MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Honorific awards include prestigious recognitions, fellowships, and memberships in national honor societies and national academies that acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements of faculty members in their respective fields. These awards can also be internal, conferred by Research & Innovation (R&I), recognizing their impact across UTEP’s research enterprise.
Research Development is located in Kelly Hall, 7th floor, West Wing
2101 Sun Bowl Drive
500 W University Ave (general address)
El Paso, TX 79968
researchdev@utep.edu (General Inbox)
UTEP’s research faculty set a high standard for excellence and impact. Their dedication has helped position the University among the top four institutions in Texas for non-medical research expenditures, earning consistent recognition from leading researchers worldwide.
On January 28, 2026, Research & Innovation hosted the Pioneering Researchers’ Reception to recognize 12 first-time principal investigators whose newly funded projects span science, engineering, and liberal arts. These faculty members were honored for their leadership and for advancing scholarship across disciplinary boundaries at a pivotal moment in their careers.
Securing external funding expands the reach and relevance of their work. It strengthens research capacity, deepens collaboration, supports student training and workforce development, and allows projects to grow in scope and ambition. The result is research that delivers measurable local benefit while contributing to global knowledge and innovation.
Elias M. Adanu
Department of English
How to Mint a Digital Nation: Crypto-Capitalism and its African Merchants of Hope
Exploring the ‘authenticity of what’s next’ for a nuanced understanding of African migrant identities
Kelly C. Burke
Department of Psychology
Collaborative Research-Algeverse: Learning College Algebra with Virtual Reality
Driving broadened participation in STEM education with virtual‑reality‑learning environment identities
Enrique I. Ramos
Department of Biological Sciences
Understanding Cadherin-11 in the Development and Treatment of Lung Fibrosis
Mapping fibrosis at single-cell resolution to unlock precision therapies
Kedron Silsbee
Department of Physics
From Dust to Planetesimals: Gas-Particle Interactions in Binary Systems
Addressing the origin of planetary systems, starting with binary stars
Jaeyoung Cho
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Digital Twin Modeling of NOx Formation from Transient Vehicle Operations in Hilly Terrains
Combustion research to reduce ozone levels and power a healthier El Paso
Jaeyoon (Jason) Kim
Department of Civil Engineering
Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Transportation-Related Air Pollutants on Stress Levels in Micromobility Users: An AI-Driven Multimodal Approach
Advancing impactful research to build safer urban infrastructure
Anantaa Kotal
Department of Computer Science
Bridging Data Gaps with Modeled Data from Generative AI: Advancing Health Equity in Transportation Research
AI that matches reality, not just patterns
Alexis Maruel
Department of Metallurgical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering
Additive Manufacturing of SiOC-Based Composites for Conformable Avionics Thermal Management
Printing energy into structure: any shape, any function, anywhere
Aryzbe Najera
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Student Training in Applied Research (STAR) Program at the University of Texas, El Paso
Advancing next-generation hyperspectral sensing for a safer, more informed space environment
Nichole M. Ramirez
Department of Engineering Education and Leadership
Collaborative Research: Stigma of Mental Health Conditions in Engineering And its Relationship with Help-Seeking Attitudes of Undergraduates and Early Professionals
Advancing engineering education through research on mental‑health stigma and student success
Sajedul Talukder
Department of Computer Science
CRII: SaTC: A Framework to Defend Against Sockpuppet Connection Requests in Social Networks
Turning rigorous AI into real-world nuclear impact
Md Fashier Rahman
Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering
Collaborative Research - From Awareness to Action: Integrating Responsible AI Practice into Undergraduate Engineering Education
Building responsible AI from the classroom to the real world