TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Council of
Principal Investigators

2009 Election Results

Each spring, the Office of the Vice President for Research and CPI conduct a PI census. These census results are used to allocate CPI seats to the colleges/units represented on the CPI. Elections are conducted to fill newly allocated seats or those vacated seats due to expiring CPI member terms.

The 2009 Spring CPI nomination and election process. Before the election, the nominees were asked for provide a brief statement about why they would want to serve on the CPI if elected. the newly elected CPI members will serve a three-year term beginning September 1, 2009. Those brief statements of the newly elected or re-elected members are below, including the election results as of May 22, 2009 as follows:

Council of Principal Investigators 2009-2010 Chair Election Results

This election identified a CPI member to serve as the 2009-2010 CPI Chair

  • Nancy Amato (Computer Science & Engineering) – “This is a very important time for the Texas A&M research community. We have interim leadership at the university and are currently searching for a new president. The system is taking a greater and more active interest in the research enterprise than ever before, and the relationship between the university, AgriLife, the HSC, TEES, and TTI and the System is being redefined.  Changes are underway or under consideration that may impact our ability to compete for funding and our ability to perform our research. The CPI has the responsibility to be vigilant and to advocate for the interests of the research community. This is always important, but particularly important now.  As CPI Chair, my priorities would be to ensure that the CPI has a seat at the table for these important decisions and to work proactively and constructively with all parties to improve research conditions. I would also call on CPI members, and PIs in general, to represent the CPI by serving on committees and ensuring that the interests of researchers receive proper consideration. A broad participation in these activities will lead to a stronger and more effective CPI and a better integrated research community.”

Council of Principal Investigators 2009-2010 Vice Chair Election Results

This election identified a CPI member to serve as the 2009-2010 CPI Vice Chair

  • Terry Thomas (Biology) – “The Council of Principal Investigators (CPI) has had a major impact on Research Administration at TAMU. My desire to serve as the Vice Chair of the CPI is two fold.  First, my program has been extramurally funded for more than 25 years.  Over this time, I have benefited greatly from the research environment at TAMU, and I want to see this environment maintained and enhanced.  In particular, I want to ensure that the Research Foundation retains its significant and critical role in administering extramurally funded research.  To that end, I currently serve on the TAMU Research Foundation Principal Investigator Advisory Committee.  Second, I was Head of the TAMU Department of Biology for more than ten years.  I understand the difficulties of faculty establishing and maintaining their research programs in terms of space, infrastructure and staffing so they can achieve their goals. As a member of the CPI, I will press for continued and enhanced research infrastructure, competitive startup for new investigators, and enhanced resources available to established investigators. In summary, I can bring experience and perspective to the CPI, both as a PI and a former administrator.”

College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences CPI Election Results

This election identified three (3) PIs from CVM to fill the three seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • *Bhanu Chowdhary (Veterinary Integrative Biosciences) – “I would like to thank the PIs at CVMBS to nominate me once again for the vacant CPI representative position reserved for our college.  I gratefully accept the nomination and hereby express my continued interest to serve as one of the three college representatives to CPI, if supported and elected. I have served as a CVMBS CPI representative for one term. My interest in this body is primarily to serve as a voice for the PIs at CVMBS and to communicate their opinions, concerns and suggestion at this important university-wide forum. While the CPI directly communicates all aspects of the proceedings back to the PIs, I will take initiative to discuss CVMBS specific issues with PIs at the college and present them at monthly meetings of the CPI. My interest and active participation within the Council can also be gauged from the fact that I am also a member of the CPI Executive Committee and a CPI representative to the International Programs Enhancement and Coordination Committee (IPECC). I will be honored to serve as a CVMBS representative if re-elected.”
  • Noah Cohen (Large Animal Medicine & Surgery) – No statement provided
  • Jane Welsh (Veterinary Integrative Biosciences) – “I have been at Texas A&M for almost 20 years and the CPI is a very important voice for the research faculty and has been very effective in improving the research infrastructure and environment.  My research focus is multidisciplinary and concerns understanding autoimmune disease using a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Our research involves virology, immunology neuroscience, genetics, cell and molecular biology and we collaborate with many scientists across campus. I think my experience at Texas A&M will be beneficial to CPI in the future.”

