Texas A&M Inducts Hagler Institute’s Class Of 2024-25

The Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University inducted 19 Hagler Fellows and one Distinguished Lecturer — the largest class in its history — during its annual gala in February in the Bethancourt Ballroom. University and institute officials officially welcomed the latest class of scientists, engineers and scholars, all of whom are recognized internationally for their research and achievements.

The Class of 2024-25 includes experts in fields that include behavioral ecology, advanced manufacturing, quantum science and international law. Members of the new class will collaborate with faculty, researchers and students in the colleges or schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Business, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Architecture, as well as the Energy Institute and the Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering.

“At the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, our goal is not merely to make a headline, but more importantly, to make a difference,” Director Junkins said during his remarks to an audience of more than 300 donors, faculty members, university administrators and their guests. “Each year, we welcome world-renowned scholars and researchers who are not only at the forefront of their fields but are also dedicated mentors and leaders. Their collaboration with Texas A&M faculty and students fuels groundbreaking research, drives innovation and elevates the university’s academic stature. The impact of their work extends far beyond our campus, shaping the future of science, engineering, medicine, business, and the humanities on a global scale.”

Since its inception in 2010, the Hagler Institute has attracted 146 world-class researchers to the Texas A&M campus: 135 Hagler Fellows and 11 Distinguished Lecturers. Of these, 16 have joined Texas A&M’s permanent faculty.

“The Hagler Institute is inexorably changing the academic landscape of Texas A&M in an undeniable way,” Provost and Executive Vice President Alan Sams said in his remarks. “Thirteen years ago, there were just 11 National Academy members teaching at Texas A&M. Today, that number has grown to 57, with two members serving in dual academies, totaling 59 memberships. These distinguished scholars and researchers have helped drive over $1.27 billion in research expenditures across the university last year. The presence of the Hagler Fellows not only elevates our faculty and research enterprise but also provides transformative learning experiences for our students, shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

The 19 newest fellows are:

• Susan C. Alberts, Robert F. Durden Distinguished Professor of Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University – behavioral ecology, physiology, and genetics of wild populations of large mammals. Member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Gregory B. Baecher, Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering, University of Maryland College Park – risk and reliability of civil infrastructure. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Engineering.
• Julia A. Beatty, Chair Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases, City University of Hong Kong – tumor virology and oncogenic viruses in companion animals. Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Collaborating with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
• James O. Berger, Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Statistics, Duke University – Bayesian statistical analysis and decision analysis. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Pradeep K. Chintagunta, Joseph T. & Bernice S. Lewis Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing, University of Chicago – quantitative marketing and development economics. Fellow of INFORMS. Collaborating with Mays Business School.
• John F. Cryan, Professor and Chair, University College Cork – microbiota-gut-brain axis research. Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Collaborating with the College of Medicine.
• Vikram Deshpande, Professor of Materials Engineering, University of Cambridge – micromechanics of materials. Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Engineering.
• J. Gary Eden, Intel Alumni Endowed Chair Emeritus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – laser physics and photochemistry. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering.
• Alexei V. Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley – supernovae, black holes, and cosmic expansion. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Youssef M.A. Hashash, Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – geotechnical earthquake and tunnel engineering. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture.
• Marsha I. Lester, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania – atmospheric chemistry. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Jeffrey R. Long, C. Judson King Distinguished Professor, University of California, Berkeley – clean energy materials. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Ajay P. Malshe, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University – advanced manufacturing and bio-inspired design. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Mary Pat Moyer, Founder, CEO and Chief Science Officer, INCELL Corporation LLC – biomanufacturing and regenerative medicine. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Medicine.
• Theodore S. “Ted” Rappaport, David Lee/Ernst Weber Professor of Electrical Engineering, NYU – 5G millimeter wave pioneer. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Engineering.
• Nick Sahinidis, Gary C. Butler Family Chair in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology – mathematical optimization and machine learning. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the Energy Institute.
• Beth A. Simmons, Andrea Mitchell University Professor of Law, Political Science and Business Ethics, University of Pennsylvania – international relations and human rights. Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
• Christopher Tang, Edward Carter Chair in Business Administration, University of California, Los Angeles – global supply chain management. Fellow of INFORMS. Collaborating with Mays Business School.
• Kevin A. Wise, Distinguished Senior Technical Fellow and Vice President, The Boeing Company – aircraft and hypersonic vehicle autonomy. Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Collaborating with the College of Engineering.

The institute also announced one Hagler Distinguished Lecturer:

• Michael F. Goodchild, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Santa Barbara – geographic information science (GIScience). Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Collaborating with the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture.

Including the Class of 2024-25, the list of Hagler Fellows includes four Nobel laureates, a Wolf Prize recipient, a recipient of the Hubble Medal in Literature for Lifetime Achievement, a recipient of the National Medal of Science, an awardee of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and a recipient of both the National Humanities Medal and the Johan Skytte Prize, the most prestigious award in political science.