Catalyst Spring 2022 - COS

VOLUME 7 | SPRING 2022

CATALYST Advancing Equity in Science Page 10

The Magazine of The College of Sciences at The University of Texas at San Antonio

CATALYST

Contents

Dean: David R. Silva, Ph.D. Editor: Ryan Schoensee Contributing Editor: Lauren Moriarty Graphic Designer: Coral Díaz

Message from the Dean

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Copyeditor: Ashley Festa

Congratulations

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Student Writers: Amanda Korsah, Gabriela Maldonado, Pelle Munoz, Hailey Schmidt, Mariana Suarez-Martinez, Sara Timmons

Good to Know: Rocky Slavin

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The College at a Glance

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UTSA Achieves Carnegie R1 Classification

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Pathways to Health Professions

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Contributing Writer: Taylor Bird Student Artists: Ziqi Yu Contributing Artist: Brianna Trevino

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION Associate Dean for Faculty Success: Kelly Nash, Ph.D.

Advancing Equity in Science

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UTSA Pioneers Advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing

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Faculty Spotlight

16

Awesome Alum

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#ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike

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Giving

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Inside the College of Sciences Student Success Center

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Catalyst is the biannual publication of the College of Sciences at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Catalyst is created for faculty, students, alumni and friends of the college, and it highlights achievements in research, scholarship and community outreach.

Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Associate Dean for Research: Jose Lopez-Ribot, Pharm.D./Ph.D. Associate Dean for Student Success: Edwin Barea-Rodriguez, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies: Timothy Yuen, Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Fiscal Administration: Mike Findeisen Assistant Dean for Remote Instruction: Terri Matiella, Ph.D. Senior Executive Development Officer: Kim Fischer

COVER ILLUSTRATION

Ziqi Yu

The College of Sciences One UTSA Circle San Antonio, Texas 78249 (210) 458-4450 www.utsa.edu/sciences

facebook.com/UTSASciences twitter.com/UTSASciences instagram.com/utsa.collegeofsciences

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Student Writers Amanda Korsah Microbiology and Immunology

Gabriela Maldonado Microbiology and Immunology

Pelle Munoz Environmental Science

Message from the Dean Greetings from the College of Sciences. As you may know, UTSA was recently named a Carnegie R1 (also referred to as Tier One) university. This prestigious designation recognizes the breadth of UTSA’s discovery enterprise and aligns the university with the top public and private research institutions in the United States. As one of the leading research communities at UTSA, the College

Hailey Schmidt Environmental Science

of Sciences played an integral role in this accomplishment. I’d like to congratulate all of our faculty, staff, students and friends of the college for contributing to this momentous achievement.

As the world faces unprecedented challenges such as the pandemic and climate change, we at the College of Sciences believe science is more important than ever. We are dedicated to equipping the

Mariana SuarezMartinez Biology

next generation of outstanding scientists with a top-tier education that will give them the tools they need to overcome society’s greatest problems.

We are on track to have another record-breaking year in both enrollment and research expenditures.

Defying national trends, the College of Sciences saw a 13% increase in undergraduate enrollment from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021. Our college also had the highest student population ever recorded in

Sara Timmons Biology

the last decade with 5,500 students enrolled in Fall 2021. We continue to expect strong growth and are recruiting up to 15 new tenure-track faculty for Fall 2022. With over $40 million in total annual research expenditures, the College of Sciences will continue to serve as a major contributor to sustaining the university’s esteemed Carnegie R1 status.

Student Artists

These wins are just a glimpse of the many amazing things happening within the College of Sciences.

Thank you for your continued support. Your contributions are helping us create bold futures as we prepare our students to become world-class scientists and leaders. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

Sincerely,

Ziqi Yu Chemistry

DAVID R. SILVA, PH.D. Distinguished Professor, Physics and Astronomy Dean, College of Sciences 1

UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

Congratulations u T he

Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology (NDRB) received a $1 million gift from the Semmes Foundation to establish the Semmes Foundation Graduate Student Fund. The gift will expand and sustain the department’s doctoral programs and also position the university to better compete for external funding through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

u A strid

Cardona (MMI) was named a fellow in the third cohort of the IAspire Leadership Academy. The program aims to help STEM faculty from underrepresented backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at institutions of higher learning.

u O leg

Larionov (Chemistry) was named the Robert A. Welch Distinguished University Chair. This prestigious appointment will provide resources and funding for Larionov to pioneer bold new ideas within the field of synthetic organic chemistry.

u I nspired

by a close call with a campus scooter, Murtuza Jadliwala (Computer Science) created UTSA’s ScooterLab. Funded by a $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, the one-year pilot program will develop Jadliwala’s goal of obtaining data from campus scooters to study their impact on pedestrian safety.

u L ed u T he

Brain Health Consortium was awarded $12.5 million from the National Institutes of Health through the NIH BRAIN Initiative to advance new methods for studying genetic brain disorders. The results of the study could have a significant impact toward one day treating or eliminating neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

UTSA faculty members Kay and Steve Robbins (Computer Science) established the Kay and Steve Robbins Faculty Teaching Fellowship Award in Computer Science. The gift will propel teaching innovations in course and program development as well as in career skills development.

by Sumit Jha (Computer Science), researchers from UTSA, the University of Central Florida, the Air Force Research Laboratory and SRI International have developed a new method to improve how artificial intelligence learns to see. The team showed that adding noise—also known as pixilation— along multiple layers of a network provides a more complete representation of an image that’s more easily recognized by the AI to create more robust explanations for AI decisions.

u R etired

u D octoral

students Vanessa Cerda and Tara Flaugher (NDRB) were recently selected to receive highly competitive fellowships that will support their graduate studies. Cerda received an award from the National Institutes of Health, and Flaugher secured two awards, one from the U.S. Department of Defense and the other from the Pat Tillman Foundation.

u T yler Sutherland

(Physics and Astronomy) helped make a breakthrough achievement in quantum computing. Sutherland and his team set the world record for the most accurate entangling gate ever demonstrated without lasers.

