MIDDLEBORO — Donald Padgett, a Middleboro resident and professor of biological sciences at Bridgewater State University, has received the university’s Class of 1950 Distinguished Faculty Research Award.

The award was presented April 29 at a faculty recognition ceremony held on the Bridgewater State campus. Padgett was honored for his research in “New Jersey Aquatic Plants,”  the fifth book in a series documenting aquatic plant species in the region.

Padgett, who has taught at Bridgewater State for more than 25 years, compiled extensive research for the book, which focuses on the ecology of aquatic plants in New Jersey. A previous volume, “Aquatic Plants of Massachusetts,” was published in 2021.

The Class of 1950 Distinguished Faculty Research Award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of research contributions within their academic field.