can test various countermeasures to mitigate spaceflight-related health risks resulting from fluid shifts within the body. Additional collaborators include Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the University of California Davis, the University of Florida, the Spanish Space Agency, Centro de Instrucción de Medicina Aeroespacial, and Lockheed Martin. 

Ph.D. student, Harrison Coker, under the guidance of Drs. Julie Howe and Peyton Smith from Texas A&M AgriLife Research are investigating how brewing byproducts can improve soil health in lunar and Martian regolith. The project, Optimizing Agriculture in Simulated Interplanetary Soils (OASIS), launched to the International Space Station on Aug. 1 on NASA’s Crew-11 mission as part of the Jaguar Space One payload before returning to Earth Aug. 9, when the samples were brought back to Texas A&M.

Drs. Thomas Estabrook and Weimin Xi from Texas A&M University–Kingsville collaborated with researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service to analyze the 2021 Dixie Fire in California. Their findings, published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, identified five influential predictors of high burn severity in a multi-model average of logistic regression models: maximum hourly wind gust speed, ladder fuels, basal area of mid-sized trees, basal area of snags, and mean maximum annual temperature.

Drs. MV Pennington, Jennifer Zoller, Chelsie Huseman, Sarah White-Springer, and Julie Harlin from Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Dr. Jessical Leatherwood from Tarleton State University; and Colleen L. O’Reilly from Texas A&M University, College Station recently studied the effects of competition stress of both riders and horses on performance. Specifically, they quantified the physiological stress responses surrounding equestrian events by using salivary cortisol concentrations (SCC) as an indicator of stress. Their findings, published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, show that higher pre-competition SCC in riders and horses was negatively correlated with performance scores and overall placing.

Dr. Akhilesh K. Gaharwar and his team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station have developed a new method to provide damaged cells with new mitochondria, restoring energy output to its previous levels and significantly improving cell health. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, received funding from the NIH, the Welch Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. 

Dr. Robert Coulson, Professor of Entomology at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, has partnered with postdoctoral research associate Dr. James Tracy and researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute to study the migration routes of the monarch butterfly. The team is using science-based mapping and modeling to mitigate risks to monarchs during migration and promote pollinator health throughout Texas.

Drs. Zechun Cao, Brian Kishiyama, and Jeong Yang from Texas A&M University–San Antonio have developed a novel spatial NN query processing framework, PrivNN, that allows users to perform exact NN queries without revealing their location. PrivNN was recently implemented and evaluated on real-world spatial datasets. Their results were published in the Journal of Information Security and Applications.

Dr. Liwen Zeng, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, recently partnered with researchers at East Tennessee State University to assess the impact of Choose Well, the first statewide contraceptive access initiative in the southeastern US. Their findings, published in Contraception, found that contraceptive access initiatives that prioritize optimal counseling along with equitable access to contraceptive methods can promote reproductive health and support women in achieving their reproductive goals.

Dr. Sukrutha Vangipuram, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, collaborated with scientists at the University of North Texas to provide a state-of-the-art architecture and design utilizing distributed storage. Their approach, published in Information, utilizes technologies affiliated with national agricultural departments and regional utility companies to make IncentiveChain practical.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research researchers Dr. Taylor Donaldson, Dr. Pete Teel, Dr. Rose Wang, and Dr. William Grant are using advanced data modeling and location intelligence by combining GPS-tracked cattle movement with computer simulations to uncover hidden refuges where cattle fever ticks survive and spread in South Texas. Their work is guiding smarter eradication strategies against the ticks that transmit bovine babesiosis, offering new science-based tools to protect cattle and strengthen regional control efforts.

Dr. Fred Raley, Department Head of Tree Improvement and Nurseries at the Texas A&M Forest Service, recently found that an increase in farm acreage—coupled with ongoing consumer demand and opportunities for new seed-improvement programs—signals a positive outlook for the Texas Christmas tree industry.

Dr. Jungjoo (Jay) Lee, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, and his team recently conducted a longitudinal study showing that just twenty minutes of activity twice weekly helps halt dementia in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Their findings were published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.

