Austen Ehrie Honored with Prestigious Dillon Graduate Student Award

By: TAMU Biology

Texas A&M Biology graduate student Austen Ehrie has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lawrence S. Dillon Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Research and Teaching, recognizing his exceptional promise as both a scientist and educator.

The Dillon Award, established in 2001 in memory of esteemed faculty member Dr. Lawrence S. Dillon, celebrates graduate students who demonstrate excellence in research or teaching. Ehrie, mentored by Assistant Professor Courtney Fitzpatrick, has distinguished himself through his innovative work in both realms.

Ehrie’s research centers on understanding how social dynamics influence the evolution of animal traits, specializing in primate reproductive biology. As an undergraduate at Indiana University, Ehrie developed a novel, non-invasive method for measuring howler monkey testes size—a challenging task given the species’ tree-dwelling habits. As described by Fitzpatrick: “The idea for the project and the execution was driven entirely by Austen.” His pioneering use of parallel laser photogrammetry yielded hard-won data and resulted in a first-author publication in the American Journal of Primatology.

At Texas A&M Department of Biology, Ehrie continues to push boundaries, recently analyzing decades of baboon behavioral data from the renowned Amboseli Baboon Research Project. His work challenges long-standing assumptions about primate reproduction, showing that copulation frequency does not necessarily predict conception rates. This project typifies Ehrie’s initiative and analytical rigor. Last year, his promise was recognized nationally with a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Next, and excitingly, Ehrie plans to travel to Amboseli, Kenya in 2026 to investigate whether male-infant relationships buffer infants from the effects of maternal adversity.

Ehrie’s commitment to education is equally impressive. Esteemed among faculty and students alike, he has distinguished himself as trusted and sought after Teaching Assistant for the intense laboratory component of our introductory honors biology courses. He was selected as a peer instructor to mentor other teaching assistants and has spearheaded a Teaching-As-Research Fellowship project investigating the use of documentary video clips to enhance student learning. His study, which he designed from concept to execution, is expected to yield new insights into science pedagogy.

Reflecting on Ehrie’s character, Fitzpatrick notes, “His desire to contribute is genuine.” Whether in the lab, classroom, or wider campus community, Ehrie’s dedication and humility set him apart—qualities that honor the legacy of Dr. Dillon and the spirit of the award. As he continues his doctoral studies, Ehrie has made clear his ambition: to pass on his passion for biological discovery to future generations as a faculty member at a teaching university.