Texas A&M Division of Research awards inaugural Frontiers in Research Summits grants to three faculty teams

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Since its launch in September 2025, Frontiers in Research Summits (FRS), supported by Texas A&M University’s Division of Research (DOR), has sparked strong interest, attracting 20 competitive proposals in its initial funding cycle. Following evaluation by a review committee, three of those proposals were selected for funding up to $75,000:

• “The Domestic Chemical Product Forum for a Safe, Sustainable and Secure Future,” led by co-principal investigators:
  • Dr. Emily Pentzer (associate dean for research and professor of chemistry/College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus (associate dean for research and professor of chemical engineering/College of Engineering; associate agency director/Texas Engineering Experiment Station)
  • Dr. Karen Wooley (W.T. Doherty-Welch Chair in Chemistry and distinguished professor of chemistry/College of Arts and Sciences; director/Texas A&M Laboratory for Synthetic-Biologic Interactions).
• “Frontiers in Rare Earth Element Recovery from Electronic Waste,” led by co-principal investigators:
  • Dr. Jingjing “Jenny” Qiu (associate professor of mechanical engineering/College of Engineering)
  • Dr. Shiren Wang (professor of industrial and systems engineering/College of Engineering)
  • Dr. John Gladysz (distinguished professor and Dow Chair in Chemical Invention/College of Arts and Sciences).
• “3D Printing of Ceramic and Composite Materials for Extreme Environments,” led by co-principal investigators:
  • Dr. Zhijian “ZJ” Pei (Mike and Sugar Barnes Professor II of industrial and systems engineering/College of Engineering)
  • Dr. Kelvin Xie (associate professor of materials science and engineering/College of Engineering)
  • Dr. Amir Asadi (associate professor of engineering technology and industrial distribution/College of Engineering).

“Frontiers in Research Summits is designed to spark bold thinking, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and position Texas A&M at the forefront of emerging research fields,” said Dr. Costas Georghiades, interim vice president for research. “By bringing together leading scholars from across disciplines and institutions, these summits help shape the next generation of ideas that will drive discovery, innovation and real-world impact.”

Recipients of FRS grants are required to help organize the summit, including a tour of relevant Texas A&M facilities to showcase the university’s research capabilities, and submit a white paper to summarize key research ideas, opportunities and strategies for advancing the summit research topic. They may also participate in two outcome surveys to document progress on metrics.

“These summits are intentionally structured to produce results,” said Dr. Henry Fadamiro, associate vice president for research, strategic initiatives. “By combining targeted funding with clear expectations for white papers, collaboration and documented progress, we are creating a framework that helps translate ideas into impactful research outcomes.”

FRS was created to advance transformative ideas and accelerate interdisciplinary collaboration, positioning Texas A&M at the forefront of strategic emerging fields. The program is open to all principal investigator-eligible faculty from Texas A&M University and its branch campuses, as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Proposal teams can request up to $75,000 to host their summit at Texas A&M. The DOR provides logistical support, including hotel negotiations, signage, registration and marketing.

About Research at Texas A&M University: Texas A&M University is one of the world’s leading research institutions, dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good. As a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant university, Texas A&M conducts research that spans multiple disciplines and addresses global challenges. According to the National Science Foundation’s most recent Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Texas A&M ranks 13th nationally among public universities based on research expenditures of more than $1.39 billion in fiscal year 2024. Texas A&M was also the first research institution in Texas to surpass $1 billion in annual research expenditures, a milestone achieved in fiscal year 2021.