The Lens - 2023 Issue

the

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS

LENS

The University of Texas at Dallas

2023

1 µm

15 µm

Monitoring the

Air We Share PAGE 18

3 µm

RESEARCH

ACADEMICS

PHILANTHROPY

40 YEARS IN THE MAKING

A MOLD FOR EXCELLENCE

‘COLTON WAS MAGICAL’

UT Dallas’ next NASA mission

Dental school pioneers

Parents honor son’s memory

PAGE 30

PAGE 14

PAGE 33

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A FILM BY AMINE FAALI

PORTRAIT of a

SCIENTIST 2

Director’s Note utd.link/NSMdocumentary

SCAN TO WATCH

DOCUMENTARY

As a filmmaker and graduate student of the arts, I have always been interested in storytelling as a form of expression. When NSM offered me the opportunity to speak with some of its renowned alumni, namely Nobel laureate Dr. Aziz Sancar, energy exploration scientist Dr. Allie Thurmond, and geologist Dr. José Longoria, the idea of producing a documentary felt right.

Portrait of a Scientist explores the remarkable stories of three scientists who came to UT Dallas from different parts of the world. Each of their successes share a common thread: pushing boundaries in the face of adversity. Cultural differences, societal norms and bias did not stop them from excelling in their fields — in fact, they all agree that interdisciplinarity and diversity of thought are crucial to the future of innovation. Their inspiring journeys encourage aspiring scientists to work with determination, resist conformity and expand their horizons.

3

PUSHING FOR DISCOVERY Welcome to NSM’s second edition of The Lens, where we illustrate another outstanding year in the school. As you delve into the pages of this magazine, you will be immersed in stories of discovery, innovation and the determined spirit of those who dream of a better world. You will see how STEM is not just a field of study; it is a force for change and a beacon of hope.

We continued the strong hiring of tenure-track faculty in NSM, with 11 new faculty hired last academic year. This year we have announced 16 new positions, including six interdisciplinary positions funded through the President’s Faculty Expansion Initiative. Our research endeavors have skyrocketed — the school received double the research grant funds compared to the previous year.

Our faculty are working tirelessly alongside our students to develop groundbreaking cancer treatments, sustainable energy solutions and new approaches to overcome antibiotic resistance. We are sending cutting-edge technology into space, designing life-saving drugs and preparing the next generation of STEM educators.

Thank you for your continued support.

David W. Hyndman, PhD Dean, School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics Francis S. & Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair 4

CONTENTS

Recap of 2023 NSM’s brightest moments

06

Innovation in Healing Alum invents vest for dogs

08

Bringing in the Brightest Meet our new faculty Health in Focus $6M investment in cancer research

10 11

A Mold for Excellence Dental school pioneers

14

Monitoring the Air We Share New sensors on campus

18

Senior Q&A Paul Micus and Mia Rudin

23

Fast Tracking UTI Detection Tool to combat antibiotic resistance Traits of a Star Teacher Alum wins national award

25 28

40 Years in the Making UT Dallas’ next NASA mission

30

‘Colton was magical’ Parents honor son’s memory

32

Editors David Hyndman Dane Richardson Writers Amanda Siegfried Carly Orewiler Caryn Berardi Christina Pugliese Eric Butterman Jeff Joiner Phil Roth Art director Carly Orewiler Photographers Amine Faali Carly Orewiler Dane Richardson James Coreas Manoj CN Nitashia Johnson Rachael Drury Randy Anderson Sarah Wall Website nsm.utdallas.edu Published by School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics at The University of Texas at Dallas

the

LENS 2023 Vol. 2

5

RECAP

Mathematical sciences professor Dr. John Zweck recognized by the UT System with its highest teaching honor: The Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (ROTA)

OF

2023 Dr. Shengwang Du and Dr. Jie Zheng enter newest class of endowed chairs

Dr. Purna Joshi receives Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award

Three new centers open: 1

UT Dallas Quantum Information Science Initiative

2

NSM Career Success Center

3

Center for High-Throughput Reaction Discovery & Synthesis

NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS

Dr. Kelli Palmer BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Dr. Andrés Cisneros PHYSICS

Graduate student researchers develop new vaccine delivery method using a puff of air

RECORD-BREAKING COMETS GIVING DAYS

It’s less painful than needles and is comparable to being hit by a Nerf bullet

$38,313

ANNIVERSARIES

NSM RAISED

FROM 261 GIFTS 6

15 years OF 50 years DEPARTMENT CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY

Nobel Prize Winner Aziz Sancar Gives Award Replica to UT Dallas

NANOEXPLORERS COMPLETES ITS 22ND SUMMER PROGRAM

Promotes nanotechnologybased education for high schoolers

ON

Remembering geologist, UT Dallas’ founding professor Dean Carl Presnall

& E UP

TH

UP

NEW RESEARCH DOLLARS IN NSM

Here are our top 5 funders:

886 students graduate in academic year ‘23

Foundation (NSF) $13.1M

2. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) $6.1M

NSM launches new certificate programs in genomics and quantum information science

DR. JEREMIAH GASSENSMITH FEATURED IN MAGAZINE

1. National Science

3. Cancer Prevention &

Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) $6.0M

Distinguished Alumnus Award winner John Ryals MS’80, PhD’82 honored at annual gala $20M in royalties from a technology developed

by Dr. Rockford Draper will establish 8 new endowments in NSM

4. National Institutes of Health (NIH) $5.8M

5. Office of Naval

Research (ONR) $1.5 M

COMPARING TOTAL FUNDS FY ‘22 $17.5 M

FY ‘23 $34.5 M 7

Madison Valdivia BS‘23 pitches her startup company at the UT Dallas 2023 Big Idea Competition.

Innovation

in Healing Driven by her unwavering love for animals and determined entrepreneurial spirit, a biology alum is emerging as a trailblazer in veterinary medicine.

Madison Valdivia BS‘23, co-founder of Olive Tree Therapeutics, invented the world’s first vibrating therapy vest for dogs with upper-respiratory illnesses. She pitched her startup company alongside top research faculty and alumni in the 2023 Big Idea Competition, ultimately winning a UTDesign Startup Challenge award. During her 8

Biology alum invents breakthrough vibrating therapy vest for dogs

BY CARLY OREWILER

experience as a veterinary technician over the past eight years, Valdivia has witnessed a harsh reality for patients who suffer from pulmonary diseases.

