Texas A&M Research Symposium Honors Excellence: Seven Postdoctoral Researchers Receive Prestigious Awards

Seven postdoctoral researchers received awards for flash talks or poster presentations during Texas A&M University’s seventh annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium.

Forty-three postdocs presented their research to more than 155 peers, faculty and staff from 10 colleges and schools.

Held at the Memorial Student Center on Sept. 18 to observe National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the symposium awarded honors in two categories:

Outstanding Flash Talks

• First place:  Dr. Mayank Garg, College of Engineering (mentored by Dr. Limei Tian, Department of Biomedical Engineering)
• Second place: Dr. Anil Pant, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science (mentored by Dr. Zhilong Yang, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology)
• Third place: Dr. Garhett Wyatt, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (mentored by Dr. Weston Porter, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology)

Outstanding Poster Presentations

• First place: Dr. Rebecca Legere, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (mentored by Dr. Noah Cohen, Department of Veterinary Sciences)
• Second place: Dr. Meichen Wang, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (mentored by Dr. Timothy Phillips, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology); Dr. Oscar Benavides, College of Engineering (mentored by Dr. Alex Walsh, Department of Biomedical Engineering); and Dr. Mohammad Zulkifli, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (mentored by Dr. Vishal M. Gohil, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics) 

“We are very pleased with the broad participation and high number of attendees from across Texas A&M campuses,” said Dr. Andreea Trache, faculty fellow for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Division of Research, and associate professor, School of Medicine with affiliation to the College of Engineering. “This annual event showcases the postdoctoral scholars’ contribution to the research enterprise at Texas A&M. The quality of the presentations reflected their professionalism.”

Speakers for the symposium included Dr. Gerianne Alexander, associate vice president for research, Division of Research; Dr. Ping Yang, associate dean for research, College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Allison C. Rice-Ficht, senior associate dean for research, School of Medicine; and Dr. Prabhakar Pagilla, associate dean for research, College of Engineering.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Lori Conlan, deputy director of the Office of Intramural Training and Education, National Institutes of Health, and a Texas A&M former student.

Executive committee members of the Texas A&M Postdoctoral Association (PDA), Texas A&M Health PDA and School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences PDA organized and coordinated the symposium in collaboration with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Division of Research; Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, School of Medicine; and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.