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New Degree in Biomedical Sciences

DESIGNED TO DISCOVER

Welcome to the third edition of The Lens, the magazine dedicated to celebrating the achievements, innovations and transformative research happening in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) at The University of Texas at Dallas.

As we continue to foster an environment where curiosity and discovery thrive, it’s an exciting time to reflect on our collective progress. In this edition, we dive into key highlights that exemplify the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and our commitment to academic excellence.

This year, NSM welcomed 14 new faculty and four staff to the school. Their contributions enrich the intellectual life of the university and help drive our mission of fostering discovery and innovation.

September saw an inaugural alumni-and-friends engagement trip to Iceland, where our alumni, friends and faculty gathered to explore the stunning landscapes and geological wonders of this remarkable country. The trip provided a unique opportunity for donors and alumni to reconnect, reminisce and engage with one another while experiencing the beauty and intrigue of Iceland’s natural environment.

As we look to the future, we remain inspired by the incredible work happening across NSM. The stories and achievements shared here are a testament to the passion, creativity and ingenuity of our students, faculty and staff. Together, we are advancing the frontiers of knowledge and making lasting contributions to the world of science and innovation.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your support helps ensure our continued success.

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

Editors

M.E.

David Hyndman

Writers

M.E. Clary

Stephen Fontenot

David Hyndman

Christina Pugliese

Amanda Siegfried

UTD Media Relations Team

Art Director

Elizabeth Fenimore

Photographers

James Coreas

David Hyndman

Nitashia Johnson

Carly Orewiler

Sarah Wall BA'19

Videographers

Aankit Das

Alex de la Torre

Website nsm.utdallas.edu

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Solar Eclipse

Space scientists’ new sensors shine spotlight on sun-Earth studies

Small, low-cost sensors developed by space scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas to study the Earth’s upper atmosphere were deployed to collect data during the April 8 total solar eclipse.

The devices, called ionospheric scintillation monitors, or ScintPi sensors, helped researchers better understand the effects of eclipses on a region of the Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

“The ScintPi sensors receive radio signals from satellites, similar to the GPS receivers in cellphones,” said Dr. Fabiano Rodrigues, associate professor of physics and Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UT Dallas. “They can be easily deployed and maintained and cost about $600 for us to build, which is much less than commercial versions that cost between $10,000 and $15,000.”

Disturbances and turbulence in the ionosphere can affect radio communications and the quality of GPS radio signals. A better understanding of the dynamics of the region and the

factors affecting it help scientists develop models to forecast variability more accurately.

As part of his graduate studies, Josemaría Gómez Sócola, an electrical engineering doctoral student in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, developed the ScintPi sensors so that scientists and citizen scientists around the world could gather data on ion density.

These sensors have been deployed at 23 sites across the Western Hemisphere, including in Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and 12 U.S. states plus Iceland, so that scientists can study the ionosphere at low, medium and high latitudes.

“Our experimental setup for the April 8 total solar eclipse had two goals: to increase literacy about the Earth’s ionosphere and to create new datasets that quantify the effects of eclipses on the ionosphere,” said Rodrigues, who directs the Upper Atmosphere Remote Sensing Lab in the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences.

UT DALLAS NEWS CENTER

From left: Isaac Wright BS’22, Dr. Fabiano Rodrigues and Josemaría Gómez Sócola are studying the Earth’s upper atmosphere with ionospheric scintillation monitors, or ScintPi sensors. On April 8, the researchers used the sensors to learn more about the effects of eclipses on the ionosphere.

BRINGING IN THE BRIGHTEST

Meet our new faculty & staff

Xian Wu Assistant Professor Qian Zhao Assistant Professor

SUSTAINABLE EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCES

Zihao Ou Assistant Professor Bei Zeng Professor PHYSICS CHEMISTRY

Alistair Sterling Assistant Professor

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Hyunwoong Chang Assistant Professor

Kirill Lazebnik Assistant Professor

Xiwei Tang Associate Professor Yun Wei Associate Professor

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Tian Hong Associate Professor

Yvette E. Pearson Associate Dean Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives; Associate Professor, SME

Brandon Kim Assistant Professor

Paul Krawietz Director NSM Career Success Center

Yuki Shindo Assistant Professor Jon Sin Assistant Professor

Tisha Schiavone Assistant Director Employer Relations NSM Career Success Center

M.E. Clary Communications Manager Office of the Dean

FACULTY

& STAFF

SEE-THROUGH SKIN

Researchers create solution that makes living skin transparent

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

In a pioneering new study, researchers made the skin on the skulls and abdomens of live mice transparent by applying to the areas a mixture of water and a common yellow food coloring called tartrazine.