She grew frustrated that so many animals, especially those dependent on oxygen, were unable to receive life-saving therapy due to standard manual percussion techniques. Typical treatment is called coupage, in which the animal gets pat on the chest like a mother would pat a baby on the back, she said.

In science and medicine, we typically start with animals and work our way to people, but with vibrational therapies, we started with people. So we’re going to work backward.

- Madison Valdivia

Olive Tree Therapeutics co-founder

Olive, 2021

“I had so many patients that were just not making it. I thought there must be a better way.”

Determined to find a solution, Valdivia drew inspiration from a therapy tool used for people with cystic fibrosis and pneumonia: a vest that vibrates at a high frequency to break up mucus in the lungs and promote coughing. Her vision is to conduct clinical trials and prove the effectiveness of vibrational therapy in animals, building on the existing knowledge from human studies.

“In science and medicine, we typically start with animals and work our way to people,” she explained.

“But with vibrational therapies, we started with people. So we’re going to work backward.”

While still in its early stages, Olive Tree Therapeutics has a promising future.

The UTDesign Startup Challenge award provides a technical mentor, business coaches and $15,000 dedicated to on-campus engineering services over two semesters. This prize money is funneled into a select group of UT Dallas engineering seniors, who are building a presentation-quality prototype of the Coupage Vest for their capstone project. The refined model is scheduled to be complete by summer of 2024.

“I’m really excited that the engineering students chose my project as their first pick,”

‘‘

Valdivia said. “It makes me happy that they are getting something out of this, too.”

When Olive Tree Therapeutics started, Valdivia did not realize how quickly her abstract idea would become a reality. She touts her business partner and significant other, Galen Wampler, BS’22, as the “brains and talk behind all of it.”

“Olive was our first dog together,” Wampler said, “so we named the company Olive Tree Therapeutics as a tribute to her. She embodies the compassion that drives our mission.”

Looking ahead, Valdivia and Wampler envision a future where the company expands its product range and collaborates with renowned veterinary hospitals and industry leaders. Valdivia entered veterinary school this fall, receiving specialized education to develop more creative technologies down the line. Wampler plans to go to law school and could soon draft and file their patents.

With the support of her mentors and the resources provided by UT Dallas, Valdivia is optimistic the Coupage Vest will empower animals to fight and overcome their diseases.

“Thankfully, I am blessed enough to bring Olive Tree Therapeutics to life,” she said. “Hopefully one day, my company can produce more medical devices that help stop animal suffering.” y

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Dr. Yujie Zheng assistant professor

Dr. Rizwanur Khan assistant professor

Dr. Aaron Smith assistant professor

Dr. Qingyu Zhu assistant professor

CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY

Dr. Rudi Fasan professor, CPRIT Scholar, and Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry

Dr. Mario Wriedt associate professor and Fellow, Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Chair

Dr. Connor Delaney assistant professor

Dr. Erica L. Sanchez assistant professor

Dr. Joseph Boll associate professor

Dr. Xintong Dong assistant professor

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Meet our new faculty

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PHYSICS

Dr. Nadine Igonin assistant professor

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

THE BRIGHTEST

GEOSCIENCES

BRINGING IN

Dr. Rudi Fasan (second from right) in his lab with research group members Mary Siriboe (left), Jadab Majhi and Michelle Hendricks.

HEALTH IN FOCUS $6M investment helps new faculty member explore anti-cancer compounds

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

Dr. Rudi Fasan, a distinguished scientist who is taking cues from nature to develop new biologically active molecules that have potential use against cancer and other diseases, joined UT Dallas this fall as a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research.

Fasan received a $6 million Recruitment of Established Investigators award from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. CPRIT recruitment grants bring senior faculty with distinguished professional careers and established

cancer research programs to Texas from around the country.

In addition to being named a CPRIT Scholar, Fasan holds a Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry. This year, the Welch Foundation made a $2.1 million philanthropic gift to the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Fasan’s research is aimed at the design, development and investigation of new chemical synthesis strategies to discover biologically active molecules. His research group is developing chemical agents that can provide detailed information about cell biology to control 11

The Welch Foundation “Our funding allows investigators throughout Texas to follow their curiosity and explore the foundations of chemical processes. We look forward to seeing the discovery and innovation that comes from this year’s grant recipients’ efforts.”

- Adam Kuspa, The Welch Foundation president

Total philanthropic investments in research:

$1.1 B

Since 1954

$28 M $2.1 M IN TEXAS

IN NSM

In 2023

biomolecular interactions implicated in cancer, HIV infection and other diseases.

“My research group is developing creative methods to synthesize libraries of molecules that resemble biologically active products found in nature,” Fasan said. “We screen these libraries to discover new therapeutic agents with a specific focus on compounds with anticancer and antiviral activity.

“Another component of our research program is to engineer enzymes to carry out chemical reactions that do not exist in nature, which we call ‘new-to-nature’ chemistry. These biocatalytic methods are useful to make pharmaceuticals, and they are relevant for green chemistry and sustainable chemical manufacturing.”

Fasan and Dr. Filippo Romiti, a fellow CPRIT Scholar recruited last year with a $2 million CPRIT First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty award, along with Dr. Vladimir Gevorgyan, a Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry who joined UT Dallas in 2019, form a new critical mass in synthetic organic chemistry.

“We continue to attract outstanding faculty whose research addresses global challenges in science and society and advances critical areas that can help improve human health, including 12

cancer-related studies and investigations of chemical synthesis methods,” said Dr. David Hyndman, NSM dean and the Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair. “With his robust research program and commitment to educating the next generation of scientists, Dr. Fasan adds to our dynamic group of innovators.”

Fasan was born in Italy and studied pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Padua, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1999. After serving mandatory military service, he earned his PhD in bio-organic chemistry in 2005 under the supervision of Dr. John A. Robinson at the University of Zurich. After that, he joined Dr. Frances H. Arnold’s research group at the California Institute of Technology as a Swiss National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow. Arnold received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2018 for her pioneering work in the directed evolution of enzymes.

In 2008 Fasan began his independent academic career in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Rochester, where in 2019 he was named the inaugural holder of the Andrew S. Kende Endowed Chair in Synthetic Organic Chemistry.