Macpherson (NDRB) received a three-year, $450,000 Young Investigator Award from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund to better understand why taste is often lost during chemotherapy.

u A lan

Whittington (Earth and Planetary Sciences) is part of UTSA research that could help develop the first construction site on the moon. Astroport Space Technologies has partnered with UTSA to receive a Phase 1 grant from NASA’s Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program (SBIR/STTR) to develop machinery and materials to build a reusable launching pad on the moon.

u A nna

Arroyo (Computer Science) ’21, an inspiring Latina looking to build up her community by closing the gender gap in software engineering, landed a job as a software engineer with Twitter’s Media Foundation Client Team.

Her work will help accelerate and drive the media-related features that get rolled out to Twitter’s users.

u A manda

Fernandez (Computer Science) and Thomas Forsthuber (MMI) were elected senior members of the National Academy of Inventors.

u L indsey

u S augata

Datta (Earth and Planetary Sciences) is the faculty lead for UTSA’s new South Texas Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs (STIR-UP), a 10-week residential program that prepares students from underrepresented backgrounds for success in graduate programs by providing research opportunities.

U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy tapped Elizabeth Sooby (Physics and Astronomy) to conduct two advanced nuclear energy technology research projects to make nuclear energy safer and more cost-effective.

u C hiung-Yu

Hung and Jose L. Lopez-Ribot (MMI) received $6.8 million in National Institute of Health funding to establish a San Antonio-based Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Center focused on developing therapeutics and vaccines against coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever.

u J ames

Chambers (MMI), Aimin Liu (Chemistry), and Angela Speck (Physics and Astronomy) were elected as 2021 Fellows for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

u T he

2

u N ASA

awarded a select group of astronomers time on the James Webb Space Telescope for research. This cohort includes Chris Packham (Physics and Astronomy), who is co-leading a team of international scientists conducting research on black holes.

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Good to Know: Rocky Slavin Meet the mind behind some of UTSA’s most notable cybersecurity research

My relationship with UTSA has been a long and rewarding one.

Because I was a first-generation, Hispanic student with parents who had not even graduated from high school, a collegiate future seemed daunting. After starting my academic career at UTSA, I eventually graduated with my B.S. in Computer Science in 2012. Near the end of my undergraduate studies, I was fortunate enough to get the chance to do research with a UTSA computer science faculty member, which led to me joining the graduate program and earning my Ph.D. in 2017. During that time, I developed a love for both teaching and research, which fueled my decision to pursue a career in academia. Once again, I was able to continue my relationship with UTSA—this time as a faculty member where I have had the privilege to help others on their own journeys.

My story with UTSA is somewhat unique. Unlike most faculty here, I also obtained my Ph.D. at UTSA. Successfully defending my dissertation and being the first in my family to earn a graduate degree was my proudest moment with the university. In a way, I get to continually relive this experience by guiding my students through their own success stories. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you see a student’s expression as something suddenly clicks for them. Over time, I have seen my students become welldeveloped, independent computer scientists.

Many of my recent publications have revolved around validating the privacy-related promises app developers make in their natural language privacy policies (those things no one reads when we install an app). My research has found a non-negligible amount of inconsistent privacy policies and misconfigured privacy settings.

My hope is that this research will help developers and app users become more aware of privacy risk. In addition, my students use a variety of methods and disciplines to study security and privacy in mobile, Internet of Things, and smart home settings. Besides their own workspaces and computers, my students have access to various servers specialized in machine learning, virtualization and data storage.

Graduate students also gain more opportunities to study areas more specific to their interests. As a result, they can expect more success and freedom in their career path.

Simply put, cybersecurity research is fun and rewarding. The research I conduct and the topics I teach are all things that are relevant to my everyday hobbies and interests. This is a crucial factor for everyone in anything they do if they are to be successful and happy. I enjoy watching my students improve and develop, both in the short term and long term. As with all learning experiences, a lasting knowledge of the material is my primary goal in the classroom.

Required Reading The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. “I believe The Lord of the Rings should be listed as the last book under the required reading section of your degree requirement.”

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable ObjectOriented Software by Gamma, Vlissides, Helm and Johnson. “This must-read for any software engineer introduces the fundamental idea of patterns as solutions to recurring problems in software design.”

The Pragmatic Programmer by Andy Hunt and David Thomas. “This book transcends the details of evolving technology and provides a broad look at best practices and general advice for writing quality code.”

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

The College at a Glance Fall 2021 Enrollment Includes undergraduate and graduate students

LIFE SCIENCES Integrative Biology ........................................ 2,868 Molecular Microbiology and Immunology............................................ 166 Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology ........................... 55

COMPUTER/MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES Computer Science ............................. 1,433 Mathematics ........................................ 233 4

PHYSICAL SCIENCES Chemistry .................................................. 259 Earth and Planetary Sciences ............... 129 Physics and Astronomy .......................... 150

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

From Fall 2020 to Fall 2021...

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Our B.A./B.S. programs grew 13% to 4,857 students

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M.A./M.S. grew 5% to 343

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Ph.D. enrollment grew 5% to 235

41% FIRST-GEN

We value an inclusive environment that ensures all students receive the encouragement and educational experience they need to succeed.

52%

HISPANIC/LATINO

Serving UTSA’s Non-Science Majors

Pop Quiz Answer: 10

Of the 4,273 students in our chemistry lower-division classes last fall, 95.5% are pursuing a major outside of the Department of Chemistry.

Out of 5,732 enrollments in our math lower-division courses last fall, 97% are earning their degrees in a different department.

Infographics: Brianna Trevino

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

UTSA Achieves Carnegie R1 Classification We did it, Roadrunners!

