Events

Research & Innovation hosted the Pioneering Researchers Reception on January 29, 2025, honoring first-time principal investigators. Twenty-two newly awarded grantees were recognized for their contributions to health, science, engineering, education, and the liberal arts. Each honoree received a print of the inside of the Lhakhang, symbolizing the significance of their scholarly achievements.

Each year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) receives approximately 40,000 grant applications, and in FY 2023-2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded grants to only about half of all universities in the country. These figures highlight the competitive nature of research funding, yet UTEP continues to be among the recipients, a testament to the dedication and excellence of our faculty.

The commitment of our research faculty positions UTEP among the top five universities in Texas in research expenditures for non-medical school research institutions. Their work frequently earns recognition among the world’s leading researchers. From supporting student parents and preserving local biodiversity to advancing HIV research, promoting STEM inclusivity, and expanding second-language learning, UTEP researchers are driving progress across disciplines, including business and economics, homelessness prevention, and degenerative disease research.

Through Research & Innovation, UTEP remains at the forefront of discovery, expanding knowledge, enriching communities, and creating opportunities for future generations. Whether in the classroom, lab, field, or on stage, our researchers are shaping the future through innovation, scholarship, and creativity.

Awardees Names

College of Health Sciences

Shashwati Geed Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Health and Function for People with Physical Disabilities Focused on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction
Yun-Pai (Beatrice) Lee VISN 23 Homelessness Project & Improving Employment Among Veterans and Asian Americans with Disabilities

College of Nursing

Jacob Martinez  Assessing Disparities in HPV-Associated Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Outcomes Among Hispanic Men

College of Business

Nicolas Cachanosky Center for Free Enterprise - Apgar Foundation
Jose R. Bucheli Assessing the Effectiveness of School District Safe-Zone Policies in Narrowing Achievement Gaps Among Minority Students: Evidence from California

College of Science

Brett M. Seymoure REU Site: Summer Program in Chihuahuan Desert Biodiversity
Hamidreza Sharifan PFAS Fate and Effects in Soil-Plant Dry Hot Climate Systems as Affected by Engineered Nanomaterials
Amol Anant Kulkarni R21: Development of NLRP3 Inhibitors for HIV-Associated Neuroinflammation in Cocaine Use

College of Liberal Arts

Kelly C. Burke SRG: Collaborative Research: Algeverse: Learning College Algebra with Virtual Reality
Naomi R. Fertman Platicando con Comadres: Creating Systems of Support for Student Parents at UTEP
Melissa Melpignano Somatics and Movement for Healthcare Equity
Annie C. Tremblay Enhancing the Perception and Recognition of Spoken Words in a Second Language: A Cue-Weighting Approach

College of Engineering

Hector Erives-Conteras Visiting Faculty Program, The United States Air Force Academy
Rajib B. Mallick Evaluation of Rapid Mix Design for Lime Treated Materials
Ana C. Martinez Maciel ISRU-Based 3D Printed Solid Polymer Electrolyte for NA-Ion Batteries (Ispolyte)
Priyadarshini Pennathur Design for Equity in Policies, Processes, Places, and Pedagogy for People: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Graduate Research Training
Wilson Poon Nanoparticle-Enabled Immunomodulation for Sepsis Prevention in Trauma and Combat Casualty
Davi Valerio De Queiroz Rodrigues Student Travel Support for 2025 IEEE Radio and Wireless Week (RWW)
Mayra Chavez U.S. Mexico Border Affairs Program Support Project

College of Education

Cynthia A. Wiltshire Associations Between Mexican-American Early Childhood Education Workforce Stress and Mexican-American Child Executive Function and Vocabulary
Rodolfo Rincones SRG - Building Capacity in a Rural ISD to Support Teacher Development in STEM Areas