The Distinguished Research Award
Sponsored by Conagra Brands
The AMSA Distinguished Research Award was established in 1965 and recognizes members with outstanding research contributions to the meat industry.
| Year | Name | Organization |
| 2025 | Warner, Robyn | University of Melbourne |
| 2024 | Schilling, Wes | Mississippi State University |
| 2023 | Ramanathan, Ranjith | Oklahoma State University |
| 2022 | Suman, Surendranath | University of Kentucky |
| 2021 | Barbut, Shai | University of Guelph |
| 2020 | Johnson, Bradley | Texas Tech University |
| 2019 | Miller, Mark | Texas Tech University |
| 2018 | Brashears, Mindy | Texas Tech University |
| 2017 | Belk, Keith | Colorado State University |
| 2016 | Johnson, Dwain | University of Florida |
| 2015 | Miller, Rhonda | Texas A&M University |
| 2014 | Shackelford, Steven | USMARC |
| 2013 | Wheeler, Tommy L. | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 2012 | Lonergan, Steven M. | Iowa State University |
| 2011 | Calkins, Chris | University of Nebraska |
| 2010 | Toldra, Fidel | Instituto De Agroquimica Y Technologia de Alimentos |
| 2009 | Huff Lonergan, Elisabeth J. | Iowa State University |
| 2008 | Hunt, Melvin C. | Kansas State University |
| 2007 | Gerrard, David E. | Purdue University |
| 2006 | Dikeman, Michael E. | Kansas State University |
| 2005 | Sebranek, Joseph G. | Iowa State University |
| 2004 | McKeith, Floyd K. | University of Illinois |
| 2003 | Olson, Dennis G. | Surebeam Corporation |
| 2002 | Solomon, Morse B. | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 2001 | Tatum, J. Daryl | Colorado State University |
| 2000 | Faustman, L. Cameron | University of Connecticut |
| 1999 | Xiong, Youling L. | University of Kentucky |
| 1998 | Smith, Steven B. | Texas A & M University |
| 1997 | Smith, Denise M. | Michigan State University |
| 1996 | Beerman, Donald H. | Cornell University |
| 1995 | Carpenter, John A. | University of Georgia |
| 1994 | Sofos, John N. | Colorado State University |
| 1993 | Koohmaraie, Mohammad | U. S. Dept. of Agriculture |
| 1992 | Kotula, Anthony W. | U. S. Dept. of Agriculture |
| 1991 | Savell, Jeff W. | Texas A & M University |
| 1990 | Cross, H. Russell | Texas A & M University |
| 1989 | Stromer, Marvin H. | Iowa State University |
| 1988 | Campion, Dennis R. | University of Georgia |
| 1987 | Parrish, Jr., Fredrick C. | Iowa State University |
| 1986 | Aberle, Elton D. | University of Nebraska |
| 1985 | Dutson, Thane R. | Michigan State University |
| 1984 | Robson, R. M. | Iowa State University |
| 1983 | Field, Ray A. | University of Wisconsin |
| 1982 | Smith, Gary C. | Texas A & M University |
| 1981 | Greaser, Marion L. | University of Wisconsin |
| 1980 | Allen, C. E. | University of Minnesota |
| 1979 | Carpenter, Zerle L. | Texas A & M University |
| 1978 | Ayres, J. C. | University of Georgia |
| 1977 | Wasserman, A. E. | U. S. Dept. of Agriculture |
| 1976 | Wierbicki, E. | U. S. Army Natick R & D Command |
| 1975 | Locker, R. H. | Meat Industry Research Institute New Zealand |
| 1974 | Judge, Max D. | Purdue University |
| 1973 | Hamm, Reiner E. | German Federal Institute of Meat Research |
| 1972 | Goll, Darrell E. | Iowa State University |
| 1971 | Cassens, Robert G. | University of Wisconsin |
| 1970 | Marsh, B. Bruce | Meat Industry Research Institute New Zealand |
| 1969 | Bray, Robert W. | University of Wisconsin |
| 1968 | Bendall, J. R. | Cambridge Low Temperature Research Station |
| 1967 | Lawrie, Ralston A. | University of Nottingham |
| 1966 | Briskey, E. J. | University of Wisconsin |
| 1965 | Pearson, A. M. | Michigan State University |