By Mariana Suarez-Martinez As of February 2021, UTSA is officially an R1 university. Awarded by

The Carnegie Classification system was developed in 1970 by the

the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the

Carnegie Commission on Higher Education to recognize the diversity

R1 Classification (“very high research activity”) is sometimes referred

of U.S. colleges and universities through a systematic evaluation.

to as Tier One or Top Tier. The prestigious designation recognizes

Based on several criteria, including an institution’s annual research

UTSA as a top research institution in the United States, a privilege

expenditures, the density of its research staff and the number of

awarded to only 145 other universities.

doctoral degrees it confers each year, the designation is synonymous with academic excellence and research innovation and impact. As

UTSA worked tremendously hard to become the research powerhouse

the university moves forward, it is important to keep in mind UTSA’s

it is today. “In about 50 years, we have grown from 600 acres and

founding values.

dirt roads to what you see here,” explained Audrey Lamb, chair of the Department of Chemistry. “We are able to compete with the best

“We go from being the big fish in a smaller pond to a small fish in

universities on the planet in research. We have the momentum to

a bigger pond,” Lamb said. “It is not a moment to rest on our laurels.

continue growing.”

It is a moment to make sure we are continuing to strive to be always greater.”

Diversifying the sciences is an important step to creating new technology and solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.

UTSA is one of the few universities that is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and also recognized as an R1 institution. “I think the main [drive] of UTSA has always been to provide access to education and serve a population that has been underserved and underrepresented,” said Jose Lopez-Ribot, associate dean of Research in the College of Sciences. “When you put those two things together, I can only think of how we’ll be able to provide more opportunities to help our students succeed through education and training in research.”

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As a Tier One research university, UTSA now has an even greater ability to attract worldclass faculty and the students who want to learn from them.

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Ready to put on a lab coat?

Here’s how to land a spot in a College of Sciences lab.

Do Your Homework If you want to join a lab, don’t resort to the easiest—and most impersonal—method of cold emailing multiple professors to inquire about open spots. “We frequently get emails that ask for a position in a lab,” Lamb said. “That is not a way to get a position in a lab. Instead, you need to at least say, ‘I looked at your website, and your research on enzymes is cool.’ Even better is if you read a paper or at least an introduction to a paper or two to see what they’re doing in the lab. Doing your homework shows your dedication and effort to be a contributor in the lab.”

Be Flexible Adapting to different teaching methods, research techniques and technology is key to becoming a capable scientist.

“Be open minded, dependable, and be willing to do anything,” said Jenny Hsieh, chair of the Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology and director of UTSA’s Brain Health Consortium. “A lot of undergraduates have the notion of them coming in and going to work on this really cool project. Think of research like a pyramid. At the bottom, the widest part of the pyramid, there are all of these basic techniques that you must learn and be able to do repetitively. These techniques can be different from those you would learn in a lab class. For example, performing genotype analysis of transgenic mice or learning an advanced imaging technique. If you can spend a semester or two semesters working at the bottom of the pyramid and do that well, then you can spend the second year putting those pieces together and working toward the top of the pyramid or an interesting project.”

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

Pathways to Health Professions College of Sciences students work closely with the Health Professions Office (HPO) to obtain the foundation they need to become the next dentist, nurse or medical specialist.

HPO PATHWAYS

Joint BSN-MDST 2+2 Nursing Program (FANS) In UTSA’s Nursing Pathway Program, also known as The Facilitated Ac-

UTSA offers several special programs to help students pursue early acceptance or joint admission with UT Health San Antonio. Several of these require or pair best with a degree from the College of Sciences.

ceptance to Nursing School (FANS), students who gain admission to the

Dental Early Acceptance Program (DEAP)

in Nursing Program at UT Health San Antonio and the opportunity to

The Dental Early Acceptance Program, or DEAP, provides students

receive two bachelor’s degrees in four years.

with conditional, early acceptance to UT Health San Antonio’s School of Dentistry. Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UTSA and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from UT Health San Antonio in seven years.

School of Nursing at UT Health San Antonio, and successfully complete the two-year BSN curriculum, will also earn a second degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from UTSA in a total of four years. This 2+2 pathway offers exceptional students a guaranteed interview with the Bachelor of Science

Medical Laboratory Sciences Early Acceptance Program (MLSEAP) The Medical Laboratory Sciences Early Acceptance Program, or MLSEAP, is another great partnership between UTSA and UT Health San Antonio. Stu-

Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) The Joint Ad-

dents in this program earn a Bachelor of Science degree from UTSA and

mission Medical Program, also known as JAMP, is a special program

a Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences from UT Health San

created by the Texas Legislature to help highly qualified, economically

Antonio in just five years instead of six. Students in this program spend

disadvantaged Texas resident students pursuing a medical education.

three years at UTSA, where they major in biology, chemistry, or microbi-

JAMP is a partnership between participating Texas medical schools

ology/immunology. After completing the undergraduate requirements at

and 67 public and private four-year undergraduate institutions, in-

UTSA, students matriculate at UT Health San Antonio’s School of Health

cluding UTSA. It offers admitted students the chance to automatically

Professions to complete a two-year, graduate-level medical laboratory

match for admission in a JAMP-participating medical school.

sciences curriculum.

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Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Respiratory Care Early Acceptance Program (RCEAP)

ALIGNED RESEARCH AREAS AND INSTITUTES

Students in the Respiratory Care Early Acceptance Program, RCEAP, earn a Bachelor of Science degree from UTSA and a Master of Science in

Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD)

Respiratory Care from UT Health San Antonio in just five years. Students

CIDD provides a diverse array of core facilities and expertise to facilitate

spend three years at UTSA, where they major in biology or kinesiology

the translation of basic scientific discoveries into tangible, pre-clinical

with a health science concentration. After completing undergraduate

candidate drugs that can be further developed into clinical therapies

requirements at UTSA, students matriculate at the School of Health

for human disease.

Professions at UT Health San Antonio for the two-year, graduate-level respiratory care curriculum.

South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID)

Physical Therapy Early Acceptance Program (PTEAP)

STCEID focuses on the study of infectious microorganisms and the

Students in the PTEAP program earn a Bachelor of Science degree from

host immune response to these microorganisms. The center is commit-

UTSA and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UT Health San Antonio

ted to advancing and expanding research in bacteriology, mycology,

in just six years. Students spend three years at UTSA, where they major

virology, parasitology and immunology while training the next genera-

in biology or kinesiology with a health science concentration. After com-

tion of infectious disease researchers.

pleting undergraduate requirements at UTSA, students matriculate at the School of Health Professions at UT Health San Antonio for the three-year, graduate-level physical therapy curriculum.