Beginning in 2018, he also held a courtesy

appointment as a professor of oncology at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

“It’s very exciting to be at UT Dallas,” Fasan said. “While we will continue to expand our current program, CPRIT funding will allow us to explore new research directions, including investigating the anticancer activity of compounds developed in our laboratory, also in collaboration with investigators at UT Southwestern Medical Center. I can foresee a lot of opportunities and ways we can make an impact.”

Over the past 15 years, his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and other industrial sponsors. At the University of Rochester, he was the director of an NIHfunded program to train graduate students in research at the interface of chemistry and biology, and led the establishment of an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Chemistry Research for Medicine and Energy.

“At the University of Rochester, I was very engaged in involving undergraduate students in research in our laboratory, even as early as their first or second year,” Fasan said. “I have found it extremely rewarding to see how much these young, enthusiastic scientists can grow professionally, develop and evolve their interests, and then move on to do great things. Involvement in relevant research experiences at the interface of chemistry and biology has been a key component of their professional development.”

Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by a statewide vote in 2007, CPRIT has awarded more than $3.3 billion in grants to Texas research institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention and product development research programs.

CPRIT has also recruited 295 distinguished researchers to Texas. With this latest grant, UT Dallas has received more than $28 million from CPRIT to support cancer studies. y

Fasan Lab on X

(formerly known as Twitter)

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A Mold for

Excellence Student tenacity, pre-health advising sets UT Dallas apart in dental school applications

BY CARYN BERARDI

The University of Texas at Dallas is known as one of the top medical school feeders in the state and across the nation, but how does it stack up when it comes to dental school? The answer is not necessarily in the quantity – it is in the quality.

Students aiming to enter dental school can be up against daunting odds. In 2022, only 53% of applicants to U.S. dental schools were accepted. Texas schools, where most UT Dallas students enter, are even more competitive with a 37% acceptance rate, according to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).

But for a certain group of students, admission into dental school is nearly guaranteed: 90% of students who completed an intensive 14

preparation program through UT Dallas’ Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) were accepted into dental school in 2022.

The HPAC program gives students a leg up with one-on-one course selection, extensive preparation for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and unique shadowing opportunities in the local community. Many students swear by it, and the efforts are paying off. UT Dallas students accounted for about 12 percent of Texas dental admissions in fall 2022.

“In 2021, 102 UT Dallas students applied for dental school and 57 were accepted,” said Doyen Rainey BA’02, BA’03, MAT’03, director of the HPAC. “That’s huge, as there are only about 350 dental school seats in Texas and about 6,300 nationwide.”

Learning from a Legend Dr. David Murchison, clinical professor of biological sciences, is a retired colonel and former director of dental policy and operations for the U.S. Air Force. Since Murchison came to UT Dallas in 2010, his reputation as a mentor and exceptional professor has only grown stronger.

Adding vibrancy to his lessons, Murchison is known for telling stories about his experience in the Air Force. He draws on the clinical applications from his broad career that includes positions as a commander, a Civilian National Consultant to the U.S. Surgeon General and dean of the Air Force Postgraduate Dental School.

Murchison is also a clinical professor at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. He enjoys bringing dental specialty residents into the classroom, where they can share personal stories and give advice for success after graduation.

“UT Dallas fosters a community of learners that works together not only to succeed in dental school, but to genuinely help patients. That passion is vital, ” he said.

Academically, a competitive advantage offered at UT Dallas is Murchison’s Oral Histology and Embryology class. The upper level course is designed specifically for aspiring dentists, targeting seniors and post-baccalaureate students who come to NSM for the Certificate in Biomedical Sciences. Along with histology, the class covers topics like gross anatomy, pediatric dentistry and basic dental anatomy.

“I set the Oral Histology class up to give students a real advantage,” Murchison said. “They get a little head start on what they will learn in dental school, so we want them to take this as close to graduation as possible so it is fresh in their mind.”

For many pre-dental undergraduates, this class is their first opportunity to gain exposure to the field.

Dr. Murchison (center) and his Oral Histology students in the HPAC resource room.

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That was the case for Sophia Hegazin BS‘19.

Hegazin graduated from dental school at Texas A&M and is in her first year of an orthodontic residency, where she will study under Murchison again.

“During my undergrad, Dr. M’s class was the only UT Dallas course specific to dentistry,” Hegazin said. “His class gave me a sense of confirmation that this was the field I wanted to go into. I found it so interesting. The material gave me a sneak peak into my future and motivated me to learn.”

Beyond the Classroom A May 2023 graduate was accepted into Harvard School of Dental Medicine — one of the most exclusive and prestigious dental schools in the nation. And four years ago, Harvard accepted two UT Dallas pre-dental students in one class.

“Harvard accepts only 35 students each class, so you can imagine how rigorous the vetting process is,” Rainey said. “They assess students holistically; as leaders of their local communities. It just goes to show how well-rounded and qualified our students are upon graduation.”

In the competitive world of dental school, GPA and DAT scores are not the only factors considered for admission. The skills students gain outside of the classroom are equally important.

Rainey and his team of advisors help pre-health

2022 Dental School Admission Rates UT Dallas HPAC students U.S. school applicants Texas school applicants

16

90% 37% 53%

students navigate the application cycle, including the collection of recommendation letters, workshops on personal statement writing, practice interviews and committee evaluation letters. Additionally, HPAC refers students to research and employment experiences that offer real-life exposure to the field.

While pre-dental students come from a diversity of majors, Rainey says more than half of them at UT Dallas choose biology, since the degree plan covers all prerequisites for dental school and leaves more open electives.

“You can finish a bachelor’s degree in biology without developing any of the interpersonal skills that will help you be a dentist in the future, but it’s really difficult to get admitted to health professions without showing things like an interest in helping and working with people from different backgrounds,” Rainey said.

Murchison invites Rainey to speak to his classes to raise awareness for HPAC’s free resources and encourage students to take advantage of them. Recent graduates are quick to point to HPAC as an important part of their predental preparation.

Vivian Tran BS ‘23 visited HPAC regularly, especially during her junior and senior years.

“Utilizing HPAC allowed me to be early in the application cycle, and that’s a beneficial factor for all students,” she said.

It appears the HPAC visits did help. Tran is the recent graduate who was accepted into Harvard’s dental school, though she declined admission and chose to attend the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry.

In addition to HPAC and guidance from Murchison, who she said was “the greatest mentor throughout my entire UT Dallas experience,” Tran also credits her success to the Pre-Dental Association chapter on campus.

