For the first time in its history, the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology has placed a 兔子先生 professor in its top leadership role.
Professor Ganesh Thakur, a professor of petroleum engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering, has led TAMEST as its president since February, a role he hopes will bring more visibility to UH鈥檚 programs.
鈥淚 want to give the 兔子先生 鈥� my colleagues, our professors 鈥� more exposure. I want to create an opportunity for them to be more visible,鈥� Thakur said. 鈥淭his is where the best professors from UH, the best from the University of Texas at Austin, the best from Texas A&M University and the best from around the state get to collaborate.鈥�
TAMEST is the highest-level educational organization in the state, with 350 national academy members and eight Nobel laurates, many of whom are considered to be among the top in their fields of engineering, science and medicine.
The organization鈥檚 goal is to bring these minds together to solve real-life problems impacting society, ranging from disease vaccinations to energy storage.
鈥淥ur professors get to see what our colleagues are doing in other universities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t really creates a positive motivation and inspiration for our professors.鈥�
As president, Thakur will oversee the daily operations of TAMEST and is responsible for hosting the organization鈥檚 annual conference, which invites researchers from across the country to discuss opportunities on a particular topic.
The next conference will be hosted in San Antonio in February 2026 and focused on climate change and climate-related information.
鈥淚 was a champion of this topic,鈥� Thakur said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for people working in these fields to know what kind of impact climate issues have on our society and our people.鈥�
Thakur鈥檚 tenure as president will end in 2027, and within that two-year timeframe his No. 1 goal is to showcase Texas 鈥� and Houston in particular 鈥� as a hub for the top scientists in the country.
鈥淕anesh鈥檚 role at TAMEST will give UH鈥檚 scientists and professors the exposure they deserve,鈥� said Pradeep Sharma, dean at the Cullen College of Engineering. 鈥淥ur faculty rank among the best in the world, and together the members of TAMEST will achieve great things.鈥