STUDENT HEALTH GROUPS OFFER HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE Several student interest groups provide pre-health students with community and resources that help equip them with the specific knowledge and skills they need to succeed in graduate school and their chosen profession.

The Latino Medical Student Association–Southwest (LMSA-SW), strives to unify all Latinx medical students in our region (Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) while addressing and raising awareness of health disparities pertinent to these Latino communities. They encourage unity among their members by fostering a spirit of “mi familia” through volunteer opportunities, social outlets and assistance in successfully completing a medical education.

UTSA’s Pre-Nursing Society is dedicated to providing a pathway for students applying to nursing programs. The organization has a variety of

UTSA Brain Health Consortium (BHC) The UTSA BHC is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team committed to discovering the inner workings of the brain. It integrates researchers with expertise in neuroscience, regenerative medicine, medicinal chemistry, biomedical engineering, and data analytics, to achieve a common goal in preventing and treating neurological disorders.

Student Spotlight Maria Gonzalez is an undergraduate student studying microbiology and immunology. She is passionate about research involving combating pathogens and autoimmune diseases. She

volunteer and social opportunities to foster the professionalism needed

is the director of PR for the UTSA chapter of

within the career, ultimately, to create better nurses. The society often

LMSA-SW. Gonzalez says she felt immediately

hosts guest speakers who share presentations and are available to

welcome and comfortable in the organiza-

answer questions regarding the profession, application process, and nursing school.

The Black Health Professions Organization exists to inspire the success of African-American students who plan to pursue a career in health

tion because many of the members and guest speakers had a background similar to her own. After graduating from UTSA, she plans

professions. The organization’s main focus is to address concerns in the

to apply for medical schools and would like

minority community.

to obtain an M.D. in immunology or endocri-

Women in Medicine is for pre-health profession students who seek to

nology. Gonzalez hopes to establish her own

promote a collaborative, inclusive environment as well as provide a safe

private practice.

space to discuss gender, social and racial issues that exist in healthcare.

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

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Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Advancing Equity in Science Faculty and students are broadening diversity and inclusion in the pursuit of scientific excellence

By Sara Timmons What happens in the brain of an English-Spanish bilingual child or adult when they start a math problem? Does bilingualism impact how the brain performs arithmetic? Vanessa Cerda is investigating these questions in Nicole Wicha’s lab. Cerda, a fifth-year student pursuing a Ph.D., recently won the NIH Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) award for her research in bilingualism. Cerda and her fellow researchers are studying how children and adults learn multiplication in both English and Spanish. Their research will potentially allow over 11 million bilingual children in the U.S. to improve their math articulation skills.

The important research in Wicha’s lab is just one example of the College of Science’s contributions to equity in science. So, what exactly is equity? To achieve equity, each individual must have equal access to excellence. UTSA’s mission is to ensure equity for all faculty and students in the pursuit of new scientific frontiers. The university celebrates the faculty, students and programs that advance equity and bring UTSA’s mission to fruition.

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

“From lab mates to classmates, great people from all sorts of backgrounds came here at the same time as me, and I am so grateful to have coincided with them.”

ANA NARRO Chemistry Ph.D. student

A Rising Tide of Diversity in Research

Offering Easily Accessible Support

Saugata Datta is a professor in the Department of Earth and Plan-

Exceptional faculty, students and programs are not all that UTSA

etary Sciences and the director of the Institute for Water Research,

has to offer. The College of Sciences Student Success Center is a

Sustainability and Policy (IWRSP), an organization that addresses

support service committed to the success of all science students.

issues related to public water resources and research in South Texas.

The center’s mission is to give students the tools they need to stay

Since the institute’s beginning in the summer of 2021, Datta has

on track to graduate as well as to achieve professional and personal

been the faculty lead of the South Texas Interdisciplinary Research

growth. Students can make an appointment with staff from the

for Undergraduate Programs (STIR-UP). The vision of STIR-UP

Tomás Rivera Center for academic coaching to devise a custom plan

is to maximize diversity and inclusion in research by offering under-

for studying and learning. They can also benefit from meeting with a

represented undergraduates a funded 10-week summer program that

science mentor about campus engagement and general well-being.

includes education in graduate programs, career opportunities, and

“First-generation students have amazing resources at our fingertips,”

the multidisciplinary field of water research, sustainability and policy.

says science mentor Mariavictoria Moreno. As a first-generation

These students will also get research experience and professional

sophomore, Moreno has not always had a straight path at UTSA. She

development by engaging in UTSA lab rotations with distinguished

now has the opportunity to help students reach their full potential

faculty. The overarching theme of water economy, technology and

while on the path of discovering her own. Learn more about the

ethics “binds the campus together,” Datta said. STIR-UP’s goal is to

Student Success Center on page 24.

engage underrepresented students in career development and help them learn about the research at UTSA. “This is the most successful program I have ever seen,” he said.

The Tomás Rivera Center UTSA’s Tomás Rivera Center hosts supplemental in-

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are—you can succeed here.

You just have to be willing to put in the work.”

COMFORT OLORUNLERO Computer Science M.S. student

struction and tutoring services. Supplemental instruction consists of in-person and online study sessions led by students who were previously successful in the course. These collaborative sessions help students improve studying habits and prepare for tests. Students can also receive more tutoring by attending drop-in tutoring online or making a one-on-one appointment through the online portal.

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Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Setting Students Up for a Promising Future UTSA’s Bold Promise is a new, tuition-free program that is breaking down barriers to higher education for low-income students. Recent Texas high school graduates entering the program can now have a family income of up to $70,000, increased from $50,500, for students enrolling in Fall 2022 or later. Eligible freshmen will have 100% of their tuition and fees funded by Bold Promise for four years, allowing more students to pursue higher education and dream careers with

Technology, Engineering and Math Educational Diversity) program, which aims to increase the number of underrepresented students in science. Antopia partnered with the Millennium Fellowship to introduce the RAYS (Research Awareness for Young Scholars) program in Fall 2021. The goal of the RAYS program is to bring biomedical research to the attention of high school students interested in STEM. “The program enables participating students to explore their scientific passions,” Antopia said.

fewer financial barriers. Instead of attending university as a part-time student, more students can attend UTSA full time and obtain their degrees faster.