A recent study by Drs. Abraham Abby Sen, Jeen Mariam Joy, and Murra E. Jennex from West Texas A&M University, examines the ethical challenges that arise when artificial intelligence is used to moderate healthcare advertising on social media, analyzing AI’s limitations, the risks of healthcare misinformation, and social media platforms’ ethical responsibilities. Published in Computers, the article warns that AI moderation of healthcare advertisements poses risks of misinformation and other issues for consumers.

A new study led by Drs. Jun Wang and Lee A. Shapiro from the College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, has uncovered that traumatic brain injury triggers neuroinflammation that disrupts the brain’s cholinergic system. This system is a key network governing cognition, motivation, and impulse control. This inflammation-driven disruption, in turn, increases alcohol consumption and impairs cognition. Their study, published in Translational Psychiatry, was sponsored by the National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Dr. Stephen Courtright, Professor of Management and Director of the Flippen Leadership Institute at Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, recently co-authored a study published in the Journal of Management. The authors found that physical attractiveness has a measurable—and surprisingly strong—effect on who’s viewed as leadership material, influencing decisions across industries and institutions. They conclude that physical attractiveness is consistently linked to perceived warmth and competence, in turn influencing who is seen as a leader.

Drs. Zhijian (ZJ) Pei and Hongmin Qin, Professors at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, are studying how human airway cells respond to extreme pressure and heat by using 3D bioprinting to model the extreme conditions faced by astronauts and pilots. The study, supported by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, could help improve safety in aviation and spaceflight, while accelerating how scientists study and treat respiratory diseases.

Dr. Meri Davlasheridze, Associate Professor of Marine & Coastal Environmental Science at Texas A&M University at Galveston, is researching links between mental health, economic resilience, and post-disaster recovery.  Her research reveals a statistically significant association between natural disasters and an increase in poor mental health days—a factor that ripples through communities by reducing labor force participation, job productivity, and negatively influencing a wide range of socioeconomic outcomes.

Dr. Xiyu Peng, Assistant Professor of Statistics at the College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, has developed a fast, scalable, and user-friendly model that decodes the arrangement of cells in complex tissues, like cancer, named SpatialTopic. The research, published in Nature Communications, marks a significant advance in understanding how diseases such as cancer progress and respond to treatment. 

New research from Dr. Billy Quarles, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at East Texas A&M University, suggests that M-dwarf planets may be missing something important: long-lasting moons. The study, published in The Astronomical Journal, shows that the moons around M-dwarf planets may not survive long enough to help stabilize the planet or support early conditions for life.

Carlos Rodriguez, Informatics & Epidemiology Program Director at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), is turning patterns of disease found in raw data into clear interpretations that help steer prevention and protection. Rodriguez’s team built a system that visualizes test data and maps trends across Texas — tools that strengthen the state’s disease surveillance capabilities and, ultimately, uphold and expand TVMDL’s real-world impact.

College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, students have developed an AI-powered robotic dog that uses advanced memory-driven navigation to see, remember, and respond with human-like precision, potentially transforming search-and-rescue and disaster response missions. The system, combining voice-command functionality and multimodal AI with camera input, enables efficient autonomous navigation in unpredictable or unmapped environments. This research was published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Rural Impact at Work: Highlights & Features

Texas A&M Experts Discuss Rural Health Care Challenges on National Rural Health Day – KBTX

National Rural Health Day highlights the ongoing challenges facing rural health care in Texas, where accessibility issues and provider shortages continue to impact communities. Dr. Kia Parsi and Melissa Lackey from the Rural and Community Health Institute, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, explain that rural healthcare remains challenged due to the smaller size of rural communities and the difficulties in providing efficient, high-quality care.

Launch of the Texas Rural Health Advocacy Action Alliance Quarterly Meetings – TRHA (Event)

The Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA) is officially launching the Texas Rural Health Advocacy Action Alliance, which will serve as the Association’s advocacy and collaborative arm. The first meeting is scheduled for December 16th, open to all, and will be held virtually. Click here to learn more and register.

Rural Health Care Leadership Conference – AHA (Event)

The 2026 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference will take place from February 8-1, 2026, in San Antonio, bringing together more than 1,000 rural health leaders dedicated to advancing rural health and delivering high-quality care to patients and communities. The conference will feature top rural practitioners sharing actionable strategies and resources aimed at improving access to care, leveraging unique workforce approaches, and implementing digital technologies.

