UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Announces 2015 Summer Research Academy Fellows

Follow @UTTylerTweet

June 10, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

June 10, 2015

Students from The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College are participants in the UT System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation 2015 Summer Research Academy at UT Tyler, under the mentorship of faculty from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering.

In its 23rd year, the UT LSAMP program is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation. The program provides undergraduate research experiences to encourage students from underrepresented populations to pursue graduate-level studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. TJC is UT Tyler’s community college partner in the UT LSAMP program.

UT Tyler student fellows are listed by hometown with their research field and faculty mentor.

BROWNSBORO – Antonio Gomez, chemistry, assistant professor Dr. Sean Butler.

HOUSTON – Jonathan Mendoza, electrical engineering, assistant professor Dr. Melvin Robinson.

TYLER – Adolfo Nieto, biology, professor Dr. Blake Bextine.

VAN – Grace Herrington, biology, associate professor Dr. John Placyk.

Also participating this year is UT Arlington senior chemistry major Kathy Bernard of Waxahachie, who will be working with assistant professor Dr. Dustin Patterson.

TJC student fellows conducting research this summer at UT Tyler are: and Aaron Janssen of Jacksonville with professor of biology Dr. Neil Ford; Arinze Iwunze of Houston with associate professor of civil engineering Dr. Michael McGinnis; Sam Balderas of Tyler with assistant professor of mechanical engineering Dr. Nelson Fumo; and Arlene Campos of Tyler with assistant professor of biology Dr. Jon Seal.

Each student will receive a fellowship stipend for their participation, and faculty mentors receive funding for supplies and materials to support their student’s research activities.

SRA students will participate in videoconferences involving all LSAMP fellows and mentors across the UT System.

They also will also give poster presentations highlighting their research project results at the academy’s conclusion and during the annual UT LSAMP Student Research Conference this fall at UT El Paso.

Dr. Stephen B. Rainwater, UT Tyler Lecil and Barbara Chandler Endowed Professor, serves as the UT Tyler LSAMP Program campus director. UT Tyler chair and professor of chemistry and biochemistry Dr. Neil Gray and Ford also contribute in supporting roles by serving on the program’s advisory committee.

For more information, contact Rainwater, 903.566.7235 or srainwater@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.

Class of 2015 (across from left): Kathy Bernard, Antonio Gomez, Aaron Janssen, Jonathan Mendoza, Arlene Campos, Arinze Iwunze, Sam Balderas, Adolfo Nieto and Grace Herrington. The summer program provides undergraduate research experiences to encourage students from underrepresented populations to pursue graduate-level studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.