UTA Professor Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

The National Invasive Species Council will honor University of Texas at Arlington professor emeritus of biology Robert McMahon with a Lifetime Achievement Award Feb. 22-28 in Washington, D.C.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior, which help to direct the Council, will present the award during National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2015.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes outstanding leadership and achievement over the course of a career in the areas of research, prevention, management and/or control of invasive species. McMahon is widely known for his research on invasive aquatic mollusks, particularly zebra and quagga mussels, Asian clams and apple snails.

"I consider this award the capstone to my more than 42 year career studying aquatic invasive species as a faculty member in UT Arlington's Department of Biology, "McMahon said. "I feel very honored to be chosen by this national organization to receive this award. "

James Grover, interim dean of the UT Arlington College of Science, said McMahon's contributions over the years exemplify the growing importance of UT Arlington as a national research university.

"Dr. McMahon is an outstanding scholar whose work has had impact across the United States and beyond, "Grover said.

The U.S. National Sea Grant, Texas Commission on Environmental quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Electric Power Research Institute and several chemical and power generating entities have supported McMahon's work during his career. He presently collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the 100th Meridian Initiative and his ongoing research on the population dynamics of zebra mussels in warm Texas water bodies. McMahon developed monitoring and risk assessment programs for the mussel with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 1988, he founded the Center for Biological Macrofouling Research at UT Arlington, which supports research and outreach on aquatic invasive species macrofouling control.

Criteria for Lifetime Achievement Award includes visionary leadership, innovation and creativity, impact on the prevention/control of invasive species and ability to form successful collaborations.