Leading by Example

First-Generation STEM Scholars Program

Hector Aguilar is a professor of instruction in the Department of

Sponsored by USAA,

Chemistry and has been a fellow in the University of Texas System

UTSA’s First-Generation

Academy of Distinguished Teachers since April 2021. Additionally,

STEM Scholars program is

Aguilar is the assistant director at UTSA for the NIH-funded Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) program, which serves underrepresented and firstgeneration college students. Aguilar is also a member of the Honors

more than just a scholarship.

In addition to financial aid, undergraduate STEM stu-

College Advisory Council and the Instructional Advisory Board and is

dents are provided mentor-

a faculty mentor in UTSA’s First-Generation STEM Scholars program.

ship from peers and faculty,

His dedication to student growth, especially among underrepresented students, is what he believes to be the essence of equity. You’ll often hear him say “con ganas” to inspire his students to develop a passion for learning.

Empowering Future Leaders In the College of Sciences, students can create and lead new

personal and professional networking opportunities, and career insight through the Roadrunner Network. “This award has made a significant difference in my education,” says Sarai Castro, a STEM Scholars recipient. Castro, a first-generation junior, is majoring in biology and on the pre-med track.

programs. Mariah Antopia, a senior majoring in biology, is a member of UTSA’s NIH-sponsored ESTEEMED (Enhancing Science, 13

UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

UTSA Pioneers Advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing UTSA researchers are developing new forms of AI inspired from the human brain

By Ryan Schoensee

When thinking about artificial intelligence, the things that may come to mind are movies directed by Steven Spielberg or starring Will Smith.

UTSA researchers are looking to change that by implementing it into

Queue the Qubits. What Are Quantum Computers?

Many industries—including science, engineering, finance and

daily life in safe and revolutionary ways.

logistics—are exploring quantum computers because they are

These transformational technologies will fundamentally change

classical supercomputers. Quantum computers enable us to better

how we observe, interpret and interact with the world of data

manage complicated systems like traffic flow, chemical reactions

that surrounds us. These fields have the potential to unlock novel

and artificial intelligence, which relies on processing large, complex

developments that could enhance our future in new and exciting

datasets to develop algorithms that allow for learning, reasoning and

ways that were once thought possible only in science fiction.

understanding.

UTSA has partnered with industries and nonprofits to collaborate

“There are many important products—pharmaceuticals, for example—

on advancing these novel research areas. In October 2021, UTSA

where a computationally expedited design process is not possible,

cohosted the AI and Quantum Symposium, a two-day event focused

due to the exponential scaling of quantum mechanical systems

on the current state of AI and quantum computing with discussions

with their size,” said Tyler Sutherland, an assistant professor in the

about the potential impact of their convergence. The research partners

Department of Physics and Astronomy. “To unlock this potential, we

included MATRIX, UTSA’s AI Consortium for Human Well-Being;

need quantum computers.”

BigBear.ai; and the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute (MISI).

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able to solve certain types of problems exponentially faster than

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Sutherland’s research focuses on developing new ways to physically perform quantum logic operations that are faster, easier and more accurate. He was part of a recent collaboration that set a world record for innovation in quantum computing. By developing the theory behind this record-setting experiment, Sutherland and his team were able to set the world record for the most accurate entangling gate ever demonstrated without lasers, which is substantially more cost-effective and easier to use, and it opens the door for more research opportunities in quantum computing.

An entangling gate is one of two fundamental operations needed to make a quantum computer.

Teaching AI How to Learn Over the past two decades, artificial intelligence has made significant advancements, moving from recognizing handwritten digits to pinpointing one person in a crowd. It has current-day applications in everything from chatbots, natural language processing, facial recognition and apps on a smartphone.

UTSA faculty who attended the AI and Quantum Symposium at the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute held on Oct. 2021, from left to right: Ana Laredo, engagement manager for Strategic Research Initiatives; Michelle Atchison, senior national security strategist from Strategic Research Initiatives; Jeff Prevost, interim executive director of the Open Cloud Institute and electrical and computer engineering assistant professor; Bernard Arulanandam, VP of Research Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise and center director of the Open Cloud Institute; Murtuza Jadliwala, computer science associate professor; Dhireesha Kudithipudi, founding director of the AI Institute and professor in both computer science and electrical and computer engineering; Tyler Sutherland, assistant professor in both physics and astronomy and electrical and computer engineering; Jaclyn Shaw, associate vice president of Strategic Research Initiatives; Jose Morales, assistant professor in both physics and astronomy and mathematics; and Stacy Cantu Pawlik, assistant operations director for the AI Institute.

Dhireesha Kudithipudi, the founding director of MATRIX and a professor in the Department of Computer Science, is providing a space for researchers to drive technical advancements that range from machine learning to neuroscience-inspired AI to augmenting humanity’s capabilities.

Kudithipudi is developing AI algorithms that can continually learn and develop new skills. Inspired by the plasticity and efficiency of human brains, Kudithipudi’s research aims to build a new form of AI with lifelong learning capabilities that is able to adapt to unexpected environments and remember how it solved past problems in order to build an increasing level of expertise.

Kudithipudi’s team recently demonstrated lifelong learning AI capabilities in spiking networks (artificial neural networks that closely

Walter Richardson, a professor in the Department of Mathematics, taught the first Quantum Computation course at UTSA in 2019. He was part of the UTSA

mimic a natural neural network) and fabricated a custom AI accelerator

SkyImager project to develop a low-cost imaging

chip that supports lifelong learning. They plan to test the hardware

system for forecasting solar irradiance. The technol-

within a few months.

ogy featured deep-learning AI models to accurately

“AI has the potential to revolutionize how we live, work, learn, discover and communicate,” Kudithipudi said. “It will be an integral digital fabric,

predict irradiances from images at one-tenth of the cost of current commercial systems.

and we are at a defining moment in the AI technological revolution.”

