Congratulations

u UTSA’s Cypress Living Laboratory opened for student, faculty and community use. The outdoor classroom is designed to promote habitat and environmental education opportunities associated with the Edwards

Aquifer watershed, including the laboratory’s adjacent creek ecosystem.

u Dr. John McCarrey (Neuroscience, Developmental and

Regenerative Biology) and Dr. Eric Brey (Engineering) are leading the new Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a joint initiative between the College of Engineering and College of Sciences.

u Dr. George Perry (Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology) was one of four scientists appointed to the NervGen Alzheimer’s Disease Scientific

Advisory Board.

u Dr. Jenny Hsieh (Neuroscience, Developmental and

Regenerative Biology) led a groundbreaking study that suggests the COVID-19 virus might enter the human brain.

Hsieh and Courtney McMahon, a UTSA Ph.D. candidate in cell and molecular biology, created brain organoids with different types of brain cells infected with small amounts of SARS-CoV-2. They found that the brain’s glial cells were susceptible to COVID-19 infection.

u Dr. Doug Frantz (Chemistry), Dr. Stanton McHardy (Chemistry) and Dr. John Quarles (Computer Science) were recognized with the prestigious Senior Member designation by the National Academy of Inventors.

u Undergraduate and graduate STEM students presented their research findings in the Center for Advanced

Measurements in Extreme Environment’s (CAMEE) first spring research showcase. u The College of Sciences and the Honors College partnered to launch the new College of Sciences and Honors College (COSHON) integrated program that streamlines the ability for honors-eligible students in the sciences to be both

Honors College students and members of their college honors program.

u Dr. Francis Yoshimoto’s (Chemistry) COVID-19-related research earned him two citations by the World Health

Organization. These citations represent one of the highest levels of recognition a research scientist can receive.

u Dr. Matthew Troia (Integrative Biology) was recognized for his research on the environmental impact of large cities.

The Ecological Society of America awarded Troia and his fellow study authors the 2021 Sustainability Science Award.

u Dr. Hector Aguilar (Chemistry) was named a fellow in the

University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished

Teachers.

u Sophomore Mariah Antopia (Biology) was named a Barry

Goldwater Scholar, the most prestigious national scholarship awarded to undergraduate students engaging in research in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

u Graduate student Rebecca Nunu (Earth and Planetary

Sciences) received the UTSA Graduate School’s Outstanding

Thesis award.

u Graduate student Kaitlyn Varela (Chemistry) was awarded both the National Science Foundation Graduate Research

Fellowships Program and the Ford Foundation Predoctoral

Fellowship. The Ford Foundation fellowship is part of a national competition by the National Academies of Sciences,

Engineering and Medicine and is only awarded to select individuals who demonstrate academic achievement and are committed to a career in teaching or research.