Dr. Zihao Ou, assistant professor of physics at The University of Texas at Dallas, is lead author of the study, published on Sept. 5 in the journal Science

Living skin is a scattering medium. Like fog, it scatters light, which is why it cannot be seen through.

“We combined the yellow dye, which is a molecule that absorbs most light, especially blue and ultraviolet light, with skin, which is a scattering medium. Individually, these two things block most light from getting through them. But when we put them together, we were able to achieve transparency of the mouse skin,” said Ou, who, with colleagues, conducted the study while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University before joining the UT Dallas faculty in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in August.

“For those who understand the fundamental physics behind this, it makes sense; but if you aren’t familiar with it, it looks like a magic trick,” Ou said.

molecules in water changes the solution’s refractive index — a measure of the way a substance bends light — in a way that matches the refractive index of tissue components like lipids. In essence, the dye molecules reduce the degree to which light scatters in the skin tissue, like dissipating a fog bank.

In their experiments with mice, the researchers rubbed the water and dye solution onto the skin of the animals’ skulls and abdomens. Once the dye had completely diffused into the skin, the skin became transparent. The process is reversible by washing off any remaining dye. The dye that has diffused into the skin is metabolized and excreted through urine.

“It takes a few minutes for the transparency to appear,” Ou said. “It’s similar to the way a facial cream or mask works: The time needed depends on how fast the molecules diffuse into the skin.”

Through the transparent skin of the skull, researchers directly observed blood vessels on the surface of the brain. In the abdomen, they observed internal organs and peristalsis, the muscle contractions that move contents through the digestive tract.

The transparent areas take on an orangish color, Ou said. The dye used in the solution is commonly known as FD&C Yellow #5 and is frequently used in orange- or yellow-colored snack chips, candy coating and other foods. The Food and Drug Administration certifies nine color additives — tartrazine is one — for use in foods.

“It’s important that the dye is biocompatible — it’s safe for living organisms,” Ou said. “In addition, it’s very inexpensive and efficient; we don’t need very much of it to work.”

Dr. Zihao Ou holds a vial of the common yellow food coloring tartrazine in solution.

The researchers have not yet tested the process on humans, whose skin is about 10 times thicker than a mouse’s. At this time it is not clear what dosage of the dye or delivery method would be necessary to penetrate the entire thickness, Ou said.

“In human medicine, we currently have ultrasound to look deeper inside the living body,” Ou said. “Many medical diagnosis platforms are very expensive and inaccessible to a broad audience, but platforms based on our tech should not be.”

Ou said one of the first applications of the technique will likely be to improve existing research methods in optical imaging.

“Our research group is mostly academics, so one of the first things we thought of when we saw the results of our experiments was how this might improve biomedical research,” he said. “Optical equipment, like the microscope, is not directly used to study live humans or animals because light can’t go through living tissue. But now that we can make tissue transparent, it will allow us to look at more detailed dynamics. It will completely revolutionize existing optical research in biology.”

In his new Dynamic Bio-imaging Lab at UTD, Ou will continue the research he started with Dr. Guosong Hong, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at

CLEARLY, WORD SPREAD...

Study published in

Stanford and a corresponding author of the study. Ou said the next steps in the research will include understanding what dosage of the dye molecule might work best in human tissue. In addition, the researchers are experimenting with other molecules, including engineered materials, that could perform more efficiently than tartrazine.

Study authors from Stanford, including co-corresponding author Dr. Mark Brongersma, the Stephen Harris Professor of materials science and engineering, were funded by grants from federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. As an interdisciplinary postdoctoral scholar, Ou was supported by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford. The researchers have applied for a patent on the technology. y

Mr. Green Guy

Use your cell phone camera to follow the QR code link. A complete list of media pieces is available on the NSM website.

DISCOVER

Our Evolving

Check out our interview with Dr. Isahak-Boushaki at YouTube.com/UTDscience

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

New DESI data shed light on gravity’s pull in the universe

A University of Texas at Dallas physicist and his international colleagues in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration are engaged in a multiyear data-gathering mission to try to answer one of the most puzzling observations in astrophysics: Why does the expansion of the universe appear to be accelerating?

