College of Science Incoming Faculty 2026-2027

Marc R. Knecht
Dean, College of Science
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Zhijie “Jason” Liu
Professor, Regents’ Distinguished RESEARCH Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

edwin c. oh
professor, regents’ distinguished research professor department of biological sciences

Edwin C. Oh joins The University of Texas at El Paso as an internationally recognized researcher whose work spans genomics, neuroscience, bioinformatics, public health, and environmental surveillance. He earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University. Prior to joining UTEP, Oh served as Professor in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and as Executive Director of the Center for Water Intelligence and Community Health. His research integrates genomic, proteomic, biochemical, and computational approaches to understand disease mechanisms, identify genetic and environmental contributors to human health, and develop innovative tools for disease surveillance and molecular phenotyping. He is widely recognized for pioneering wastewater-based epidemiology programs that have advanced the monitoring of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and public health trends through community-based surveillance. Supported by major funding from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Science Foundation, his work has resulted in numerous high-impact publications, patents, and interdisciplinary collaborations. An award-winning educator and mentor, Oh has guided students and researchers at all levels while promoting community-engaged science and public health innovation. At UTEP, he looks forward to advancing translational research that bridges biomedical discovery, data science, and public health to address complex challenges affecting diverse populations.

Jeffrey W. Streicher 
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences 

Enrique G. Alvarado 
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences 

Dr. Enrique Alvarado joins UTEP from his role as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Mathematics at Iowa State University. His research focuses on mathematical data science, applied topology, and geometric measure theory. Prior to his appointment in Iowa, he served as a Krener Assistant Professor at the University of California, Davis, where he taught many undergraduate courses in real analysis, and mentored student research projects. Alvarado has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in Applied and Computational Topology, the Calculus of Variations, and has an active research agenda that integrates geometry and data science methodologies. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Washington State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Gonzaga University.

sayed-rzgar hosseini 
assistant professor, department of mathematical sciences

Dr. Sayed-Rzgar Hosseini joins UTEP from his role as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Indiana State University. His research focuses on computational biology, bioinformatics, and statistical learning, with particular emphasis on cancer systems biology, precision medicine, and interpretable machine learning frameworks. His work integrates deep learning, statistical modeling, and genomic data analysis to develop innovative methods for understanding cancer progression and drug response. Prior to his current role, Hosseini served as a research-track assistant professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and held postdoctoral appointments at the European Bioinformatics Institute and Cancer Research UK. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in computational biology and bioinformatics and has contributed to interdisciplinary research collaborations in academia and industry. Hosseini earned his Ph.D. in computational biology from the University of Zürich and completed advanced training in statistics and computer science at ETH Zürich.

josé gabriel martínez-fonseca
assistant professor, department of biological sciences

Dr. José Gabriel Martínez-Fonseca joins UTEP from his role as a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University, where he conducted research on wildlife ecology, with a focus on bat biology, species distribution, and habitat dynamics. His work examines the effects of landscape change, including forest fragmentation and environmental factors, on biodiversity and conservation outcomes. He has an extensive record of scholarship, with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, numerous additional scientific contributions, and authored books and chapters on mammals and wildlife ecology. Martínez-Fonseca brings over two decades of field experience studying endangered bats and small mammals across Central and North America, along with experience in teaching, course development, and international research collaboration. He earned his Ph.D. in forest science from Northern Arizona University and his bachelor’s degree in biology from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua.

monica sanchez-contreras 
assistant professor, department of biological sciences

Dr. Monica Sanchez-Contreras joins UTEP from the University of Washington, where she was a Senior Research Scientist/Engineer in the Department of Radiology. Her research focuses on the biology of aging and neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Her work integrates advanced genomic approaches with experimental models to investigate how genomic instability and somatic mutagenesis contribute to cellular dysfunction, brain aging, and susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. She maintains an active research program supported by competitive funding and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications spanning genetics, genomics, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Dr. Sanchez-Contreras earned a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Montana, as well as both an M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and a medical degree from Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira in Colombia.