The Pre-Dental Association helps current UT Dallas students connect with dentists and dental students for networking. Members also volunteer to provide low-cost or free dental services in community clinics. Tran served as president of the student organization her senior year.

Dental schools seek individuals who can navigate the rigorous academic journey, but our students thrive in it. As we look to the future of dentistry, it’s clear that UT Dallas students are not just the applicants, but the pioneers.

- Dr. David Murchison,

biological sciences clinical professor

‘‘

“I learned everything through the Pre-Dental Association,” she said. “It’s the people in this organization who told me what classes to take every semester, helped me during application season, and experienced every challenge and celebration of being a college student alongside me.”

From Students to Pioneers Murchison and Rainey are continually impressed by the tenacity, dedication and aptitude of their students. These characteristics are what set UT Dallas students apart for entering dental school.

Students consistently score around the national average in each of the three sections of the DAT, with quite a few students earning the highest score of 30. It is a testament to the program, but most importantly, to the students themselves.

“The foundation here is great, but these students have dedicated themselves to flourish in the field,” Murchison said.

Although dentistry is quite ancient, dating back to 7000 B.C., its emerging technologies and rapid growth are anything but. Advances in cosmetic

Former Pre-Dental Student Association president Vivian Tran, BS ‘23 (center) poses with fellow club members at the 2022 Miles for Smiles event.

procedures and more awareness of oral diseases are driving the field forward, and it is only expected to continue.

According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in just seven years, there will be an extra 10,400 new dentists in the U.S. That is a growth of 7.6%.

UT Dallas students are poised to be at the forefront of dentistry and remain top candidates if they take advantage of HPAC’s far-reaching career and research opportunities, according to Rainey, who has been a dedicated pre-health advisor since 2007. Rainey currently serves as an officer of the Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (TAAHP) and National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP).

Murchison has full confidence in the capability and drive of his students.

“Dental schools seek individuals who can navigate the rigorous academic journey, but our students thrive in it,” Murchison said. “As we look ahead to the future of dentistry, it’s clear that UT Dallas students are not just the applicants, but the pioneers.” y 17

Monitoring the

Air We Share Sensor network creates living, learning lab on campus

BY CARYN BERARDI

Breaking it Down Air pollution lingers as a mostly invisible threat, silently weaving its way into our lives and negatively impacting our health.

But what if we could actually see the composition of the air we breathe?

A team of University of Texas at Dallas researchers, led by physics professor Dr. David Lary, recently installed several small sensors to various buildings and parking structures across campus. The sensors measure local air composition in real-time and send data to online dashboards.

Lary is the founding director of the Multi-Scale Integrated Intelligent Interactive Sensing (MINTS) Center, which uses machine learning to develop and implement remote sensing to address environmental challenges and their impact on society’s health.

The World Health Organization estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, pneumonia and even birth defects.

“The passion of my lab is to keep people out of harm’s way by holistically measuring the environment,” Lary said. “After the pandemic, it’s become imprinted on all of our consciousness that even the tiniest airborne particles can have a big, and sometimes fatal, impact on us.”

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The new on-campus network consists of nine sensors that analyze and measure the volume of fine particulate matter, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, pressure and humidity. They can even identify bird species by their unique calls.

Each location will ultimately include a QR code to the sensor’s dashboard, so the campus community can easily access the live data on an online map.

A particle in the air needs to be 10 microns or smaller before it can be inhaled into your respiratory tract — these are classified as fine particles. Monitoring the size of the particles, even without identifying what the particle is, is an especially important parameter, according to Lary.

The COVID-19 virus ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 microns, and a small dust particle averages 2.5 microns. In comparison, a grain of salt is 60 microns.

“The smallest particles, such as viruses or combustion from a forest fire, do not have much mass, but they can have a disproportionately large impact on us because they penetrate so deeply into our lungs,” Lary said. “These particles can get into the bloodstream and into the brain, so it’s not just respiratory issues that are

of concern, it’s our everyday cognitive performance.”

Lakitha Wijeratne MS’17, PhD’21, a research scientist in the MINTS lab, oversees the sensor construction. Over the last six years, he says 100 students have been involved in developing and analyzing the data being captured.

The students are mostly physics and electrical engineering students from UT Dallas, with additional support from students at Paul Quinn College and a few local high schools.

Physical location, exposure to sunlight and height of installation are all critical for the sensors’ power and functionality.

They work in a variety of ways, either through solar power, electricity or connection to a domestic grid. Intricate light sensors, capable of measuring 18 wavelengths, sit on top of the mechanism.

“Our light sensors are important for accuracy,” Lary added. “If you are under a tree or if a cloud rolls overhead, it impacts the air chemistry.”

The sensors do not require direct internet connection; they use a technology called LoRaWAN. “It is like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but it allows for a larger transmission 19

9

utd.link/airquality

8

SCAN TO VIEW

7 6

3

4

LIVE AIR SENSOR DATA ON CAMPUS

5

2 1

Map shows approximate locations of nine MINTS sensors on the UT Dallas campus. These sensors measure fine particulate matter volume, CO2 levels, temperature, pressure, humidity and even bird calls.

range,” Wijeratne said. “The data is collected and the Office of Sustainability,” Cocke said. “We sent to a gateway on top of the Natural Science and have assisted through advocacy for expanding the sensors locally and on campus, and we hope that Engineering Research Laboratory on campus.” this can educate our community and also serve as an example for others as we hope to grow this Collaborative Effort first-of-its kind network.”

The MINTS office is housed in the Richardson The UT Dallas Office of Sustainability started Innovation Quarter, a partnership between The collaborating with Lary in 2018 to deploy air quality City of Richardson and the University. The 500sensors in targeted neighborhoods in Dallas and acre campus opened in February 2022 and is Plano. This initiative, called SharedAirDFW, is envisioned to be the premier tech hub in Texas. now widening its footprint with the UT Dallas Richardson IQ hosts six research centers and installations, along with 10 sensors developed for serves as an incubator space to support local the Dallas College network. entrepreneurship and to advance UT Dallas Gary Cocke, UT Dallas director of sustainability research. Out of the six, MINTS is the only center and energy conservation, says the sensors run by NSM faculty. contribute to the “living, learning laboratory” “Being in the IQ has allowed us to reach the wider environment on campus. community and meet more partners that share “Dr. Lary’s research is focused on creating the same passion of serving society and advancing societal benefit through science, which is global technology,” Lary said. “We are all here to completely aligned with the work performed in combat sustainability challenges together.”