Competing theories have attempted to explain this observation. One is that dark energy is somehow pushing galaxies apart. A second theory posits that gravity, the attractive force that in local environments like the solar system draws objects together, works differently at large cosmological scales and needs to be

modified to explain cosmic acceleration.

The DESI collaboration, which includes more than 900 scientists from over 70 institutions, has released a new analysis of its data that weighs in on the second theory. The data reveal that the way in which galaxies cluster is consistent with the standard model of gravity: Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which also describes how objects fall under gravity and planets orbit the sun.

The analysis provides the most precise test to date of how gravity behaves at very large scales by tracing how cosmic structure grew over the past 11 billion years.

Scientists in the collaboration shared their results in several papers posted Nov. 19 to the arXiv, an online repository of scientific articles not yet peer reviewed.

Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UT Dallas, co-led the DESI working group that interpreted the cosmological data, and he is lead author of the paper that presents a detailed analysis of testing gravity at cosmic scales.

“For this round of DESI results, I focused my efforts at UT Dallas on conducting a large part of the analysis on gravity, which puts constraints on how matter in the universe

moves and how large-scale structures, such as clusters of galaxies, evolve,” said IshakBoushaki, an astrophysicist whose research career has focused on questions in cosmology.

“The results from DESI, combined with datasets from other experiments, are consistent with general relativity theory operating at cosmic scales, although they do not completely exclude other theories of modified gravity.”

Ishak-Boushaki is slated to present the cosmology results with other researchers on behalf of the DESI collaboration in January.

2024 Piper Professor Physics professor honored

as one of Texas’ best

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki has been selected as a 2024 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, which honors the best professors in the state. Ishak-Boushaki said his teaching philosophy can be defined by two guiding principles: caring for students and inspiring them.

One of The University of Texas at Dallas’ most accomplished and dedicated researchers has received a statewide honor for another passion: teaching.

Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has been selected as a 2024 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, which honors the best professors in Texas.

The award, established in 1958, recognizes 10 educators annually for their dedication to their profession and for their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievements.

Each Piper Professor holds that title for life and receives a certificate of merit, a gold pin and a $5,000 honorarium.

Selection is made on the basis of nominations from two- and four-year colleges and universities.

“I was delighted and pleasantly surprised to hear I had been named a Piper Professor,” Ishak-Boushaki said. “This honor is an important recognition and confirmation of the guiding principles I have followed over my many years of teaching.”

A UT Dallas faculty member since 2005, Ishak-Boushaki is a theoretical astrophysicist who has mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as high school students.

NEW BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES DEGREE

A new undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas is preparing graduates for success in health professions and scientific careers by combining elements of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics and mathematical sciences.

The Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) prepares students for graduate school and industry; it also meets course requirements for graduates to apply to seven healthrelated professional schools: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, physical therapy and physician assistant.

“Our pre-health students were previously placed in the same degree programs as those who want to pursue careers as scientists, educators or academics, but they had to carefully tailor their courses,” said Dr. Duane Winkler,

Calling all future scientists and doctors!

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

associate professor and department head of biological sciences. “The priorities of these students are different. This new bachelor’s degree program allows us to cater to a large swath of student interests.”

The biomedical sciences curriculum offers: a professional track that focuses on comprehensive preparation for professional schools, including research, and a data analytics track that emphasizes bioinformatics, machine learning, epidemiology and biostatistics.

“UT Dallas is a preeminent research institution with tremendous talent in multiple disciplines. We build on that with this new degree,” said Dr. Michael Biewer, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and associate dean for undergraduate education in NSM. “We’re also hiring more expert faculty across our school’s departments who will teach

courses and provide students with research opportunities in advanced biomedical fields. This is a distinct opportunity at UTD that will make our graduates more competitive, whether they apply to professional schools or go into industry.”

For example, Dr. Zihao Ou, assistant professor of physics, and Dr. Tian Hong, associate professor of biological sciences, joined the faculty in August to be part of the biomedical sciences research and teaching focus. Ou is a pioneer in biomedical optics and imaging, an expanding field of study that is advancing technology for both biological research and medical science. Hong’s research focuses on computational systems biology, bioinformatics and the application of mathematics to biological questions.

One of the hallmarks of the degree program is its flexibility, said Dr. Eberhard Voit, a clinical professor of biological sciences who led the committee that developed the degree program.

