Samantha Oviedo

By Ryan Schoensee

Samantha Oviedo joined UTSA as a freshman in Fall 2019, majoring in biochemistry. Oviedo has made the most out of her undergraduate career–being recognized for many distinguished academic achievements, joining several student organizations that align with her interests and participating in numerous research studies.

“The opportunities offered at UTSA have immensely helped me through my journey as an undergraduate, and I know so many students who have received great support from different departments and faculty,” said Oviedo. “In addition, UTSA has such a welcoming environment that champions its diverse population.”

Oviedo is a first-generation college student and the daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Before becoming a Roadrunner, Oviedo had limited guidance on charting her path through higher education. However, she found several exceptional faculty and research mentors at UTSA. Oviedo listened to their advice and encouragement to try new things, which helped her excel as both a student leader and researcher.

UTSA was always a top choice for Oviedo, who grew up in San Antonio. Her decision was reinforced when she was accepted into the first cohort of the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) program, which offers undergraduates numerous opportunities to get involved in research early in their academic careers. Although the idea of joining a lab was new to Oviedo, she still decided to apply to the program, which altered the trajectory of her undergraduate career.

“My very first research lab at UTSA profoundly changed the way I perceived science and sparked my passion for pursuing a career path as a researcher,” said Oviedo. “Since I began my journey conducting scientific research three years ago, I have become enamored with the prospect of discovering something new that will make a positive impact on improving human health.”

After participating in a wide array of research programs, Oviedo developed a passion for helping other students discover research that aligns with their interests. She served as an undergraduate coordinator for the Rising Researchers Pre-Research Training Program to introduce first- and second-year students to research at UTSA. She expanded this passion further and worked with other UTSA students to cultivate a new external program called RAYS (Research Awareness for Young Scholars), which aims to expose high school students in the greater South Texas region to early-career research opportunities.

Oviedo hopes to continue the cycle and provide high school and earlycollege students with access to the same kind of support, community and research opportunities that she’s found at UTSA. In addition to wanting to become a principal investigator in a biomedical research lab, Oviedo hopes to engage in STEM initiatives after graduation that aid in making science more accessible to underserved communities.

Samantha Oviedo is a Barry Goldwater Scholar, president of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Affiliate UTSA Chapter and a recipient of the 2022 Dean’s Fund for Excellence Award.