kui tan 
assistant professor, department of chemistry and biochemistry

Kui Tan joins UTEP from the University of North Texas, where he was a research associate professor. His research focuses on developing advanced spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies to explore surface and interfacial chemistry of solid materials for chemical purification, separation, heterogeneous catalysis, and nanoelectronics fabrication. He maintains a strong record of scholarly productivity, with over 100 journal publications, significant citation impact, and externally funded research supported by agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. Dr. Tan earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Nankai University.

gable m. wadsworth 
assistant professor, department of physics

Dr. Wadsworth’s research lies at the intersection of physics, biology, and quantitative imaging, with a focus on understanding how the physical properties of RNA govern cellular organization and function. His laboratory combines advanced microscopy, biophysical measurements, computational image analysis, and molecular biology approaches to investigate RNA-driven phase transitions, biomolecular condensates, and gene regulation.

The central goal of his research program is to develop predictive physical frameworks that connect nucleic acid sequence, structure, and intermolecular interactions to emergent material properties and cellular behavior. His work has contributed to the understanding of RNA phase separation, percolation transitions, and the material properties of biomolecular condensates, providing new insights into how RNA organizes biochemical processes in health and disease.

Prior to joining UTEP, Dr. Wadsworth was a postdoctoral fellow at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he studied the phase behavior and material properties of nucleic acids, proteins, and biomolecular condensates. He previously conducted research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, where he investigated RNA transcription and developed quantitative imaging approaches for studying gene expression in living cells. He has also developed computational analysis tools and microscopy methods for studying biological systems at the single-molecule level.

Dr. Wadsworth earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where his research focused on quantitative approaches for RNA imaging and transcript analysis.

jinliang wang
assistant professor, department of chemistry and biochemistry

Dr. Jinliang Wang joins UTEP with over a decade of expertise in structural biology, protein biochemistry, and advanced cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) from his role as a research associate at the University of Southern California (USC), where he conducted research on structural biology and neurodegenerative diseases. His research focuses on protein biochemistry and high-resolution imaging, with a particular emphasis on using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to study multiprotein complexes and disease-related protein aggregation, including tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease. He has contributed to projects involving protein structure–function analysis, high-throughput biosensor assays, integrate AI/ML for accelerated drug discovery and the identification of potential therapeutic targets, and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in structural biology and neuroscience. At UTEP, Dr. Wang will establish an integrated structural and chemical biology program leveraging AI/ML to decipher the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. By combining high-resolution cryo-EM with in situ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), his lab will characterize pathological tau fibrils and their interactions with cellular machinery in unprecedented detail. These structural insights will directly inform the rational design and development of novel therapeutic agents to disrupt and disassemble toxic protein aggregates.

Prior to his time at USC, he completed postdoctoral training at the University of Utah School of Medicine, focusing on membrane protein structural determination using cryo-EM. Dr. Wang earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from The University of Texas at El Paso. He also holds an M.Sc. in Regulatory Management from USC, an M.Sc. in Cell Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China, and a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Hainan University.

erin p. westeen
assistant professor, department of biological sciences

Dr. Erin P. Westeen joins UTEP from her role as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology co-sponsored at Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. An evolutionary biologist and herpetologist, her research integrates field and collections-based approaches to understand how environmental variation drives trait evolution and how those traits, in turn, mediate organismal responses and ecological interactions. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California, Berkeley, where her research on spiny lizards in the Madrean Sky Islands sparked a broader interest in eco-evolutionary dynamics across desert ecosystems. Westeen also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology with High Honors from the University of Michigan. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Evolution, Biology Letters, and Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and she is a co-author on the book Sea Turtles to Sidewinders: A Guide to the Most Fascinating Reptiles and Amphibians of the West. Westeen has received significant competitive funding, including NSF Graduate and Postdoctoral research fellowships, and she received the 2026 Early Career Investigator Award from the American Society of Naturalists for her contributions to the field of evolutionary biology.

leslie knecht 
professor of instruction, department of chemistry and biochemistry