“In our program, students don’t have to choose immediately which track they want to focus on; they can switch direction as needed,” Voit said. “Incoming students might think they want to be doctors, but then find that research or data science is their true calling. They could start in the data analytics track and still decide to go to medical school. This flexible, smartly designed curriculum can save students time, effort and money.”

A new certificate in biomedical data analytics will also be available starting in fall 2025. The coursework for the certificate is embedded in the data analytics track within the biomedical sciences degree, so any student taking that track will also earn the certificate.

“Students who are pursuing other degrees at UTD also can take these courses to complete this undergraduate certificate to add to their training and employability,” said Dr. Pankaj Choudhary, professor of mathematical sciences, associate dean of graduate

studies in NSM and a member of the degree development committee.

Dr. Vladimir Dragovic, professor and department head of mathematical sciences, said his department will oversee the data analytics track. He and his colleagues worked closely with biological sciences faculty to create four new courses for the degree curriculum.

“Faculty in the mathematical sciences department have a wide range of research expertise,” Dragovic said. “We are big believers in the importance of mathematical sciences and statistics in this new moment, where artificial intelligence and data analytics are contributing significantly to medical science and society.”

NSM offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, mathematical sciences, physics, science & mathematics education and sustainable Earth systems sciences. This fall, nearly 10% of first-year students chose biology as their major, making it the second most-popular major among UTD freshmen.

Dr. David Hyndman, dean of NSM, said the new degree program provides exciting opportunities for students at a time when medical fields are becoming much more quantitative and dependent on knowledge that spans traditional disciplines.

“As a school, we recognize that health professions and biomedical sciences encompass multiple fields that span the expertise of our research and teaching,” said Hyndman, the Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair. “Bioinformatics, data analytics, and advanced technology and treatments are increasingly informing modern medicine and opening up new career paths for graduates with interdisciplinary skills. This modern, flexible degree program will give UTD students the chance to explore multiple avenues.” y

clu•ster hire

(kluhs•ter hahyuhr) n. a recruitment practice involving hiring multiple faculty into one department or faculty into multiple departments around interdisciplinary research topics, or “clusters.”

Zihao Ou assistant professor of Physics

Tian Hong associate professor of Biology

Qian Zhao assistant

Xian Wu assistant professor, SESS

Biomedical

cluster

A look into ‘mirror molecules’ may lead to new medicines

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

A University of Texas at Dallas chemist and his colleagues have developed a new chemical reaction that will allow researchers to synthesize selectively the left-handed or right-handed versions of “mirror molecules” found in nature and assess them for potential use against cancer, infection, depression, inflammation and a host of other conditions.

The results are important because, while the left- and righthanded versions, or enantiomers, of chemical compounds have identical chemical properties, they differ in how they react in the human body. Developing cost-effective ways to synthesize only the version with a desired biological effect is critical to medicinal chemistry.

In a study published in the Oct. 11 issue of the journal Science , the researchers describe how their chemical synthesis method can quickly, efficiently and in a scalable manner produce a sample that is purely a mirror-image pair of molecules, as opposed to a mixture of the two. The new method involves adding prenyl groups — molecules made of five carbon atoms — to enones by means of a newly developed catalyst in one step in the synthesis process.

“Adding a prenyl group is the way nature assembles these molecules, but it has been challenging for scientists to replicate this successfully,” said Dr. Filippo Romiti, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UT Dallas and a corresponding author of the study.

“Nature is the best synthetic chemist of all; she’s way ahead of us. This research represents a paradigm shift in the way we can now synthesize large quantities of biologically active molecules and test them for therapeutic activity,” said Romiti, who is also a Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas Scholar.

Naturally occurring compounds are a significant source of potential new medicines, but because they often occur only in minute quantities, scientists and pharmaceutical companies must develop methods to synthesize larger amounts to test in the lab or to manufacture into drugs.

In their study, the researchers demonstrated how incorporating their new chemical reaction resulted in a synthesis process that reached completion in about 15 minutes at room temperature, which is more energy-efficient than having to heat or cool substances significantly during a reaction.

The researchers developed their method as part of an effort to synthesize polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), which are a class of more than 400 natural products with a broad spectrum of bioactivity, including combating cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy and obesity.