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

Faculty Spotlight: Elizabeth Sooby

By Amanda Korsah Elizabeth Sooby says her career started when a soccer teammate’s uncle hired her for an internship at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Then an undergraduate student at Millsaps College, Sooby was majoring in physics and minoring in both mathematics and business administration. “I credit soccer for kick-starting my research career,” she said.

The NASA internship was Sooby’s first introduction to a research laboratory. At NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Sooby collaborated with engineers to make adequate cable-shielding procedures. She also worked with aerospace researchers on oscillations and the effectiveness of Hall-effect thrusters. This is where she found her love of experimental research and realized she wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and lead her own research programs.

Sooby went on to earn both her master’s and Ph.D. in physics from Texas A&M University. While earning her graduate degrees, Sooby worked her way up from graduate research assistant to become the G.T. Seaborg Postdoctoral Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. Her research there included performing methodical experimental research and data analysis of advanced reactor fuels including molten-salt reactor fuels and high uranium density compounds for water-cooled reactors in LANL’s Fuels Research Laboratory. She also collaborated with the Ion Beams Material Laboratory to formulate experiments and test concurrent effects of irradiation and molten-salt corrosion.

In 2017, Sooby came to UTSA as an assistant professor. “I joined UTSA to teach the courses I love while having a great deal of support to do the nuclear materials research I’m passionate about,” she said. “It is the absolute perfect fit for me.”

Sooby’s research expertise includes nuclear energy, nuclear fuels, material science and high-temperature corrosion. She is coordinating two advanced nuclear energy technology research projects with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy. The awards support UTSA’s research efforts to advance nuclear energy technology by developing and testing fuel forms that make nuclear power safer and more cost-effective.

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“The infrastructure funding enables the development of a new capability here at UTSA for production of these research and development-scale fuel samples,” Sooby said. “Being part of the Nuclear Science User Facilities network means UTSA will now be listed among a national network of facilities contributing to the DOE’s mission.”

Sooby’s first project is a Nuclear Energy University Program Research & Development award in collaboration with the UTSA Department of Computer Science, Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center (KAMC) and Boise State University. The two-year project will be supported by $800,000 in grant funding, which will provide new opportunities for student researchers.

“We’re going to be funding graduate students and several undergraduates to conduct research in support of the project,” Sooby added.

“It’s going to be very hands-on, and student engagement in research is one of the things we’ve identified as a key player in STEM student success, especially at the undergraduate level.”

Sooby’s other most recent DOE-NE research project will be to design and commission a fuel fabrication line for reactor fuel research. In total, Sooby is currently leading four DOE-NE projects at UTSA and is also a co-PI on a National Nuclear Security Administration consortium.

She plays an integral role in the university’s discovery enterprise, especially regarding her research contributions in nuclear energy and novel materials.

Favorite spot on campus: The Sombrilla, where I like to have coffee and catch up with my colleagues and students.

Favorite drink: Soy latte Number of published journal articles and transactions: 50+

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Awesome Alum: Daniel Hinojosa

By Pelle Munoz As a first-generation student, Daniel Hinojosa has always prioritized education. “[At UTSA], I learned to value information and knowledge, and the generation of knowledge,” he said. “No one can take that away from you.” He fondly recalls his mother’s role in his early love of chemistry. “I knew what an atom was from a very young age, thanks to an encyclopedia my mom brought home for me once,” Hinojosa said.

“I know I could have excelled in any degree path, but chemistry was my most intuitive subject.”

I’ve had a very productive

“I tend to think about the universe on an atomic and molecular scale,”

and impactful career so

he said. “For me, to be human is to manipulate matter. I’m able

far for someone at my

to think like this because of my training during my undergraduate

level, as a direct result

career.” His most memorable college experiences are in UTSA’s John

of my professors at UTSA.

Peace Library, where he recalls spending many late nights studying.

“I used every resource I could find in the library,” he said. “It was basically my home for four years.” During his first semester at UTSA, Hinojosa met his fiance, Alejandra Lorenzen, at the library. “We’ve

After graduating in 2019 with his B.S. in chemistry with Highest

always supported each other, and we’ve grown so much together,

Honors, Hinojosa set his sights on San Antonio’s Southwest Research

first through college, and now through our careers.”

Institute (SwRI). Hinojosa is now a scientist in the Pharmaceuticals and Bioengineering Department at SwRI. His job requires him to utilize his synthetic organic chemistry and computational chemistry skills.

Hinojosa works in drug discovery and development, total synthesis, and expanding upon new technology by branching out into the realm of bioengineering and biophysical engineering. He hopes to eventually earn his Ph.D. Hinojosa is grateful to his former undergraduate thesis professor, Stanton McHardy, who coaxed him into the world of organic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Hinojosa says that his work with the McHardy group and the contributions of his professors and mentors played a crucial role in where he is today. “I’ve had a very productive and

Like many UTSA students, Hinojosa spent much of his undergraduate time at the John Peace Library.

impactful career so far for someone at my level, as a direct result of my professors at UTSA.”

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

#ThisIs WhatA Scientist Looks Like 18

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Trinity Shuler

By Hailey Schmidt

A San Antonio native, Trinity Shuler witnessed UTSA’s commitment to the community while she was growing up. The university’s investment in the community solidified her decision to enroll at UTSA. “I wanted to be a part of a college that cared about the city it is housed in,” she said.

Since joining the Roadrunner community as a first-generation college student, Shuler has been buoyed by the university’s support and

River Foundation where she tested kid-friendly scientific gadgets and

available opportunities on campus. “UTSA wants to help individuals

hosted conservation-focused events. In addition, she completed 200

succeed in their academic and career goals no matter where they are

hours of internship experience with the San Antonio Zoo, where she

in life,” she said. Now in her second year of study, Shuler is pursuing

created educational material about pollinators for children, discussed

a degree in environmental science within the Department of

wildlife conservation with zoo guests, and gained entry-level

Integrative Biology.

experience in butterfly husbandry.