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Part of a Bigger Picture The air quality sensors on campus are just one part of a bigger picture, according to Lary. The MINTS team has produced a fleet of autonomous environmental robots comprised of aerial and walking robots, as well as robotic boats. These technologies enable sensors to enter hazardous or isolated areas, such as bodies of water.

These sensors are paired with artificial intelligence and machine learning to rapidly assess the environment, analyze information and produce wide-area data maps that can be streamed in real time. The robots are also equipped with a hyperspectral camera that measures 600 wavelengths simultaneously, versus a normal camera that measures just three, and can quickly map the chemical composition of a section of water.

This has wide implications for evaluating the biological threats after environmental disasters, such as oil spills or hurricanes.

“The robots are the ride,” said Lary, who previously worked for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “The sensors need a platform to carry them and give them power to provide the communication.”

But the sensors are not just for robots. Wijeratne is building wearable biometric sensors that could also have significant implications for emergency first responders and military personnel.

Lary is hoping the wearable sensos will soon be deployed for use with explosive ordnance disposal troops, which diffuse chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices. These specialists are exposed to high emissions levels. The sensors can be fastened to their vests during training to study air composition.

Lary likens the sensors to the canary once used by coal miners as a sentinel of danger. If there were toxins in the mine, the canary’s death would signal to the miners the air wasn’t safe. “Our mantra is: ‘No canary has to die,’” Lary said.

‘‘

The smallest particles, such as viruses or combustion from a forest fire, penetrate so deeply into our lungs. These particles can get into the bloodstream and into the brain, so it’s not just respiratory issues that are of concern, it’s our everyday cognitive performance.

- Dr. David Lary

physics professor & MINTS director

Relative size of particles Grain of salt 60 µm

Grain of pollen 15 µm Red blood cell 7 - 8 µm Bacterium 1 - 3 µm Wildfire smoke 0.4 - 0.7 µm Coronavirus 0.1 - 0.5 µm 21

From left: Dr. Bharana Ashen Fernando, Dr. Lakitha Wijeratne, Rittik Patra MS’23 and Dr. David Lary.

Prevention Over Cure Lary is looking to expand MINTS technology beyond UT Dallas, outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and into everyday society. To do this, his team is currently working on a new project that could predict and prevent societal health issues related to poor air quality.

This endeavor combines data on physical environmental factors (weather, atmospheric composition, local flora and fauna) with a multitude of social parameters from the U.S. Census Bureau. The cross-disciplinary approach helps the researchers develop empirical models for different medical conditions, shedding light on the most influential factors in each case.

“What we’ve done is looked at pretty much every emergency room admission in the state of Texas for the last 20 years,” Lary said. “We can build models that link admission rate to certain health conditions; everything from sepsis, to asthma and unspecified schizophrenia.”

He envisions practical applications for this knowledge, including reducing wait times in emergency rooms by predicting likely admissions 22

and optimizing resource allocation. Investing in preventative measures, such as improving indoor air quality, could lower urgent care costs for health insurance companies, he says.

All in all, MINTS is on a mission to give people agency and enable society to make informed decisions about seemingly harmless activities.

“For example, if a veteran with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) needs to go grocery shopping, our wearable sensors can alert them if it’s too dangerous to leave the house,” Lary said.

“That can be the difference between a normal day and a very bad day in the hospital.”

Cocke is hopeful that the sensor initiative on campus can inspire and support the need for extending the monitors further into the community, creating a more sustainable and healthy environment for North Texas and beyond.

“I hope that this project can educate our campus and our region about how important it is for everyone to be able to breathe clean air,” Cocke said. “It provides proof of concept that these sensors can obtain affordable and accurate data at a hyperlocal level. Decision-makers will have actionable information in order to preserve air quality in the areas and communities that need it most.” y

Paul Micus is known for taking the initiative. In other words, group projects are his forte. Hailing from a closeknit family in Waco, Texas, he’s concurrently sharing his college experience with his two brothers and sister. This sense of shared growth and learning is deeply ingrained in Paul, pushing him to become heavily involved on campus.

PAUL MICUS What has your experience been like as president of the Chemistry Student Association (CSA)?

I first found CSA when I was a sophomore. It’s been really fun to put together so many different events, like the Fort Worth Natural Science Museum outreach. We go there every year for National Chemistry Week. We get to show a bunch of demos to all the kids that come by. I think my favorite event that I’ve been able to help plan is the Boy Scouts badge event. We brought over 50 Boy Scouts to the UT Dallas campus, and we took them through a day of lessons and experiments so they could earn their chemistry merit badge.

You recently starred in UT Dallas’ episode on an Amazon Prime show called ‘The College Tour.’ How do you feel about being on TV? It’s nothing I’ve experienced before — having to memorize a script and go in front of cameras.

It was a very unique experience, and I loved representing chemistry and research here at UT Dallas. It was so surreal to watch it live when it aired this October. I was also able to include my friends in it, too. Being able to share that experience with people I’ve bonded with over the past four years was really cool.

Chemistry senior Chemistry Student Association president

Q

&

a

What was it like to win third place in your first-ever poster presentation?

When I went to the ADSE (Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering Young Researchers Conference) I was just excited to talk about my research, which is centered on characterizing a family of prokaryotic nickel/cobalt transporters.

Joining Dr. Meloni’s lab my sophomore year was one of the best things I ever did. He supported me throughout the process, and we recently submitted my paper to the Chemical Science journal. This last fall, I went to the American Chemical Society Conference in San Francisco to present my project, and I also recently went to Rice University to give an oral presentation. Dr. Stefan and Dr. Sra were awesome in sponsoring my trip to California.

Do you know what you want to do after graduation this spring?

Currently, I am looking into different graduate programs, including medical school, while also considering one-year long internships, such as one through the Fellowship of Christian University Students organization. I am embracing the unknown. I am confident in my education, and my research experience has opened doors to a full job market.

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Q

&

a

Growing up in Boise, Idaho, Mia Rudin developed a strong connection to nature from a young age. When she moved to Commerce, Texas, during high school, she quickly found her stride on the basketball court. Now a successful student-athlete at UT Dallas, Rudin found a place where her passion for sports and the outdoors could be harnessed in tandem.

