Research is an integral enterprise within any institution of higher education; it is particularly central to a health science center established, in part, to facilitate superior science and translational research to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve.  Identifying ways to recognize those who contribute to growing excellence in the research enterprise is vitally important. 

Throughout the Texas A&M Health Science Center, there are a number of HSC-wide as well as component-specific awards designed to recognize excellence in research, which spotlight an array of excellence from lifetime achievements to performance by relatively new scientists.  There is no need to duplicate these awards.   

Certainly, exceptional achievements such as achieving Nobel status will be recognized as a significant accomplishment.  But there are also many whose efforts or actions may not themselves achieve a scientific discovery but without whose efforts the research enterprise would not flourish.  The Presidential Award for Excellence in Research is designed to identify contributions to the research enterprise that enhance, facilitate or accelerate the HSC research program. 

The recipient(s) of this award could range from exceptional philanthropy; extraordinary contributions to recruitment, growth and excellence; or raising the bar for the entire enterprise.  It might be given to an exceptional individual whose innovations have advanced science and scientific discovery or to entities that facilitated the creation or sustainability of a noteworthy research partnership. 

No specific criteria are provided for nominees for this particular award.  The intent, however, is to acknowledge accomplishments or contributions not otherwise recognized through existing awards.  

Specific nomination procedure:

Nominees should be endorsed by the respective dean or director (if the nominee is from within the HSC) and submitted to the vice president for research and graduate studies (VPRGS) for consideration.  Nominations should include a rationale for the merits of the nominee for this recognition.  All nominees for this award will be forwarded to the president by the VPRGS. 

Previous Award Recipients:

• 2010: Dr. Rena N. D'Souza, BCD
• 2008: Dr. Richard Ewing
• 2006: Governor Rick Perry