Leslie Knecht, Ph.D., joins UTEP’s Department of Chemistry with expertise in chemistry education, undergraduate research, and bioanalytical chemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the University of Miami and her B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining UTEP, Dr. Knecht served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors and Distinguished Senior Lecturer at the University of Miami. Her work focuses on evidence-based teaching, student success, and expanding opportunities for undergraduate research. She is widely recognized for her innovative approach to chemistry education and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Muhammad Yasir Zahoor 
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Muhammad Yasir Zahoor joins The University of Texas at El Paso as a faculty member with expertise in molecular biology, forensic biology, and genetics. He earned a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Molecular Biology from the University of the Punjab and completed postdoctoral training in molecular genetics as a Fulbright Scholar at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. With more than 14 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and academic leadership, Zahoor has taught courses in forensic genetics, forensic DNA analysis, biological evidence and serology, forensic medicine, and molecular genetics while coordinating graduate forensic science programs and mentoring master's and doctoral students. His research focuses on forensic genetics, human identification, DNA profiling, population genetics, and molecular diagnostics, resulting in more than 50 scientific publications and numerous collaborations in biomedical and forensic research. At UTEP, Zahoor looks forward to advancing education and research in forensic biology and molecular genetics while preparing students to address emerging challenges in forensic science, biotechnology, and public health.

md zulfikar azam 
assistant professor of research, department of biological sciences

Dr. Azam joins UTEP from the University of Utah where he served as a postdoctoral fellow. His research focuses on cancer biology and vascular disease along with expertise in transcriptomics, genomics and proteomics to study tumor progression, biomarker discovery and pulmonary arterial hypertension. He has extensive experience analyzing large-scale sequencing datasets, applying machine learning to biological data and leading interdisciplinary research projects in computational and experimental oncology. Dr. Azam earned his PhD from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and completed his research training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

edgar gamero-mora 
assistant professor of research, biological sciences

Dr. Edgar Gamero-Mora joined UTEP as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences, where he conducted research on the systematics and evolutionary biology of rotifers. Using aquatic invertebrates as model systems, his research seeks to understand how biodiversity is discovered, maintained, and evolves across freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems. His research draws upon integrative taxonomy, phylogenetics, comparative and functional genomics, and molecular biology to uncover biodiversity, reconstruct evolutionary history, and identify the genomic and physiological mechanisms that enable aquatic organisms to adapt, persist, and diversify. Dr. Gamero-Mora has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on integrative taxonomy, molecular systematics, evolutionary biology, comparative physiology, and transcriptomic responses to environmental stress. He has international research experience spanning Mexico, Brazil, and the United States, including postdoctoral research in Mexico and collaborative projects with institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo (Brazil), a master's degree in Marine Sciences and Limnology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and a bachelor's degree in Biology from Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo.

brian i. grajeda 
assistant professor of research, department of biological sciences

Brian I. Grajeda, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor in Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Lipidomics in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he leads LC-HR-MS/MS core instrumentation in the Biomolecule Analysis and Omics Unit. His work centers on developing and validating nano- and micro-flow mass spectrometry methods for proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic, glycomic, and glycopeptidomic analyses, and on supporting collaborative, grant-funded research across the Colleges of Science, Health Sciences, Chemistry and Pharmacy.

A UTEP-trained scientist, Dr. Grajeda earned his B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry (2015) and his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (2022) at UTEP before completing postdoctoral research in cancer bioinformatics and multi-omics. His research spans infectious-disease, including Trypanosoma cruzi and Giardia, alongside cancer biomarker discovery. He has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications. He analyzes large-scale omics datasets in Python and R using industry-standard bioinformatics platforms, with an emphasis on reproducible, version-controlled pipelines. Dr. Grajeda also mentors students, postdoctoral fellows, and technical staff in mass spectrometry and multi-omics method.