Crystallography Center

New hub aims for clear-cut edge in crystallography research

BY AMANDA SIEGFRIED

The University of Texas at Dallas has added faculty experts and new equipment to help establish a national crystallography hub for advanced chemistry and materials science research.

Dr. Mario Wriedt, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Fellow, Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Chair, joined the UT Dallas faculty in 2023 to direct the Crystallography Center and its X-ray Diffraction Facility in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Crystallographers use techniques such as X-ray diffraction to study the detailed 3D atomic structure of materials. In singlecrystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray beams are directed toward a single crystal of a material. Detectors record how the X-rays diffract, or interact with, the atoms in the sample, providing researchers with information about the crystal’s structure.

The data that are generated help scientists better understand the mechanisms behind chemical reactions and inform the design of new materials with a wide range of uses, from medicine to energy storage to environmental cleanup.

During the past year, UTD’s Crystallography Center has been renovated, and a Bruker D8 Venture Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer, which features a Microfocus Diamond II X-ray

source and Photon III detector, has been added to the lab’s existing instrumentation.

“This new instrument generates ultra-high intensity, very bright X-rays and allows us to do challenging experiments inhouse,” Wriedt said.

The intensity of the X-rays generated by the Bruker diffractometer rivals that generated by a synchrotron, a device that generates X-rays with a particle accelerator.

“We previously had to send samples of very small crystals to synchrotron facilities, but now we can not only collect these data at UTD but also in record time,” Wriedt said.

The new equipment also boosts the capability of analyzing the crystal structure of nanoporous metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs. These materials, which resemble jungle gym-like structures, are an important area of study due to their high degree of structural tunability combined with ultrahigh surface areas, making them promising candidates for unique applications.

ADVENTURES IN ICELAND

NSF RESEARCH FELLOWS

Two students pursuing degrees in sustainable Earth systems sciences (SESS) are among the six current and former University of Texas at Dallas students selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its 2024 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

Earth sciences students Madigan Blake BS’23 and Isaac Rangel-Landeros BS’23 represent the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the highly competitive fellowship program, which provides a stipend and tuition support for students who will pursue or already are pursuing graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Tectonic bucket list

BY M.E. CLARY

NSF fellowships to help graduate students make seismic impact

BY STEPHEN FONTENOT

“Having two GRFP recipients in our department reflects the amazing quality of our students here at UT Dallas and indicates our renewed department is gaining higher recognition across the broader field of research and education in Earth and environmental sciences,” said Dr. David Lumley, SESS department head and the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Chair in Geophysics. “In this NSF GRFP round, SESS outperformed academic colleagues like UT Austin and Stanford University on an absolute and per-capita award basis.”

In addition to winning these fellowships, Blake and RangelLanderos are also Eugene McDermott Graduate Fellows.

In September 2024, a group of 14 alumni and friends of The University of Texas at Dallas embarked on a once-in-alifetime journey to Iceland, led by Dr. David Hyndman, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair. This alumni-and-friends engagement trip was not only an opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes of Iceland but also to experience firsthand the scientific significance of this remarkable destination.

For Hyndman, the Iceland trip was the culmination of a vision first cultivated during his former tenure as chair of the Department of Geological Sciences at Michigan State University. In 2017, he led a similar trip to Iceland to foster stronger bonds with alumni and donors through shared learning and exploration. When Hyndman arrived at UTD in February 2021, he saw an opportunity to recreate that

From left: Isaac Rangel-Landeros BS’23, Dr. Zachary Sickmann, Dr. Kristina Butler and Madigan Blake BS’23 are shown at El Solitario in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas. Rangel-Landeros and Blake received graduate research fellowships from the National Science Foundation to help them continue their studies at UTD.

experience, building on the success of past trips.

“We talked about it, brainstormed and got people thinking,” Hyndman recalled. “Why not give it a try here at UTD?” The idea took root, and planning began in earnest. The goal was to engage supporters in a meaningful way, combining adventure with learning in a place where the Earth’s geological forces are on full display.

The result was a carefully planned 8-day itinerary that combined exploration of the natural world with opportunities for alumni to connect with one another and with UTD leadership, including President Richard C. Benson, who holds the Eugene McDermott Distinguished Chair of Leadership, and Dr. Inga Musselman, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Having two GRFP recipients in our department reflects the amazing quality of our students here at UT Dallas and indicates our renewed department is gaining higher recognition across the broader field of research and education in Earth and environmental sciences.