Geosciences senior

UT Dallas basketball player

How did you decide to major in geosciences?

I started at UT Dallas as a biology major, but quickly realized I wasn’t passionate about it. I had always been interested in plants and thought I could study soils, so I switched my major to geosciences. In one of my first classes, I held an iron meteorite in my hands, and it was love at first sight with planetary science. Somebody in the class said, ‘You know, there’s meteorites that are older than the Earth.’ And it was almost like a spiritual experience for me. That set a spark off in my brain and I was like, ‘I want to know about this.’ I am now looking into getting my PhD, and I couldn’t be happier.

What is it like being a studentathlete in NSM? I tell people that I’m one of the nerdiest basketball players ever! I’ve learned a lot in my classes, but I could write a book about what being a studentathlete has taught me about leadership, teamwork and myself. My teammates have enriched my life in so many ways at UT Dallas. They are all dream chasers, and it’s been inspiring to watch them grow not just as athletes, but as people. I’ve definitely made lifelong friends, and I’m grateful for that.

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MIA RUDIN This summer you were one of 13 students selected from all over the world to intern at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston. How was your experience?

My project could not have been better aligned with my interest in planetary petrology. I worked with a staff scientist at the LPI, modeling the formation of alkaline basalts and crystallization at the Gale and Gusev crater on Mars. Besides being surrounded by scientists who are doing what I want to do one day, I was also surrounded by the next generation of planetary scientists who are just as passionate about the field as I am. I actually was rejected the first year I applied for the internship. The geosciences department at UT Dallas, though small, has always supported and encouraged me.

What advice would you give to fellow students and people entering college?

The biggest thing I had to learn, and am still learning, is that it’s okay to be wrong; especially as you are trying to be a better scientist. I’m learning that sometimes being wrong is a key step in solving technical problems. Also, as students, we sometimes feel like we aren’t good enough to chase some opportunities. But I have learned at UT Dallas that achieving the big things is absolutely possible.

From left: Dr. Shalini Prasad, Dr. Nicole De Nisco and biomedical engineering doctoral student Antra Ganguly MS’17.

FAST-TRACKING UTI DETECTION

Team creates rapid sensor to diagnose urinary tract infections and combat antibiotic resistance

BY PHIL ROTH

Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have developed a prototype diagnostic sensor that might allow individuals to confirm urinary tract infections (UTIs) quickly, without having to wait 24 to 48 hours for lab test results.

Dr. Nicole De Nisco, assistant professor of biological sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, said the sensor could help alleviate the overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics, which can lead to antibiotic resistance in infectious bacteria.

“If someone comes in with what they think is a UTI, some clinicians will often 25

DID YOU

KNOW?

People of any age or sex can develop bladder infections, but women are at higher risk than men.

40 %

60 %

At least 40% to 60% of women develop a UTI during their lifetime.

One in four women is likely to have a repeat infection.

UTIs can develop in any part of the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys.

- National Institutes of Health 26

just give them antibiotics without waiting up to two days for lab tests to confirm that it’s a UTI,” she said. “That’s bad because there are a lot of other conditions that have similar symptoms to a UTI, but they aren’t UTIs.” A team of researchers led by De Nisco; Dr. Shalini Prasad, department head and professor of bioengineering at UT Dallas; and Dr. Philippe Zimmern, professor of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is hoping to give clinicians a better tool that can more accurately diagnose UTIs within five minutes.

The new technology, which detects and determines the concentration of three protein biomarkers in urine, is currently up to 85% accurate in diagnosing a UTI. “We’ve taken these three markers and their expression profiles, and we digitized them,” said Prasad, a Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science and corresponding author of a recent report on the technology. “We developed a logic table that tells you what happens if the level of one molecule is low; one is high; all are low; or all are high.”

The researchers said the strategy could boost the diagnostic power of current electrochemical biosensors, resulting in more precise therapy and improved patient outcomes. De Nisco said that in the future, biomarkers could be swapped out so that the sensor can check concentrations of different proteins for detection of other diseases, such as kidney disease.

“We could take this technology and adapt it to any kind of urine diagnostic based on different kinds of molecules,” she said.

In addition to its use by doctors, Prasad said she envisions a sensor, much like a pregnancy test, that patients could use at home, which would be helpful

‘‘

I think many of those working in the diagnostics field don’t think UTI is that big of a problem, so it’s an area of opportunity that needs to be filled. I’m glad we have the right combination of experts who can develop a tool that could help a lot of people.

- Dr. Nicole De Nisco

biological sciences assistant professor

The sensor determines the concentration of three protein biomarkers in urine and is currently up to 85% accurate in diagnosing a urinary tract infection.

for those who might be embarrassed, immunocompromised or who face cultural issues. UTIs predominantly occur in women, with 10% to 20% of U.S. women experiencing one each year.

“I come from India, where it is culturally very challenging to go to a clinic for UTI testing; it’s something that is frowned upon,” Prasad said. “We’d like to see this device in the hands of every person who wants to use it so they can use it in the comfort of their own home.”

While there are over-the-counter UTI test strips available for home use, De Nisco said they are “incredibly inaccurate.”

“There is a big, unregulated market for UTI diagnostics and treatment, but most have not been validated by science,” she said.

The researchers are now working to improve the accuracy of their device by examining alternative biomarkers and by improving the device design to better capture the flow of urine.

Prasad said if results remain promising, clinical trials could begin in three years or so.

De Nisco said there has been little research dedicated to creating devices that accurately and quickly screen for UTIs. “I think many of those working in the diagnostics field don’t think UTI is that big of a problem,” she said, “so it’s an area of opportunity that needs to be filled. I’m glad we have the right combination of experts who can develop a tool that could help a lot of people.” y 27

Preston Dozier teaches her biology class.

Traits of a Star Teacher Alum wins national UTeach award

BY JEFF JOINER

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The first science lesson Preston Dozier BS’18, MAT’22 taught as a student teacher quickly turned into a mess.

“It was a mystery powder lab where the students got to test some powders and try to figure out what they were,” said Dozier, who was teaching fifth graders during her first semester in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ UTeach Dallas program. “One of the kids opened up a container of cornstarch and dumped water into it, which makes a substance that’s like a slime. It’s kind of a solid and kind of a liquid, and it got all over the place.

