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Dr.  Melissa Grunlan and Dr. Le Xie photos with the college of engineering logo
Dr. Melissa Grunlan and Dr. Le Xie were among 19 distinguished Texas A&M University faculty to receive 2020 Chancellor Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship Fellowships. | Image: Texas A&M Engineering

Dr.  Melissa Grunlan and Dr. Le Xie are among 19 distinguished Texas A&M University faculty honored as 2020 Chancellor Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship (EDGES) fellows.

Launched in 2019, EDGES Fellowships were developed with resources from Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp to honor, incentivize and boost mid-career faculty at the associate or early full professor rank who are making significant marks in their discipline. The recognition highlights Texas A&M’s intentional commitment to intensively support, retain and recognize faculty with significant and sustained accomplishments and the promise of continued high-impact scholarship.

“These awards recognize the priority of Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp to develop and support faculty members with national and international acclaim,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Carol A. Fierke. “The honorees are scholars with careers on-track to make high-impact contributions to enhance the state and nation, leading to national and international recognition.”

Grunlan is a professor and holder of the Charles H. and Bettye Barclay Professorship in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Xie is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Grunlan received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s in polymers and coatings from North Dakota State University, and her doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Southern California. Her current research projects focus on developing self-cleaning membranes for implanted biosensors, clot-resistant coatings for blood-contacting devices and scaffolds for bone repair and for the regeneration of osteochondral interfaces.

Xie received his bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University, his master’s degree from Harvard University and his doctoral degree from Carnegie Mellon University. His current research interests include modeling and control of large-scale complex systems, smart grid applications in support of renewable energy integration and electricity markets.

EDGES fellows retain the right to use the title throughout their tenure as faculty members in good standing at Texas A&M.

The awards join with endeavors like the Presidential Impact Fellowships and other faculty investment programs to empower and advance the careers of faculty at every level.