Engineering faculty named University Distinguished Professors

Three faculty members from Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering have been recognized as University Distinguished Professors for groundbreaking contributions to their disciplines. They are among just eight faculty honored with the prestigious title in 2026. 

The recipients from Texas A&M Engineering include Drs. Vanderlei Bagnato, Enrique Lavernia and Julie Schoenung. The honorific title is the highest achievement a faculty member can earn from Texas A&M. Recipients are internationally recognized by their peers for research and scholarship, having made impactful, transformational contributions to their fields. 

“Drs. Bagnato, Lavernia and Schoenung personify the culture of excellence that shapes our college,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “Their accomplishments continue to advance their respective disciplines while forging a path for future engineers to expand the frontiers of innovation. Congratulations to these academic pioneers for this fitting recognition.”

Dr. Vanderlei Bagnato 

Bagnato is a biomedical engineering professor at Texas A&M and a professor of physics at the IFSC Institute of Physics of São Carlos in Brazil. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Science as well as a Hagler Faculty Fellow. 

“This recognition carries profound meaning to me and brings new responsibilities, not only as a scholar, but as someone whose academic journey began in Brazil and was shaped by the values, spirit and aspirations of two great institutions and countries,” Bagnato said. “Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to grow within vibrant scientific communities, surrounded by colleagues and students who continuously inspire me to pursue meaningful research and impactful teaching.” 

Bagnato’s work spans photo-dynamic therapy, biomedical optics and atomic and nuclear physics. He is a pioneer in the production of cold atoms, with major contributions in Bose-Einstein condensation experiments, quantum turbulence and the production of the first atomic clock in Latin America. He has also made significant contributions to the use of photodynamic action for the treatment of cancer and microbiological control.

Bagnato’s biomedical optics research program has generated several startup companies and created new employment opportunities. His team also conducted the first clinical applications of photodynamic therapy in Brazil for cancer treatment and microbiological control. He has developed and published educational materials for students and early-career researchers across a wide range of optics topics and their applications while establishing a dedicated TV channel to broadcast lectures and demonstrations to audiences throughout Brazil.

Dr. Enrique Lavernia 

Lavernia serves as the M. Katherine Banks Chair as well as a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M.

“This distinction reflects the contributions of many talented students, postdoctoral researchers and collaborators with whom I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career,” Lavernia said. “Materials science advances through collective effort, and I am grateful to be part of a community dedicated to educating the next generation of engineers while developing materials and manufacturing technologies that address important societal and industrial challenges.”

Lavernia’s research examines the processing–microstructure–property relationships in advanced structural materials, with emphasis on processing fundamentals and physical behavior. His work also explores deformation mechanisms in metallic systems and the development of high-entropy and refractory alloys for extreme environments. 

Lavernia has received numerous international honors recognizing his contributions to materials science and engineering, including membership in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Inventors and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. 

Among his major awards are the Acta Materialia Gold Medal, the TMS Bruce Chalmers Award, the ASM International Gold Medal, and the ASM Albert Sauveur Achievement Award, recognizing sustained contributions to understanding the fundamental relationships between materials processing, microstructure and mechanical behavior. 

Dr. Julie Schoenung

Schoenung is a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the mechanical engineering department. She also serves as the Wofford Cain Chair III. 

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition. The field of materials science stands at a pivotal moment, where the development of advanced materials must be closely aligned with the principles of sustainability and responsible resource use,” Schoenung said. “My work has been motivated by the opportunity to design materials and manufacturing systems that not only enable technological progress but reduce environmental impact and support a circular materials economy. I am grateful to collaborate with outstanding students and colleagues whose efforts continue to advance sustainable materials solutions for society’s most pressing challenges.”

Schoenung’s research spans advanced materials processing, additive manufacturing, sustainable materials engineering, and the design of ceramics, composites and metals for energy and electronics applications. She has also pioneered approaches to sustainable materials selection and recycling technologies, including research on electronic waste and circular materials systems.

Schoenung has also been recognized for her contributions to the profession through several major awards including the Edward DeMille Campbell Memorial Lectureship and Gold Medal Award from ASM International, as well as the Distinguished Lectureship in Materials and Society from TMS and ASM International. At Texas A&M, she was recently recognized as an inaugural recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars Award.