In a historic achievement, Ganesh Thakur, an Indian-American professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, has been appointed president of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST).
Thakur is the first-ever University of Houston (UH) faculty member to lead the state’s most prestigious scientific body.
Ganesh Thakur’s Vision for Texas Science and Innovation
Assuming his role in February 2025, Ganesh Thakur has laid out a bold agenda to elevate the University of Houston’s research prominence and position Houston as a national epicenter for scientific collaboration and innovation.
“I want to give the University of Houston – my colleagues, our professors – more exposure,” said Thakur. “This is where the best professors from UH, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and beyond get to collaborate.”
About TAMEST and Its Mission
TAMEST is composed of over 350 members of the U.S. National Academies and includes eight Nobel laureates, making it Texas’s highest-level scientific institution. The academy acts as a bridge between academia, government, and industry, addressing pressing challenges in health, engineering, energy, and the environment.
As TAMEST president, Ganesh Thakur is tasked with overseeing the organization’s strategic direction, operations, and its high-profile annual conference, which convenes thought leaders from across the country.
The next conference, scheduled for February 2026 in San Antonio, will center around climate change and its wide-reaching impact.
“I was a champion of this topic,” Thakur explained. “It’s important for people working in these fields to understand the societal implications of climate issues.”
Leadership that Elevates the University of Houston
According to Pradeep Sharma, dean of the Cullen College of Engineering, Ganesh Thakur’s leadership role at TAMEST is a moment of pride for the University of Houston and a major milestone in its journey toward research excellence.
“Ganesh’s role at TAMEST will give UH’s scientists and professors the exposure they deserve,” Sharma said. “Our faculty ranks among the best in the world, and together the members of TAMEST will achieve great things.”
Thakur believes that TAMEST’s collaborative environment will serve as a motivational platform for UH faculty and researchers across Texas. “It really creates a positive motivation and inspiration for our professors,” he said.
Ganesh Thakur: Bridging Institutions and Driving Impact
Beyond raising UH’s profile, Ganesh Thakur’s presidency aims to strengthen academic ties among Texas’s premier institutions, including UT Austin, Texas A&M, Rice University, and others, fostering joint research projects and policy influence.
Through his term, which runs through 2027, Thakur is determined to shine a spotlight on Houston’s scientific and technological talent, helping the region gain national and global recognition for innovation and discovery.