“The environmental science major provides students with an overview

“In the Citymester program, I made lasting relationships with

of all the disciplines related to environmental science,” she said.

individuals who shared my excitement for nature and inspired me

“It helps you get connected to nature in a more scientific way, and

to take up new interests in birding and entomology,” Shuler said.

everything you learn in class can be applied to the real world because, well, you’re learning about the real world.”

In addition to her studies, Shuler is a member of Women in STEM, a student organization dedicated to supporting female-identifying

Environmental science was a natural fit for Shuler, who wanted to

undergraduate students across a variety of STEM disciplines. She is

learn more about earth science and ecology and eventually pursue

also a Terry Scholar, a statewide program that is a prestigious part of

a career in environmental restoration and conservation. “I love how

the Honors College and is one of the two Special Scholar programs

close-knit the students and faculty are in the environmental science

at UTSA. It is a highly competitive program for select undergraduate

program,” she said. “It really provides a sense of community, and it

students across the state of Texas that offers specialized programming

helps students learn about internships and research opportunities

and academic support. Terry Scholars facilitates a number of projects

related to the program.”

that uphold the four pillars of the program: scholarship, leadership, service and community. This program is funded by the Terry

Shuler also participated in the summer 2021 Citymester program,

Foundation. Based in Houston, the Terry Foundation is the largest

a student engagement initiative developed by the UTSA Honors

private scholarship provider in the state of Texas. This award-winning

College to provide Roadrunners with opportunities to connect with

scholarship program has been affiliated with UTSA since 2006,

local organizations and participate in service-learning projects. In this

admitting new cohorts of traditional and transfer students every

program, Shuler spent over 80 volunteer hours with the San Antonio

fall semester.

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

Aranis Muniz Perez

By Lauren Moriarty

Although Aranis Muniz Perez originally came to UTSA as a pre-dental student, she soon realized that research was her true calling. Now a biology major concentrating in neuroscience, she is also a MARCU*STAR pre-Ph.D. trainee. MARC-U*STAR (Maximizing Access to Research Careers–Undergraduate Student Training for Academic Re-

Being a Roadrunner means

search) is a national honors research training program that develops its trainees as exceptional applicants for doctoral programs in the

being proud of where I came

behavioral and biomedical sciences. It is funded by the National Insti-

from and working hard to

tutes of Health Training and Workforce Development division and was

secure a future that matches

created to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and re-

my definition of success.

searchers. “The MARC program has provided me with financial support, which has been such a stress reliever, since I don’t have to worry about juggling research, school and a job,” she said.

The College of Science’s focus on an inclusive research environment In Matthew Wanat’s lab, Perez worked with Ph.D. student Merridee

appeals to Perez. “I think UTSA is definitely different from other univer-

Lefner to better understand how dopamine signaling may underly the

sities in the sense that the research environment here is collaborative

motivation to work for rewards, how we choose between two distinct

instead of competitive,” she said. “Undergraduates are actually able

rewards and whether there are potential sex differences. “We utilized

to go into the lab and make significant contributions to projects. I also

fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to measure dopamine in the ven-

think UTSA does a good job of providing us with the resources we

tral-medial striatum of both male and female rats working for rewards

need to be successful. I’ve had so many people be of amazing help

in a specific behavioral paradigm,” she said.

to me.”

Perez is currently optimizing antibody concentrations in Jenny Hsieh’s

Since arriving on campus, Perez has volunteered in Puerto Rico on a

lab to prepare for immunohistochemistry of 3-D brain organoid slices

UTSA Alternative Break to assist with Hurricane Maria cleanup, and she

that have been infected with COVID-19. “These brain organoids are an

planted peach trees for the San Antonio Bank with UTSA’s Volunteer

in vitro model of fetal brain development,” Perez said. “They are being

Organization Involving Community, Education and Service (VOICES).

used to better understand how certain proteins that may interact with

She encourages fellow Roadrunners to find ways to get involved.

the COVID-19 spike protein in the fetal brain could potentially lead to

“Whether it’s a student organization or just attending campus events,

neurological complications if pregnant mothers become infected with

[student organizations] really help you connect with other students

COVID-19.”

and feel a sense of community,” she said.

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Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

Amílcar Torres-Quijano

By Gabriela Maldonado

From a young age, Amílcar Torres-Quijano was fascinated with the world of scientific fiction. “Video games like the original Star Fox on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and movie series like Star Wars would send my imagination traveling through the far reaches of the cosmos,” he remembered. “Those childhood dreams persisted as I learned about science and astronomy through grade school and beyond.” Torres-Quijano earned an undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in physics at UTSA.

the drift scan technique—utilized for ground-based astronomy observations in the infrared wavelength.

Torres-Quijano grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was initially drawn to UTSA’s many astronomy research opportunities and the

“As we move into the next generation of ground-based telescopes,

College of Sciences’ strong ties to the Southwest Research Institute.

one of these techniques, the commonly used chop-nod, will not be

UTSA’s welcoming environment and diversity, as well as the universi-

able to be utilized,” Torres-Quijano said. “We investigated if a different

ty’s role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, also stood out to him.

technique, drift scan, would be viable and produce images of much higher quality. The results of this project are staggering.” The team’s

Torres-Quijano appreciates the opportunities UTSA provides for

most recent paper demonstrates how much more significant the drift

graduate students, like himself, to collaborate with international

scan technique is when compared to the chop-nod.

colleagues who share common research interests. He was one of the recipients of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 2021

Torres-Quijano’s second research project will use data from the

Fellowship. Torres-Quijano has not been able to travel to Japan due

Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical

to the COVID-19 pandemic, but his proposed research will involve

Observatory of Japan and located in Hawaii, to discover objects orbit-

studying the creation and chemical composition of space dust at

ing stars in other systems. He hopes to focus on exoplanets.

infrared wavelengths in collaboration with Itsuki Sakon at the University of Tokyo.

Torres-Quijano is conducting two research projects. The first is in collaboration with his adviser, Chris Packham, and Sergio Fernández Acosta from the Gran Telescopio Canarias. The team is comparing two different observation techniques—the chop-nod technique and 21

UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

GIVING

Peggy Walker and Myron East

By Taylor Bird

Champions of Education and Service For over a decade, donors Peggy Walker and Myron East have witnessed UTSA’s monumental transformations firsthand.