“I was sure I had failed my first classroom experience, but the kids were having a blast. It was hard to be

discouraged when your students are having so much fun. Even my teaching mentor thought it was funny. The kids, smiling and laughing, wanted to learn from what happened.”

Fortunately for the Richardson Independent School District (RISD), the messy start did not dissuade her from becoming a science teacher.

Dozier recently finished her fourth year as a biology teacher at J.J. Pearce High School, and she has already earned recognition for her work. She was named Pearce High School Teacher of the Year, and RISD named her one of eight STARS (Superior Teaching Achievement in RISD Schools) teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Dozier

capped the year by winning the national Outstanding Alumni Award from the UTeach STEM Educators Association.

The UTeach Dallas program recruits and prepares undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors to become successful secondary science and math teachers. Started in 1997 at UT Austin, the program is currently offered at 55 universities in 24 states. In 2008 it launched at UT Dallas, where more than 300 students have graduated from the program.

Dozier enrolled at UT Dallas in 2014 as a biology major but was unsure what she wanted to do for a career. She made a chance visit to the UTeach Dallas offices on campus and found herself sold on the idea of becoming a science teacher.

“In the back of my mind I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but in high school I thought I wanted to be an English teacher,” Dozier said. “I stumbled into Hailey King’s office, the academic advisor for UTeach Dallas, and she sat me down and talked to me about teaching science.

When I started student teaching, this became my passion.”

Dozier teaches freshman biology students and a class of 10th grade Englishas-a-second-language students. This May, Dozier watched as her first class of students from four years ago graduated.

“I think there’s something so fun about teaching freshmen and watching them turn into young adults,” she said. “This graduating class includes my first biology students, who I watched become 18-yearolds who are now going to college and joining the workforce. It’s really rewarding to see them become part of the real world and to be a part of that whole process.”

Dozier credits her success to the teaching philosophy of UTeach. The program stresses a social and emotional learning approach that focuses on teaching a child how to learn rather than emphasizing curriculum.

When you put people in the classrooms like Preston, they’re going to be successful. They’re going to stay in the classroom and bring up the next generation of science and math students.

- Dr. Jim McConnell

science/mathematics education master teacher

“You need to make decisions based on the whole student, and when you focus on the whole student, then you can teach them how to learn through inquiry,” she said.

Dr. Jim McConnell has been training teachers at UT Dallas since the program’s start; before that, he was a science and math teacher and administrator at RISD for 37 years. He said Dozier exemplifies the type of students who excel in the program.

“She’s the reason that people like me stay in the business long past retirement age,” McConnell said. “When you put people in the classrooms like Preston, they’re going to be successful. They’re going to stay in the classroom and bring up the next generation of science and math students.”

Dozier said the supportive faculty and staff at UT Dallas were instrumental in fueling her passion for teaching science.

“UTeach gave my life so much direction,” she said. “At first, I was kind of lost. I’d never written a lesson plan before. The materials I was reading were just a lot, and I was overwhelmed. I would sit in Pam’s office (Pam Kirkland, science/mathematics education master teacher), and she would talk me through it. And in every single class after that, it was always the same level of support.” y

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400 mi

40 YEARS IN THE MAKING Space Sciences Center to build instruments for a six-satellite NASA mission projected to launch in 2031

300 mi

Ionosphere

Thermosphere

200 mi

BY ERIC BUTTERMAN

100 mi

50 mi

Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere

extreme ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The structure and fundamental physics of this region are not yet fully understood. Scientists do know, however, that interactions here create highly variable space weather effects that impact communications and navigation signals, alter satellite orbits, and create currents in conductors on Earth’s surface such as power lines that can cause infrastructural damage.

Using an array of integrated sensors, GDC will provide the most comprehensive direct global measurements of Earth’s dynamic, complex boundary between atmosphere and space.

“We’ve submitted a $40 million proposal to construct six thermal plasma sensors for NASA,” said Anderson. “They measure the 3D motion of Down to a Science the ions of the plasma in the atmosphere, as well as temperature and physical composition.”

Stretching roughly 50 to several hundred miles The last mission with such a comprehensive set above Earth’s surface, the ionosphere-thermosphere of instruments in the ionosphere/thermosphere is a region where our neutral atmosphere transitions system was in the early 1980s — a single-satellite into the ionized plasma of space. It is electrified by mission that had UT Dallas instruments on For decades, Phillip Anderson MS’85, PhD’90, physics professor and director of the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, has had a dream to unravel the mysteries of the ionospherethermosphere. Even as a UT Dallas graduate student in the ‘80s working with Dr. Hanson, Anderson knew understanding the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere would become his lifelong mission.

Anderson is now finally getting his chance to realize his vision in full. In its largest project yet, the Center for Space Sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has been selected to build instruments to fly on six satellites for NASA’s Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission.

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it. Almost 40 years later, scientists have more advanced, coupled models that will improve interpretation of the data.

“These are computer-based models that show us simulated interactions of several facets of the near-Earth environment,” Anderson said.

“Understanding how energy passes through different regions from the sun to the surface of the Earth is critical to understanding and predicting space weather effects.”

Improving space weather prediction is vital, for instance, for forecasting atmospheric drag, which can cause satellites to descend into lower orbits and re-enter the atmosphere. In 2022, the Starlink internet program launched 49 satellites into a geomagnetic storm. Increased drag, which was not predicted, caused 40 of the satellites to re-enter and be lost.

As more spacecraft and debris are added into Earth’s orbit, accurate measurements from the GDC mission will improve our daily lives, from maintaining GPS accuracy to protecting power grids, Anderson said.

Integrating Technology The thermal plasma sensor is one of seven instruments that make up the GDC project, which is a three-year mission scheduled to launch in 2031. The UT Dallas team will work with several institutions throughout the duration of the project, including Penn State University and the University of Michigan.

“Our sensors will need to work seamlessly with the other six instruments on the GDC spacecraft,” Anderson said. “A challenging part of the project will be integrating our different technologies to work together in synergy.”

Anderson says the project will entail a long process of scientific team discussions and collaboration to determine the measurement requirements, precision, accuracy and resolution.

This will then be incorporated with the instrument capabilities determined by engineers.

NASA will approach the project in several phases. In the first phase, the Center for Space Sciences received $6 million under contract through November 2024, Anderson said.

Dr. Phillip Anderson, William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences director, gives a tour of his lab.

