UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Graduating Senior Accepted into State Doctoral Program

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May 3, 2019

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303

The University of Texas at Tyler announced today that electrical engineering senior Jonathan Wells of Whitehouse has been accepted into the UT Austin doctoral program. This is the first time in University history that a graduating senior from the Department of Electrical Engineering has been accepted into a doctoral program.

While a UT Tyler student researcher, Wells worked on developing wearable biomedical devices and sensors alongside assistant professor Dr. Premananda Indic. Through Indic's National Science Foundation grant, Wells was able to expand his knowledge on innovative wearable devices called e-tattoos and learn about the importance of testing such devices as well as interpreting high-quality research documentation.

"Dr. Indic, my most influential professor at UT Tyler, became a true mentor to me and fostered a passion for learning," Wells said. "He has gone above and beyond to help me achieve the best education and future I could hope for. He encouraged me to go to the UT Austin National Science Foundation Smart and Connected Health Workshop, which was a wonderful experience and provided great connections to an entirely new aspect of my education."

This spring, Wells will graduate from UT Tyler with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering with a concentration in computer engineering and a mathematics minor. He will continue his education and earn his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at UT Austin. He will begin his doctoral research in Austin this summer.

"Jonathan is an outstanding student, and we are so proud of him. We are also proud of and grateful to our expert electrical engineering professors for their dedication and commitment to student success," said Dr. Hassan El-Kishky, UT Tyler professor and electrical engineering department chair.

Wells hopes to establish a career in the biomedical industry, and eventually, academia.

"After working in the industry, I plan to become a professor someday – to teach electrical engineering to the bright and curious minds of the future," he said. "I want to inspire students the way the faculty at UT Tyler have inspired me."

A UT Tyler President's Honor Roll student and Distinguished Patriot and Regents Scholar, Wells was president of the UT Tyler Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – Corona Chapter. He also earned the UT Tyler College of Engineering "Outstanding Junior" Award for the 2017-18 academic year and served on the University's Campus Activities Board.

A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered. With more than 10,000 students, UT Tyler has facilities in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.