Howdy,
Once again, this summer, AgriLife Research faculty, staff and students will travel the world to share leading-edge discoveries and innovations in scientific meetings. At the same time, our top-quality support and administrative staff across Texas will continue their good work to advance our agency’s strategic priorities.
I appreciate all your contributions, which are reflected in an increase in AgriLife Research’s grant and contract success so far this fiscal year.
As of June 1, we had received more than $111 million in new grants and contracts. This is more than the same period in 2023, when we received about $103 million.
These funding amounts are the result of significant research outputs, such as publications, presentations and reports, which show why we are the leading research entity in agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences.
The 89th Texas State Legislature: Advancing intelligent systems to solve agricultural industry challenges
AgriLife Research has initiated its legislative process for the fiscal year 2026-2027 biennium.
I am pleased to share that Chancellor John Sharp and The Texas A&M University System government relations team have backed our request for legislative support of our initiative "Advancing Intelligent Systems to Solve Agricultural Industry Challenges."
Challenges facing agricultural and natural resource systems are vast and varied. They include increasingly high prices for inputs like feed, fuel, fertilizer and pesticides, which demand greater usage efficiency.
Water scarcity will continue to be an issue for both agricultural and natural resources. Labor shortages also persist across these sectors, and threats from new pests, diseases and changing environments will continue.
Intelligent systems have solved many challenges related to labor and efficiency in shipping, manufacturing, watershed management, city planning and a host of other sectors. Advancement of these technologies is critical to the next phase of sustainable agricultural production that improves lives and livelihoods. With support from the legislature, we aim to enhance our intelligent-systems capacity and programs.
Upgrades would reach 13 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers, 20 academic departments in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, as well as six institutes supported by AgriLife Research.
Administrative updates
We welcome Dr. Giovanni Piccinni, who has accepted the role of Director of the Texas Water Resources Institute. Dr. Piccinni will transition to his new role in late summer. Read more about his career and new role below.
The following administrative searches are in progress:
- Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont – Conducting final screening before an offer is made.
- Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi - Currently recruiting applicants
- Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville – Currently recruiting applicants
- Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo – Search initiated
- Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture – Search initiated
- Associate Director, Responsive Agriculture Hub within IHA – Screening internal candidates
- Director, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center – Search initiated
Special congratulations
Congratulations to Dr. Bill Murphy, Professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences in VMBS, who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Election to the National Academy of Sciences is among the highest honors a faculty member can achieve. Bill was one of 144 new members and the only faculty member from Texas A&M elected during his cycle. AgriLife Research is proud to support Bill as he continues his work in focusing on the transformational impacts on the biology of mammals and the health and conservation of mammalian species.
Recognitions also go to the following achievements:
- Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Dr. Suresh Pillai, Department of Food Science and Technology, to the Radiation Advisory Board. The Advisory Board advises the state on radiation issues and reviews the rules, policies and programs of state agencies that regulate radiation.
- The American Peanut Research and Education Society, APRES, recognized Dr. Charles Simpson for his five decades of dedicated work in preserving Arachis species materials at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville, and for advancing peanut genetics, resources-conservation and breeding.
- The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi celebrated 50 years of dedicated service to the community, and commitment to educating and empowering individuals on matters of agriculture and health.
Before we know it, fall will be here, and we will be well into our 2025 fiscal year. I hope you all have a productive summer and that you will take some time with friends and family.
Gig 'em!
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