TAMIU Graduate Receives Prestigious Charles H. Turner Award, Presents Research at National Conference

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) graduate Emily Flores, who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biologyin Spring 2026, has received the prestigious Charles H. Turner Award from the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) in recognition of her undergraduate research.

The highly selective award enabled Flores to present her research on bat acoustics at the Animal Behavior Society's annual conference held in July in Ohio.

The Charles H. Turner Award is presented annually to outstanding undergraduate researchers to support their participation in the society's annual meeting. Recipients receive travel funding and participate in a one-day professional development workshop designed to integrate students into the Society and the broader animal behavior research community.

"At Texas A&M International University, experiential learning opportunities such as undergraduate research enable students to collaborate closely with expert faculty mentors while applying classroom knowledge to meaningful research and creative activity," said Dr. Vijay Sudararaj, TAMIU assistant professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology and Chemistry, "Emily's accomplishment exemplifies the opportunities our students have to engage in impactful research, present their work at professional conferences, and earn recognition through competitive national awards. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and look forward to seeing the contributions she will continue to make to the scientific community."

The Animal Behavior Society is an international scientific society dedicated to promoting the study of animal behavior through research, education and outreach. The Charles H. Turner Award recognizes exceptional undergraduate researchers and honors pioneering zoologist Charles H. Turner, whose groundbreaking work helped shape the field of animal behavior.

Flores' achievement reflects TAMIU's commitment to providing transformative educational experiences that empower students to excel academically and professionally through research, scholarship and experiential learning opportunities.

For more information, please contact TAMIU's Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180 or email prmis@tamiu.edu