WT’s Second Powell Fellow Named; Will Continue Research into Cyst Treatment

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A West Texas A&M University engineering professor is the University’s second Twanna M. Powell Fellow, receiving $50,000 to further his research into materials that may help advance treatment options for cysts and seromas in humans and some animals.

Dr. Vinu Unnikrishnan, associate professor of civil engineering in the College of Engineering , was announced as a Powell Fellow during the first of the University’s May 16 commencement ceremonies.

“The Twanna M. Powell Fellows Program supports, recognizes, and advances research excellence at West Texas A&M University,” said Dr. Neil Terry, executive vice president and provost. “Dr. Unnikrishnan is a leading researcher in his field, and this award will expand the opportunity for students to work with him to advance the scholarly pursuit.”

Unnikrishnan and co-inventors first patented biofidelic materials in 2018, and his research since that point has won him three additional patents.

“Biofidelic material” behaves biomechanically like human tissue but does not contain any biological material or attribute. The material can be produced in any form or shape, and can be stored at room temperature. It can even replicate the properties of different types of diseased tissues, allowing the study of those properties when biological material is scarce or unavailable.

Photo: Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of West Texas A&M University's College of Engineering, hangs a medallion around the neck of Dr. Vinu Unnikrishnan, associate professor of civil engineering, to signify his status as the second Twanna M. Powell Fellow during commencement ceremonies May 16.

Unnikrishnan’s current research focuses on biofidelics that are fluid-filled composite materials, used to study fluid-filled cavities like seromas or cysts in human and animal tissue.

He said that the fellowship will provide crucial support for his ongoing research into those materials.

“Developing these novel materials could help us understand how human or bovine tissues with fluid-filled cavities behave mechanically, especially in a laboratory setting,” Unnikrishnan said. “Successful development of these surrogate models has the potential for advancements in medical intervention techniques for managing cysts and seroma like improvements in surgical meshes, imaging-based diagnostics, accelerated wound healing and more.”

Unnikrishnan already has pioneered the use of biofidelic material for possible use in wearable electronic devices and prosthetics, as well as specially crafted shoe insoles that can potentially reduce irritation and the growth of ulcers on diabetic patients’ feet.

“Dr. Unnikrishnan’s selection as a Powell Fellow reflects the caliber of faculty we are proud to have in the College of Engineering,” said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean. “His innovative work with biofidelic materials exemplifies the kind of research that not only advances science but also holds real potential to improve lives in our region and beyond. This recognition underscores our commitment to fostering faculty whose research aligns with WTs mission of regional impact and global relevance.”

Don Powell, a longtime Amarillo resident and WT alumnus, is the former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., who later led the federal government’s recovery efforts following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He served on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents from 1995 to 2001, including a four-year term as its chair. He currently serves on the Amarillo Independent School District board.

He and wife Twanna Powell are members of WT’s Old Main Society and the Buffalo Council. Don Powell was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002.

The Powell Fellow program is open to professors across WT’s six Colleges. The deans of each College have created a selection committee that nominates a faculty member from within its ranks. Those nominees then go before a University-wide committee, which includes representatives of the Powell family.

Preference is given to faculty members with established records of accomplishments both in research and in the classroom.

The inaugural Powell Fellowship was presented in May 2024 to Dr. Maxine De Butte , professor of psychology and associate department head in the  Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work  in the  Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences .

Unnikrishnan joined the College of Engineering faculty in 2019 after earning degrees in his native India and a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. He previously was an assistant professor at the University of Alabama.

Recruiting and retaining the best faculty and encouraging regionally impactful research are two key goals of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World .

That plan is fueled by the historic  One West  comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $165 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—