Annette Fuller 2023-09-15 08:12:02
UNT’s chief research and innovation officer says keep your mind open to possibilities.
When the word “innovation” is in your title, it pays to listen, contemplate, team build and research.
Those tasks come naturally for Dr. Pamela Padilla, who is University of North Texas’ vice president for research and innovation.
“You have to allow yourself to think creatively and keep your mind on, ‘What could be next?’” Padilla said. “Thinking about what hasn’t been discovered becomes difficult if you’re not listening to the conversation.”
Padilla’s office oversees grants and contracts administration and promotes ways to capture research funds for initiatives that improve lives here on this planet. UNT has received more than $63 million in research grants so far in fiscal year 2023, from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, to name a few.
“It’s wonderful that UNT is known for some of the STEM fields [science, technology, engineering and math],” she said. “When you build ideas and research in STEM fields, federal agencies tend to be interested.”
For example, UNT leads a newly formed team of other North Texas universities, organizations and businesses that are researching drone driverless vehicles to help supply chain logistics. The team received $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program.
Teams such as this one spark innovation and creativity, and a team can go further than the individual talents of each member, Padilla said.
“Collaboration as well as an accepting, productive environment are important,” she said. “People need to feel they belong and ideas are important.”
Padilla, who joined UNT in 2002 as a professor of biological sciences, still finds time for her own research and to work with students. Her projects center on how environmental and dietary stress affect people on the cellular, genetic and molecular levels. She has earned numerous fellowships and grants, including a National Science Foundation CAREER award.
“We look at how cells respond,” she said, adding that her research may help with heart attacks, strokes and more.
Padilla is proud that even some undergraduates at UNT have a chance to be involved in research projects, and of course graduate students often are highly involved.
“Students can get academic credit for the research work they do,” she said.
Her advice on how to innovate on a personal level?
“I think you have to have a very open mind, in terms of not shutting down concepts that are new,” she said. “Listen to people, take in the information, and good things will happen.”
Hometown
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Where she lives now
Denton
Family
husband James Nunns, an adult daughter, stepsons and five dogs
Education
bachelor of science degree from the University of New Mexico; doctoral degree in biology from the University of New Mexico; postdoctoral fellow at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Interesting fact
“I advocate for rescue animals and take care of dogs in my home. I have one dog now that is diabetic, and caring for him actually helps me in my research.”
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Dr. Pamela Padilla
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