Dunham honored with Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award

Auburn University’s Research and Economic Development Advisory Board has selected Rex Dunham as the 2019 recipient of its Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award.

Dunham is a professor in Auburn’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and a College of Agriculture Alumni Professor. The award recognizes Dunham for his nearly four decades of collaborative, international research in the field of fish genetics and genomics.

The advisory board is made up of more than 40 industry professionals from across the country who actively support Auburn’s research efforts. The group established the award in 2014 to recognize significant research and scholarly activity that exemplify and advance Auburn’s research and scholarship mission. The recipient of the annual award receives a $25,000 grant to further his or her research.

In addition to extensive work benefitting the catfish industry, Dunham has conducted population genetics research on native sport fish populations, influencing genetic management policy of various natural resource agencies in the South. He continues to advance the field of genetic reproductive control of fish, with the goal of having traditional and molecular genetic technologies used to improve aquaculture and fisheries management while ensuring the lowest possible environmental impact.

“Dr. Dunham is an internationally recognized researcher whose work has helped revitalize the catfish industry,” said James Weyhenmeyer, Auburn’s vice president for Research and Economic Development. “The Research and Economic Development Advisory Board has made a great choice in selecting him for this award.”

During the course of his career, Dunham has obtained over $20 million in research funding and published nearly 400 scholarly works, including three manuscripts in the journal Nature. He has trained nearly 100 graduate students and has conducted joint research with collaborators in 19 U.S. states and in numerous countries across six continents. 

BY JONATHAN CULLUM