UTSA | Catalyst 2020-2021
Congratulations u D r.
Wei Wang (Computer Science) helped develop an algo-
rithm that keeps up with the demand of cloud computing. u D r.
John Quarles (Computer Science) and doctoral student
Samuel Ang developed an open-source software kit designed to reduce cybersickness in virtual reality use. u T rustees
of the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund
awarded Dr. Doug Frantz (Chemistry) $883,000 to establish the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD) Preclinical Pharmacology Core for Accelerated Drug Discovery. The core will be part of UTSA’s CIDD. u D r.
Doug Frantz (Chemistry) and Dr. Shawn Blumberg, from
the direction of Dr. Aimin Liu (Chemistry), a team of
researchers discovered how a key enzyme in amino acid metabolism works. This important discovery will enable scientists to target the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, or KP, as a therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. u UTSA’s
NASA Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme
Environments hosted its inaugural conference. UTSA researchers, external partners and students presented their research in a virtual format. u Dr.
Edwin Barea-Rodriguez (Biology) was featured in Cell Men-
tor’s list of 100 inspiring Hispanic/Latinx scientists in America. u The
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded
Southwest Research Institute, received a grant from the
Dr. Hyoung-gon Lee (Biology) $250,000. The two-year grant
Connecting through Research Partnerships program to
will fund Lee’s research, which seeks to understand the patho-
support their goal of creating a powerful, cost-effective
genic mechanism of peripheral neuropathy and to develop a
malarial treatment.
novel therapeutic approach.
u I n
recognition of her research contributions and service
u A
team of UTSA students was selected by NASA to compete
to the ornithological community, Dr. Jennifer Smith (Envi-
in NASA Student Launch, a prestigious rocket-building
ronmental Science and Ecology) was elected as an Elective
competition.
Member of the American Ornithological Society. u D r.
Nicole Wicha received a fellowship from the Aspire
u Dr.
Doug Frantz (Chemistry) received an award from the San
Antonio Medical Foundation to support his collaborative work
Alliance and UTSA to participate in the IAspire Leadership
with UT Health San Antonio and SwRI on a novel approach for
Academy. IAspire helps STEM faculty from underrepresented
COVID-19 drug discovery.
backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at institutions of higher learning. u D r.
Jenny Hsieh (Biology) was inducted into the Academy
of Distinguished Researchers. u D r.
Alexis Godet (Geological Sciences) was awarded a presti-
gious Lutcher Brown Professorship. u D r.
Ravi Sandhu (Computer Science) was inducted into the
National Academy of Inventors (NAI) as an NAI Fellow.
2
u Under
u A
team of researchers from UTSA’s Neurosciences Institute
made a breakthrough discovery on brain cortex functionality. Dr. Alice Bertero, Hector Zurita, Dr. Marc Normandin, and Dr. Alfonso Junior Apicella, researchers from the Department of Biology, collaborated on the research project. u Marcelo
Marucho (Physics & Astronomy) published an
open-access software designed to further characterize cytoskeleton filaments.
