Bhimu Patil, Ph.D., a Regents Professor and Inaugural Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has received a 2022 Outstanding Researcher award from the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, ASHS.
Patil, who works for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, is director of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center as well as director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Center of Excellence for melon improvement at Texas A&M.
He was recognized with the award on July 30 at the ASHS annual conference in Chicago.
About the award
The ASHS Outstanding Researcher award is one of the most prestigious awards recognizing horticultural crop scientists. The award is given to individuals with an outstanding record in research on one or more horticultural crops in one or more areas of horticultural research for 10 or more years.
“Dr. Patil’s work to improve human health through fruit and vegetable research is an outstanding example of how we are bringing agriculture together to help horticulture, nutrition and medical sciences better address worldwide needs,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “His work is recognized around the world, and this award is a testimony to the esteem in which global colleagues hold Dr. Patil for his research accomplishments and leadership.”
Patil received the award for his record of exceptional research, distinguished teaching and visionary leadership in administration. He is internationally recognized for his expertise and research on foods for health and related educational programs.
About Patil’s research
Patil’s systems-wide farm-to-table approach to research includes includes examining pre- and post-harvest effects on bioactive compounds, isolating and characterizing these compounds from different fruits and vegetables, and understanding their roles in human health. Through these research efforts, he also has developed strong working relationships with produce industry stakeholders.
“Dr. Patil has been a pioneer in addressing the connection between horticultural crops and their impact on human health,” said Amit Dhingra, Ph.D., head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences. ”His long-standing commitment to research on foods for health has had a tremendous impact on horticultural industries in the state of Texas and globally.”
Patil also has a distinguished record of achievement in education, including leading the development of three unique courses linking agriculture, human health and sustainability.
He has secured over $26.5 million in collaborative grants and over $17.1 million for his research and education program, including highly competitive federal grants.
Patil’s further accomplishments
Patil has published 232 peer-reviewed articles. He has presented 21 international keynote/plenary presentations and has given more than 200 invited presentations. He has also earned many awards, including a Healthy Living Lifetime Achievement award from the Texas International Producers Association; Distinguished Service Award from the Division of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, AGFD, of the American Chemical Society; and Outstanding Graduate Educator Award by the American Society for Horticulture Sciences, ASHS. He also has been named a Fellow by AGFD, ASHS, Brazilian Horticulture Society, Indian Horticulture Society and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He also received the Texas A&M University Distinguished Award for Research by the Association of Former Students in 2022.
At the national and international level, Patil has chaired committees for the American Society for Horticultural Science, providing key direction on topics related to foods for health. He has also served as AGFD chair, organizing symposia and discussions on key agricultural topics. Currently, he is the division chair of Horticulture for Human Health of the International Society for Horticultural Sciences.
Patil has also provided important guidance and inspiration for numerous graduate, undergraduate and high school students. He has served as the chair/co-chair on 43 graduate committees, supervised 30 visiting scientists/postdoctoral research associates and more than 50 undergraduate/high school students. His students received 40 awards. Several of his graduate students are from other countries, including India and his home state of Karnataka.
“I am truly honored as this award is not only a recognition of my personal scholarship, but also of all members of our research team, my mentors, scholars, graduate students, teachers and administrators,” Patil said. “It is also a recognition of the many collaborators in the college and university as well as collaborators in the state, country and world.”
Patil noted that graduate students and postdoctoral research associates have played key roles in his research program, which has been recognized as one of the outstanding research programs in foods for health at the global level.
He said as a member of the ASHS for 28 years, receiving this prestigious award has also challenged him “to continue the path and keep mentoring a new generation of researchers.”
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