A New Medical Training School Is Coming To South Texas – KIII TV

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is moving ahead with a major effort to solve one of Texas’ biggest problems: the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural communities. The university is developing an $80 million South Texas medical facility designed to train nurses, physician assistants, and future medical doctors, all without sending them off to large metropolitan areas.

College of Nursing Secures Nearly $4 Million to Prepare Rural Nurses – TAMU Vital Record

The College of Nursing, Texas A&M University, College Station, has received a four-year, $3.9 million federal grant from HRSA to bolster the state’s rural nursing workforce through expanded rural-focused curriculum and clinical experiences. The Connecting Nurse Education to Rural Communities in Texas (ConNECT) project aims to prepare more students in the College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for rural practice by integrating rural health competencies in the nursing curriculum, increasing clinical experiences in rural settings, and growing partnerships with rural health care facilities.

Farmhope Expands Mental Health Care And Education To Ag Industry – TAMU Vital Record

Free counseling and stress management support are available to Texas agricultural producers and their families through FarmHope, a collaborative effort of the Telehealth Institute, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Farmers and ranchers face some of the highest rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide in the nation. Yet many rural residents struggle to access care due to distance from providers, workforce shortages, limited available services, and persistent stigma.

East Texas Nurses Create Mobile Pediatric Clinic to Address Healthcare Gap – KTRE

In the rural counties surrounding Deep East Texas, access to healthcare without barriers can be extremely challenging. In an effort to make healthcare more accessible and convenient, one East Texas family created a mobile pediatric clinic to help reach more people where they are. Pediatric nurse practitioners Gerald and Kelli Morris decided to open up a new clinic, with a twist: a mobile pediatric clinic. Mustard Seed Pediatrics, the mobile clinic, can meet anyone, anywhere within an hour’s radius of Livingston.

23 rural fire departments receive a grant from Texas A&M Forest Service – crossroadstoday.com

Twenty-three fire departments in eight Victoria-area counties will receive $25,000 each from the Texas A&M Forest Service to help purchase fire and rescue equipment.

The Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) Extension Connection, Volume 1 | Edition 3

From the Classroom to the Community: Advancing STEM and Workforce Readiness with CEN and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The November 2025 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) Update outlines how federal research operations have resumed following the government shutdown and major shifts in research policy, compliance, and funding structures, including deregulatory actions under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. It reviews changes in cost-reimbursement rules from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE), updated biosafety and research-security requirements, and significant court rulings impacting research funding. In addition, the report introduces new resources to help research institutions navigate evolving regulatory and administrative challenges, offering a practical guide for research administrators.

Summary of Executive Orders v 18 November 25, 2025

The Texas A&M University System Research Development website features federal agency resources to support System researchers with checklists, outlines, templates, graphic and design concepts, and other information for NSF, NIH, USDA, DOE, DOD, and NASA. We continually add new resources to support specific research opportunities.

RDO Website

EVENTS

RAISE AI Bridge Summit @ Texas A&M

AI Bridge is a focused, one-week training and team-formation symposium and seed grant initiative to catalyze interdisciplinary teams, translate advanced AI into novel solutions, and support seed projects for future extramural funding.

Date: January 5-9, 2026

Location: The Center for Infrastructure Renewal

Website

Registration

2026 Academic Security and Counter Exploitation Program

ASCE fosters a sense of community among university research security professionals, uniting them in a collaborative defense against emerging threats.

Date: February 24-25, 2026

Location: Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center

Website

The 20th ASCE ASD Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environments, Earth & Space

Date: April 13-16, 2026

Location: Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center

Website

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Information on the Tech Labs Initiative for the U.S. National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), intends to launch the Tech Labs program: a bold, flexible, and outcomes-driven initiative designed to accelerate practical research with real-world applications. Tech Labs will support full-time research, development and innovation (RDI) teams focused on overcoming persistent barriers to the commercialization of emerging technologies. These teams will benefit from operational autonomy, milestone-based funding and the ability to engage across academia, industry, national laboratories, and nonprofit sectors.