- Dr. David Lumley Department Head of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences and the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Chair in Geophysics

UNDERGRADS EARN TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS

Eleven University of Texas at Dallas undergraduates studying to become science, math or computer science teachers have received the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers.

The competitive scholarship, which provides each recipient up to $10,000 per year for up to four years, helps to recruit and retain the most talented teachers for Texas public schools.

Last fall, the University’s UTeach Dallas program became a full partner in the Charles Butt Foundation’s Raising Texas Teachers project; teacher candidates in the UTeach Dallas program then became eligible to apply for the scholarship.

All 11 UT Dallas applicants were chosen to receive the scholarship.

“UT Dallas is an amazing place to train to become a math or science teacher,” said Dr. Kate York, a master teacher in science and mathematics education who oversees the Charles Butt Scholars at UT

Aspiring teachers receive recognition and awards

OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS

Dallas. “Students have access not only to financial resources, but also to professional support from experienced educators who provide exceptional guidance as students learn to become teachers. Access to the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers is a terrific asset to our program.”

Scholarship recipients must be committed to teaching in a Texas public school that is majority economically disadvantaged or in a shortage subject area, such as math and science. In addition to financial support, the scholarship provides recipients with ongoing professional development opportunities, including connections with experienced mentors and a statewide network of other Charles Butt Scholars and alumni.

From left: Aman Rahman, Noor Damrah and Aislinn Miranda are among the recipients of the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers.

BY PAUL KRAWIETZ

CAREER SUCCESS CENTER

We officially opened in August 2023. Our new offices, staff and website are now available to provide career readiness resources and services for all of our NSM students!

NEW COURSE

Professional Development: a class to help students prepare for the workforce and apply for internships and jobs.

RESEARCH FUND

NEW INTERSHIP COURSES

NSM students can now obtain course credit for a variety of experiential learning opportunities including internships, research labs and cooperative-work settings.

WELCOMED INDUSTRY

NSM students are able to meet, connect and discuss internships and jobs. Organizations include American Airlines, Southwest Research Institute, GM Financial, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Mary Kay, Inc. and more.

GROWTH!

CSC began as an office of one, but has expanded services to include a new assistant director, Tisha Schiavone, and two graduate students, Abhishek Garimella and Noel Papali.

04 03 05

Brothers David and Phillip Pomberg grew up in the Rock Barrell, a shop founded in 1972 by their parents, Earl and Shirley Pomberg. Long a staple in the local geoscience community, the Richardson, Texas, store has been serving customers for decades. Before Earl passed away in 2023, he and his family established a research fund in his name at The University of Texas at Dallas to support the North Texas geoscience community he loved. “When our father left the Navy, he attended trade school to become a draftsman and then got a job at Texas Instruments, which is what brought us to North Texas,” David said. “But he always spent his weekends figuring out other ways to make a living. At the time, there was a growing obsession with people buying rocks, and he capitalized off that at his stall at the local flea market.”

Earl, who eventually saved up enough money for a brick-and-mortar store, entered the geoscience world as an entrepreneur, and his passion for rocks developed quickly. What started off as selling seashells and stones turned into traveling to foreign countries to buy inventory and befriending customers as unique as himself.

“As he grew in both the business and the rock worlds, he started to foster a friendship with the late Dr. James Carter,” David said. “He came over to the store a lot, and I’d always hear them laughing and telling each other stories for hours. I think it’s neat that my dad, who didn’t have a lot of ‘formal’ education could be friends with an esteemed professor who had such an extraordinary impact on UTD.”

When Earl passed away, David said his absence was felt by hundreds of customers, friends, business partners and other community members. He believes his father will forever be remembered for his

Honoring the legacy of Earl Pomberg

BY CHRISTINA PUGLIESE

wisdom, fairness and willingness to share his knowledge with anyone who cared to ask, as well as his sentiments about the importance of education.

“[My father] had this understanding that even though he didn’t experience college, he could still be smart and learn,” David said. “He was fond of saying ‘the great thing about education is once you have it, nobody can take it away from you.’” David, his wife, Jerri Hammer MS’97, and Phillip created the Earl H. Pomberg Research Fund to benefit NSM.

Dr. David Hyndman, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics said he is incredibly grateful for the support.

“The Pombergs have been friends of the geosciences at UT Dallas for a long time. Their generous support has the potential to provide transformative research opportunities to our students and faculty.”