The ambitious project will also be an opportunity for UT Dallas students. While they will not work directly on the instrumentation, they will work in multiple areas, including analyzing data.

“Undergraduate and graduate students have the chance of a lifetime here at UT Dallas,” said Anderson. “The GDC mission is what I’ve been working toward my whole career, and I can’t wait to share that experience with young, bright-eyed scientists.”

Anderson is confident in the quality of the contributions the center will make, pointing to its impressive track record. “We’ve been doing this a long time, and we currently have 10 satellites in orbit with our instruments on board,” said Anderson, who grew up in Richardson, Texas, and worked for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Space weather has been studied for decades, but GDC will collect an unprecedented volume of data that will drastically increase our understanding of the space environment surrounding our home planet. Anderson is more than ready for the challenge, seeing it as unfinished business.

“Some people may ask whether it’s really time for this mission,” he said. “And the answer is no — the time for this mission was several years ago. I am thrilled it’s finally taking off.” y 31

‘Colton was magical’ Parents establish new geosciences endowment and scholarship to honor son’s memory

BY CHRISTINA PUGLIESE

Two new endowments to support the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will honor the legacy of Colton William Roberts, a former student in the school who was tragically killed by a driver under the influence days before the beginning of his junior year. Established by members of Colton’s family, the Colton William Roberts Scholarship for Geosciences and an endowed academic position in NSM will fund generations of students and faculty exploring a field that captured Colton’s passion during his lifetime.

According to his mother, Tanya Roberts, Colton was magical.

“He was endlessly curious,” Tanya said.

“Colton maintained a kind of childlike wonder throughout his life that contributed to his joy and connection to nature.”

His father, Bill Roberts, loved his son’s ability to care for others.

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“One of the things that really stood out to me about him from an early age was the way he loved and valued people,” Bill said.

“He loved to connect with others deeply and genuinely. It was his talent. He was the kind of person who always spoke from the heart, the person who was sincerely interested in what others said and did.”

Growing up in Austin, Texas, Colton immersed himself in the awe of the lush trees and serene waters that define Central Texas.

“Every weekend we’d go out somewhere and talk about the varying rocks and plants, the environment, the trees and the animals,” Bill said. “He loved parks, like national parks, and their nature trails. His favorite was probably either Big Bend or Rocky Mountain.”

His mother, father and stepfather loved taking him to explore the geology and

Colton &

nature of sites around the country. Tanya and Michael Szkrybalo, Colton’s stepfather, whom Colton nicknamed “Pop,” would take him to mineral shows where he collected an extensive rock and mineral collection.

But one of Tanya’s favorite memories with her son was a mother-son trip they took his senior year to Big Bend National Park. Colton skipped a day of high school so they could go. During the trip, the two summited Emory Peak, and Colton’s love of the mountains was confirmed.

“We rode donkeys when we were there and crossed over at the Boquillas Crossing,” Tanya said. “His donkey would not listen to him and did whatever it wanted to do.

And Colton was just cracking up the whole time. He wasn’t frustrated by the animal, rather he was delighted by it. His donkey had its own agenda and opinions, and Colton was content to just see how their day unfolded together.”

When Colton enrolled at The University of Texas at Dallas, he initially thought he

friends at Lake Michiga

would pursue a degree in psychology and came in with an undeclared major. After taking one geology field course at UT Dallas, he knew he needed to follow his passion for geosciences. He declared his major and pursued a geosciences degree.

In August 2021, a few days before Colton would make the trip north to UT Dallas for the fall semester, he was able to spend time with people he loved. Sadly, he never made it back to Richardson.

He was hit and killed by an intoxicated driver.

Devastated, Tanya, Michael and Bill chose to honor Colton in ways they thought he would want to be remembered.

“I couldn’t see Colton’s education dollars being spent on anything but education,” Tanya said. “It was very important to me to be able to do something that let him have an impact in his field because he was ready to be a champion and advocate for the environment. When we help educate future geologists focusing on sustainability,

n

Tanya Roberts with a UT Dallas beehive decorated in memory of her son.

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When you lose a child, you don’t want them to be forgotten. We want his name to continue since he won’t get a chance to grow up and have children of his own to do that. Donating has been a way to maintain his memory.

It’s important to us that he isn’t lost.

- Bill Roberts

Colton’s father

From left: Tanya Roberts, Michael Szkrybalo and Bill Roberts.

Colton still contributes to conservation by helping and inspiring others.”

In December 2021, the paperwork for an endowed scholarship in NSM was finalized.

The three parents wanted to expand the scholarship, so they increased the endowed scholarship fund to $60,000. Bill also documented a $1 million planned gift to the University that will endow a professorship within the school.

“He was my only child,” Bill said. “There wasn’t an issue of having an estate for other children. I wanted to honor the work that he didn’t get a chance to do. I wanted to try and see some of that happen.”

With combined efforts from Michael, Bill and Tanya, Colton’s fraternity, Chi Phi, other family members, donors and organizations on campus, the value of the scholarship endowment is now over $100,000.

Dr. David Hyndman, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair, shares Colton’s passion for geosciences.

“Colton will forever be remembered here 34

in our school,” Hyndman said. “The impact that his legacy will have on our students will be transformative. This scholarship will inspire students to make a deeper connection to their work as they are not only accomplishing their goals, but also those of Colton. We thank the Roberts family for their generous donations.”

The Roberts family plans to continue fundraising efforts for the scholarship fund.

“I would love for the fund to become large enough that it can give more support,” Tanya said. “That’s a way to contribute to the things that Colton would have been working on himself. I think Colton would be excited for that.”

Bill and Tanya want to keep their son’s presence alive.

“When you lose a child, you don’t want them to be forgotten,” Bill said. “We want his name to continue since he won’t get a chance to grow up and have children of his own to do that. Donating has been a way to maintain his memory. It’s important to us that he isn’t lost.” y

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NSM is #DesignedToDiscover We invite you to be a part of this era of growth

Your annual contributions can:

$10

$25

$50

Provide assistance for talented and enthusiastic students who aspire to go to and finish college

Improve career readiness by giving students research opportunities and industry internships

Enhance student experiences by expanding teaching facilities and support services

Want to make a donation online?

Scan the QR code or visit utd.link/give 35

800 W Campbell Rd Richardson, TX 75080-3021

Dedicated to inspiring curiosity and fostering innovation

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