Microelectronics Operations, Sustainment, Acquisition, and Infrastructure Capabilities (MOSAIC) | Project No. 25-15

Key Areas of Interest include:

Modernization of Fielded Weapon System Microelectronics – Ongoing efforts that need more advanced tools and methodologies to accelerate and efforts not attempted because of cost and schedule limitations.
IP/Data Reuse and Commonality – Standardized frameworks to enable reuse of technical data, IP blocks, and chiplets across programs.
Digital Twin Integration – Use of digital twins for verification, validation, and sustainment planning throughout the lifecycle.
Digital Environment Development – Cloud-based, secure, and scalable infrastructure to support microelectronics acquisition and sustainment lifecycle activities.
Engineering Trade Space Analysis – Integrated workflows and tools that enable early trade studies and system optimization.

Texas Resilient Landscapes Initiative Offers $3.2 Million in Reforestation Funding
Texas forest and woodland landowners can receive up to $80,000 for reforestation practices on their property after natural disaster losses. Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Resilient Landscapes Initiative is offering $3.2 million in cost-share funding over the next four years. The initiative focuses on supporting reforestation efforts in areas vulnerable to the risk of loss from disasters or environmental changes. The agency is now accepting funding applications through January 23rd.

Valero Freshman Engineering Summit & Scholarship
Valero’s Freshman Engineering Summit is a competitive, early-talent opportunity that introduces first-year engineering students to careers in the energy and refining industry through hands-on activities, networking, and professional development. The program provides participants with direct exposure to Valero engineers, insight into real-world engineering challenges, and a potential pipeline to future internships and full-time roles.

Funding Opportunities

Funding Archives

Research Development

COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE (CoP)

The Texas A&M University System researchers and staff are invited to join our monthly gathering of the Research Development Communities of Practice (CoP) group, meeting via Zoom on the final Friday of each month at noon CST. We aim to facilitate learning from and about RD offices within TAMUS, offering valuable resources to enhance your endeavors. For further information, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to connecting with you.

Join our next virtual meeting by registering for the CoP

We have decided to cancel the December COP. Happy holidays! We will be back with updates in Spring 2026.

SPONSOR NEWS

Department of Education

Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities interactive tool for U.S. Department of Education Student Aid Grants

National Science Foundation

Notice No. 149: Updates to NSF Research Security Policies

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing this correspondence to inform organizations, and Authorized Organizational Representatives, that starting December 2, 2025, the new requirements set forth in NSF Important Notice No. 149 will take effect.

What you need to know:

Proposals submitted before December 2, 2025, including those submitted during the recent lapse in appropriations, are not subject to those requirements originally set to take effect on October 10, 2025.

As of December 2, 2025, such new certifications are required at the time of proposal submission within the Cover Sheet, Biographical Sketch, and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms. These include new certifications related to:

Completion of research security training by all senior/key personnel; and

An institution of higher education’s status regarding contracts or agreements with any Confucius Institute.

Organizations are required to provide supporting documentation, including copies of grants, contracts, and agreements, upon request by NSF.

To assist research organizations and investigators, NSF has published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page summarizing the new requirements, certification procedures, and relevant timelines. Access the FAQs here.

If you have questions regarding these requirements, please contact researchsecurity@nsf.gov for additional guidance.

NSF seeks input on the TIP workforce development roadmap

NSF’s Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate (TIP) has released a “Workforce Development Roadmap” to strengthen the U.S. workforce in critical and emerging technology fields (such as AI, biotech, and quantum).

They’re asking for feedback from individuals and organizations on the roadmap. Input is welcome through an online form, email, or mail by January 15, 2026.

National Institutes of Health

NIH shake-up to grant decision-making sparks concern over political meddling

NIH is dropping its longtime practice of using fixed “paylines”, peer‑review score thresholds, as the main determinant for grant approvals. All 27 of its institutes and centers will now consider additional factors, including institute priorities, the applicant’s career stage and funding history, and even geographic location.

Critics warn this overhaul could open the door to political meddling in research funding decisions, undermining merit‑based judgment and potentially skewing which science gets funded.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Building a Sustainable Metals Infrastructure: NIST Report Highlights Key Strategies

NIST has published a report identifying strategies for developing a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient U.S. metals processing infrastructure, where metals are used and reused more efficiently throughout the economy. The report highlights key challenges that must be addressed to achieve this goal, including a lack of robust standards for recycled content and supply chain vulnerabilities for critical materials.