“Leaders tell the story of the future that does not exist but is coming,” Walker said. That is the portal to philanthropy.”

“There is a symbiotic relationship between this city and UTSA,” East said. “We are on a lineal parallel; as UTSA becomes more successful, so does San Antonio.”

That energy from UTSA’s leadership, she said, is becoming a catalytic converter, resonating throughout San Antonio, creating momentum, fostering relationships and earning investment from the community.

In addition to their service on the UTSA Campaign Leadership Council, Walker and East are part of the College of Sciences Advancement Council and the Friends of Astronomy, an informal group of astronomy enthusiasts within the college. Their engagement across the university and throughout the community provides them with a unique perspective on UTSA and the College of Sciences’ impact on the city.

UTSA and the College of Sciences would not be where they are today without the support of dedicated advocates like Walker and East.

Through their service and generous support, they are ensuring the next generation of San Antonians has access to opportunities at UTSA and beyond, for the betterment of all.

“There is a pride about UTSA,” Walker said. “I am always impressed with the students. Many have formed businesses or are conducting research. UTSA is preparing students to change the trajectory of their lives.”

Longtime advocates of education, Walker and East are passionate about the university’s ability to transform and uplift individuals and communities. They see UTSA and the College of Sciences as key components to empowering San Antonians to achieve their greatest potential. After all, over one-third of students at UTSA are from San Antonio.

“UTSA has been and continues to be a huge part of creating upward mobility in our city,” Walker said.

UTSA’s recent Tier One designation and recognition as a top research institution is providing even greater opportunities for San Antonio.

“Our future is bright, and I’m excited about it,” East said.

The university’s continuing upward trajectory, they said, is accelerated by visionary leaders who inspire belief in their bold aspirations.

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From a young age, both Walker and East saw the beauty of service and giving back. “Peggy and I are pleased that we have become a match in that way,” East said. “We are the children of the Greatest Generation. They valued education.” East’s mother and grandmother were teachers.

Walker’s grandfather founded an inner-city YMCA in Birmingham, Alabama, and her father was a physician who volunteered countless hours to help those in need.

Spring 2022 | Catalyst | UTSA

GIVING

Adam and Leslie Hamilton

By Taylor Bird

First-Generation College Graduates Support the Next Generation As newlyweds, Adam and Leslie Hamilton worked hard to make ends meet while Adam attended graduate school. Fortunately, at the same time that their young family faced a costly orthodontic procedure, Adam learned he had been awarded a scholarship. “I don’t know what would have happened without that scholarship,” said Adam, the president and CEO of Southwest Research Institute and a member of the College of Sciences Advancement Council. “I may not have been able to stay in school. I credit that scholarship with shaping the trajectory of my career and our lives.”

“It’s amazing, the progress we’ve seen at UTSA,” Adam said. “They have always served first-generation students, and to be recognized nationally as a Tier One institution, it is wonderful. San Antonio, South Texas and all of us benefit from the collaborations and acclamations of UTSA.”

The couple established the Robert E. Hamilton Endowed Scholarship to support first-generation college students from Atascosa County and to honor the memory of Adam’s father, who grew up south of San Antonio, enlisted in the Marine Corps and served his whole career as an officer. The endowment will provide scholarships in perpetuity.

“[As an undergraduate student,] I had no idea how to register or how to apply for scholarships,” Adam explained.

Adam and Leslie are both first-generation college students with deep ties to South Texas. Their children all attended Texas universities, including UTSA, and remained in the state to raise their families.

“I had a similar situation to Adam,” added Leslie, a certified professional accountant. “I was also the first in my family to attend college.

It was all a mystery to me.”

Recognizing that other first-generation college students may face those same challenges when pursuing higher education, the couple hopes the scholarship will remove some of those barriers. Forty-five percent of UTSA students are first-generation, and 75 percent of students are eligible for financial aid.

Adam and Leslie’s gift will empower many generations to achieve their goals and help others. “It’s an incredible feeling,” Adam said.

“You feel blessed to be able to do it, to know that it is permanent, that it will be helping people, encouraging people and giving them something to hold onto.”

Over 330 UTSA alumni work at Southwest Research Institute—the most of any university.

To make a gift, contact the College of Sciences development team—Kim Fischer at kim.fischer@utsa.edu or Taylor Bird at taylor.bird@utsa.edu—or give online at utsa.edu/ sciences/giving.

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UTSA | Catalyst | Spring 2022

Inside the College of Sciences Student Success Center The Student Success Center (SSC) creates experiential learning opportunities that allow students to further explore their academic interests within the

COS Science Mentors

sciences. Working alongside the university’s Career Center, the SSC utilizes

The SSC’s science mentors are

the Roadrunner Network to engage students, alumni and the COS science

student staff members who provide

mentors for mentoring and outreach opportunities. Students are exposed to workshops that enhance their research, career preparation and study skills.

support to first-year, sophomore and transfer students. They are undergraduate UTSA students with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Science mentors assist first- and secondsemester students with their academic adjustment and personal acclimation to the college. They build connections with students by arranging one-on-one meetings and participating in interactive group events and topical discussions.

At the SSC, students work through guided tracks called Pathways, an online web tool supported by the digital platform PeopleGrove. Pathways ensures students’ career documents are created and updated.

College of Sciences students, would you like to have a science mentor?

Please email cos.success@utsa.edu to get connected.

Meet Science Mentor Hussain Qais Senior Biology Major

“As a first-generation student, I struggled during my first year, both academically and socially. I didn’t know what college resources were available for me or how to utilize them to my advantage. This all changed when I was paired up with a student mentor.

My student mentor was not only a motivating friend but also an inspirational role model. She taught me about all the resources that UTSA had to offer, and she helped me develop into the student I am today. I had such a great experience that I promised myself I would become a science mentor in the future to help students adapt more easily to UTSA. This job is not only rewarding for students, but it is also rewarding for me as a science mentor to use my experiences to help others succeed in their goals.”

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