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences CPI Election Results

This election identified five (5) PIs from COALS to fill five of the seven seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • Clinton Allred (Nutrition and Food Science)– “Pursuit of scholarly activities is the hallmark of academic freedom.  For many faculty, the ability to conduct research and explore areas of interest of their own choosing is why they were attracted to academia in the first place.  The ability to pursue these activities is in part based on the efforts of individual faculty.  However, it is also reliant on proper infrastructure which includes state of the art equipment, adequate facilities, talented graduate students and professional staff, and a supportive administration.  We have many of these things at Texas A&M, but as with any program there is always room for improvement and growth.  I am interested in serving as a representative on the Council of Principal Investigators because of this group’s commitment to developing the infrastructure that is necessary for successful research programs at Texas A&M.  Additionally, since arriving at A&M, I have been committed to enriching undergraduate education by mentoring many students in undergraduate research projects in my laboratory.  I was fortunate enough to conduct research as an undergraduate and appreciate the value of this experience.  With opportunities like the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, many A&M students are reaping the benefits of learning in a research setting.  However, there remains a need to expand these opportunities.  If elected to serve on the CPI, I look forward to helping develop a research environment at Texas A&M that will benefit these students while also enabling us to attract high caliber graduate students.  Ultimately, it is this environment that will position each of us as PIs to be successful in our chosen fields of study.  Having the opportunity to participate in the CPI as they work towards this goal will be a privilege.”
  • Mary Bryk (Biochemistry/Biophysics)– “I consider nomination to the CPI as an opportunity for me to contribute to the improvement of the research environment at Texas A&M University. I look forward to the opportunity to voice the concerns, opinions and ideas of colleagues in my department and others in COALS at CPI meetings and to communicate back to them about issues being addressed by the CPI.  The CPI provides an effective mechanism for the Texas A&M University research community to influence decisions made by the administration that impact the pursuit of research.  I would like to serve on the CPI in order to take on a more active role in improving research conditions for faculty, staff and students at Texas A&M University.”
  • <Kim Dooley (Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications)– “As a member of the Academic Master Plan Steering Committee, I have a birds-eye view of the strategic initiatives in teaching, research, and engagement.   I would like to serve on the CPI to systematically review and provide research infrastructure and support for faculty and other research personnel.  The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the landmark research roadmap requires leadership and facilitation across colleges and administrative offices.  I would diligently work for improved communication and faculty governance.”
  • Mike Kolomiets (Plant Pathology & Microbiology)– I believe that the Council has a very important role in shaping up the policies of Texas A&M  administration in achieving one of the most important objectives  for the nearest future to  improve the research environment for the scientists of all levels including faculty and students and help elevate national and international recognition of Texas A&M as one of the best research and higher education institutions.
  • Gregory Reinhart (Biochemistry/Biophysics) – “As a PI of NIH sponsored grants for the past 25+ years, 14 of them on this campus, I feel that I am acquainted with most of the issues that affect PIs within our university community.>

Dwight Look College of Engineering CPI Election Results

This election identified three (3) PIs from Engineering to fill three of the nine seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • Mladen Kezunovic (Electrical & Computer Engineering)– “I want to contribute to the discussions and decisions facing CPI by sharing my experience of leading research projects of non-trivial size (average $.5M/year) for my 22 years at TAMU ECEN Dept. I feel TAMUS is facing some critical research expansion and focus issues that require new strategic vision and I would like to be a part of such important undertaking through CPI’s contribution”
  • Lawrence Rauchwerger (Computer Science & Engineering)– “Throughout my 13 years at TAMU I have been an active PI obtaining research funds from NSF, DOE, DHS, the National  Labs as well as IBM, Intel and HP. As a member of the CPI  I will try to work with the administration to  reduce the burden on the PIs  to prove compliance  with  various policies, like reporting time and effort for various projects. I will be very attentive on the new initiative to develop an export control policy on campus that could restrict the free flow of ideas and contacts with other researchers. I will encourage change in the way Physical Plant operates on campus in order to facilitate research. In general, I will try to work with the administration to improve research conditions at TAMU.”
  • Ramesh Talreja (Aerospace Engineering)– “I am an active PI who believes a research university like ours can reach a higher level of excellence by letting the researchers spend their time and energy doing research and seeking funding support for that purpose. The administration should minimize interference and maximize supporting the PIs. My service to my co-researchers will be to give them an outlet in CPI to air their concerns and to work with the administration to remedy those concerns.”