sarika jadhav 
assistant professor of research, department of physics

Sarika Jadhav joins UTEP from the University of Texas at El Paso, where she was an assistant research professor. Her research focuses on nanomaterials synthesis and advanced energy storage technologies, including supercapacitors, lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, and flexible solid-state devices. She employs advanced characterization and electrochemical techniques to design multifunctional materials for sustainable energy applications and maintains an active record of scholarly publications and conference presentations. Sarika Jadhav earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Savitribai Phule Pune University.

byungkyun kang 
assistant professor of research, department of physics

Byungkyun Kang joins UTEP from the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics. His research focuses on quantum materials, including two-dimensional and topological systems, with expertise in first-principles modeling, many-body perturbation theory, and dynamical mean field theory. He develops high-performance computing software and investigates magnetic and electronic phenomena such as spintronics, Kondo effects, and correlated electron systems. Byungkyun Kang earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Texas Tech University.

saurav mallik 
assistant professor of research, department of biological sciences

Dr. Saurav Mallik joins UTEP in the Department of Biological Sciences, while he worked previously as a Research Scientist in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, and postdoctoral fellow in Harvard Public Health, UTHealth Houston and University of Miami. He earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from Jadavpur University, while he conducted his research in Machine Intelligence Unit, Indian Statistical Institute. His research focuses on bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology and artificial intelligence. Dr. Mallik developed various computational models for multi-omics data, cancer classification, and biomarker discovery using machine learning, deep learning and evolutionary computation. His expertise brings innovative approaches for RNAseq/Single cell sequencing analysis, gene regulatory network modeling, epigenetics and precision health especially for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Mallik has extensive publication records.

paul rafael b. sabandal 
assistant professor of research, department of biological sciences

Paul Rafael B. Sabandal, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso. His research combines genetics, behavior, and neuroscience to understand the mechanisms that drive brain aging, cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative disease. Using the Drosophila model, he investigates how genetic and environmental factors influence impulsivity, memory, and susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Sabandal has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and mentors undergraduate and graduate students while expanding research opportunities in the Paso del Norte region. He earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from UTEP.

Gang Xu 
Assistant Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences 

Gang Xu joins The University of Texas at El Paso as a faculty member specializing in statistics, biostatistics, and data science. He earned a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Statistics from the University of Science and Technology of China. Prior to joining UTEP, Xu served as a Research Assistant Professor at UNLV and completed postdoctoral training at Yale University, where his research focused on developing innovative statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing complex biomedical, genetic, environmental, and public health data. His scholarship includes contributions to longitudinal genetic studies, causal inference, environmental health research, wastewater surveillance, and genomics, resulting in publications in leading journals and participation in federally funded research projects supported by the National Institutes of Health. In addition to his research accomplishments, Xu has extensive teaching experience in statistics, mathematics, and data analysis and has developed software tools that support advanced statistical modeling. At UTEP, he looks forward to advancing interdisciplinary research and preparing students to apply statistical and computational methods to address real-world challenges in health, science, and engineering.

dirk w. beck
postdoctoral, department of biological sciences

Dirk W. Beck joins The University of Texas at El Paso as a scholar in computational neuroscience whose research focuses on the neural mechanisms of decision-making and learning. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Computational Science at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he previously earned a Master of Science degree and conducts research under the guidance of Alexander Friedman. His work centers on computational and theoretical models of basal ganglia circuits, particularly the striosome and matrix compartments of the striatum, to better understand how the brain processes information, evaluates choices, and guides behavior. His dissertation, A Computational Model of the Cortico-Striosomal-Dopamine Circuit, explores the neural circuitry underlying decision-making and information processing. Prior to pursuing his doctoral studies, Beck spent eight years at Accenture as a PEGA and machine learning specialist, where he designed and deployed artificial intelligence and process automation solutions for Fortune 500 clients in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and banking sectors. His scholarly contributions include publications in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Communications Biology, Cell, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, advancing understanding of decision-making, neural circuit dynamics, and computational models of behavior. At UTEP, Beck contributes a unique blend of industry expertise and interdisciplinary research that bridges artificial intelligence, computational modeling, and neuroscience.