UTSA | Catalyst | Summer/Fall 2021
Congratulations u U TSA’s
Cypress Living Laboratory opened for student,
u T he
College of Sciences and the Honors College partnered
faculty and community use. The outdoor classroom
to launch the new College of Sciences and Honors College
is designed to promote habitat and environmental
(COSHON) integrated program that streamlines the ability
education opportunities associated with the Edwards
for honors-eligible students in the sciences to be both
Aquifer watershed, including the laboratory’s adjacent
Honors College students and members of their college
creek ecosystem.
honors program.
u D r.
John McCarrey (Neuroscience, Developmental and
u D r.
Francis Yoshimoto’s (Chemistry) COVID-19-related
Regenerative Biology) and Dr. Eric Brey (Engineering) are
research earned him two citations by the World Health
leading the new Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a joint
Organization. These citations represent one of the highest
initiative between the College of Engineering and College
levels of recognition a research scientist can receive.
of Sciences. u D r. u D r.
Matthew Troia (Integrative Biology) was recognized for
George Perry (Neuroscience, Developmental
his research on the environmental impact of large cities.
and Regenerative Biology) was one of four scientists
The Ecological Society of America awarded Troia and his
appointed to the NervGen Alzheimer’s Disease Scientific
fellow study authors the 2021 Sustainability Science Award.
Advisory Board. u D r. u D r.
Jenny Hsieh (Neuroscience, Developmental and
Regenerative Biology) led a groundbreaking study that
Hector Aguilar (Chemistry) was named a fellow in the
University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
suggests the COVID-19 virus might enter the human brain. Hsieh and Courtney McMahon, a UTSA Ph.D. candidate in
u S ophomore
Mariah Antopia (Biology) was named a Barry
cell and molecular biology, created brain organoids with
Goldwater Scholar, the most prestigious national scholarship
different types of brain cells infected with small amounts
awarded to undergraduate students engaging in research in
of SARS-CoV-2. They found that the brain’s glial cells were
the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.
susceptible to COVID-19 infection. u G raduate u D r.
Doug Frantz (Chemistry), Dr. Stanton McHardy
(Chemistry) and Dr. John Quarles (Computer Science)
student Rebecca Nunu (Earth and Planetary
Sciences) received the UTSA Graduate School’s Outstanding Thesis award.
were recognized with the prestigious Senior Member designation by the National Academy of Inventors.
u G raduate
student Kaitlyn Varela (Chemistry) was awarded
both the National Science Foundation Graduate Research u U ndergraduate
and graduate STEM students presented
their research findings in the Center for Advanced
Fellowships Program and the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship. The Ford Foundation fellowship is part of a
Measurements in Extreme Environment’s (CAMEE) first
national competition by the National Academies of Sciences,
spring research showcase.
Engineering and Medicine and is only awarded to select individuals who demonstrate academic achievement and are committed to a career in teaching or research.
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