College of Geosciences CPI Election Results

This election identified one (1) PI from Geosciences to fill one of the three seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • Niall Slowey (Oceanography) – “Through the my own research activities and my knowledge of the research activities of others, I am familiar issues facing researchers. I also strongly believe that successful research programs are essential for the college ato achieve both its teaching and research missions. So, I am willing to serve as a member of the CPI to help improve the our university’s research climate and facilitate research endeavors.”

Mays Business School CPI Election Results

This election identified one (1) PI from Geosciences to fill one of the three seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • Joobin Choobineh (Information & Operations Management)–“I believe that I am uniquely qualified to serve as a member of the Council of Principal Investigators.  These qualifications are summarized as follows: Since 1986, I have obtained in excess of $1,200,000 in research and educational grants; I have served on the Council of Principal Investigators September 1997 through August 1999 and September 2006 through August 2009; In recognition of my research productivity, I received the 1994-1995 Faculty Research Fellowship award of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University; I have served as the chair of 8 and committee member of 11 Ph.D. students; I have been the chair or a committee member of hundreds of Master of Science students; I am an Associate Editor of INFORMS Journal on Computing and a member of the Editorial board of the International Journal of Business Information Systems; I have served as a referee for the National Science Foundation and numerous peer-reviewed journals; My administrative experience includes several years of directing the Master of Science and Ph.D. Programs in Information and Operations Management at Texas A&M University.”

College of Science CPI Election Results

This election identified three (4) PIs from the College of Science to fill four of the five seats allocated to the college on CPI.

  • Wolfgang Bangerth (Mathematics) – “Wolfgang is a computational scientist in the Department of Mathematics. Since coming to A&M in 2005, he has been on some 10 grants, mostly in collaboration with colleagues from various engineering departments, all of which require the use of extensive compute resources. Unfortunately, compute resources are relatively underdeveloped on our campus compared to other universities; as a consequence, Wolfgang will represent the needs of computational scientists in particular. Wolfgang is also a member of the Supercomputing Advisory Council at Texas A&M.”
  • Jean-Luc Guermond (Mathematics) – “I want to help the CPI to defend the highest scientific standards in the university and in our society in the large.”
  • Emil Straube (Mathematics) – “It is important that the PIs have a voice in the decision making process of the university. I believe that the CPI can provide that voice.”
  • Terry Thomas (Biology) – “The Council of Principal Investigators (CPI) has had a major impact on Research Administration at TAMU. My desire to serve as the Vice Chair of the CPI is two fold.  First, my program has been extramurally funded for more than 25 years.  Over this time, I have benefited greatly from the research environment at TAMU, and I want to see this environment maintained and enhanced.  In particular, I want to ensure that the Research Foundation retains its significant and critical role in administering extramurally funded research.  To that end, I currently serve on the TAMU Research Foundation Principal Investigator Advisory Committee.  Second, I was Head of the TAMU Department of Biology for more than ten years.  I understand the difficulties of faculty establishing and maintaining their research programs in terms of space, infrastructure and staffing so they can achieve their goals. As a member of the CPI, I will press for continued and enhanced research infrastructure, competitive startup for new investigators, and enhanced resources available to established investigators. In summary, I can bring experience and perspective to the CPI, both as a PI and a former administrator.”

*denotes re-elected members