Texas Tech's nationally-honored meat judging coach and long-time animal science professor Mark Miller has been selected to receive the American Society of Animal Science's Meat Science Research Award. The prestigious honor was presented on Monday (July 16) at the organization's annual meeting in Phoenix.

Miller is currently a Texas Tech professor of meat science and muscle biology, and the university's San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. He has conducted a number of research projects related to meat quality, tenderness, body composition and food safety.

Other honors include the Texas Tech University System Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award (2010); CASNR Outstanding Research Award (2008); Texas Pork Producers Association Hall of Fame (2007); Texas Tech President's Academic Excellence Award (2003); and the American Meat Science Association Distinguished Teaching Award (2001).

Prior to joining Texas Tech in 1990, Miller served as a research associate at Texas A&M University and later an assistant professor of meat science at the University of Georgia. Miller received his bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science from Texas Tech. His doctorate in meat science is from Texas A&M.

In addition to his teaching duties at the university, Miller directs an award-winning meat judging program. Last year the team won the national championship, making it one of the most successful teams since meat judging began at Texas Tech in 1938. Meanwhile, Miller led the Meat Science Academic Quiz Bowl Team to back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010, adding to national titles the team members won in 2003, 2005, 2007.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Leslie Thompson, chairman and professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at 806-742-2805 ext 224 or leslie.thompson@ttu.edu

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