UTRGV Division of Research

Yesterday, Dec. 11, 2024, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley held its Fall 2024 hooding ceremony for doctoral candidates at the Brownsville Campus in PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón, hosted by the Graduate College. The event celebrated the achievements and dedication of the candidates. “This ceremony marks the transition from student to scholar and reflects the dedication and perseverance you have shown throughout your doctoral journey,” said Dr. Can Saygin, senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College. “Your research and contributions will have a lasting impact, not only on your fields but also on the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. I congratulate you and your faculty advisors for your hard work and commitment.” The 350 attendees included UTRGV administration, faculty, advisors, candidates, and their families. Congratulations to all doctoral candidates and their families! 🎓

The holiday season is a time for gratitude and joy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Our Division of Research and Graduate College came together today for our annual holiday luncheon, celebrating the hard work and dedication of our staff. From groundbreaking research to festive gatherings, we cherish these moments that strengthen our community. Happy Holidays! - Can Saygin, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College

Today, the UTRGV Center for Community Resilience Research Innovation and Advocacy (CCRRIA) continues its second annual conference, CCRRIA24. This two-day event has seen strong participation, with more than 200 participants focused on addressing urgent challenges in public health and environmental resilience. Abby Guillory, MLIS, CRA, Assistant Vice President for Research Enhancement, is contributing her expertise in today’s panel on Pathways to Successful Transdisciplinary Collaborations. This session examines team-science approaches to enhance research, collaboration, and training efficiency, underscoring the need for community-engaged research in the Rio Grande Valley. The panel aims to lay a foundation for effective university-community collaboration to address regional challenges. Through workshops, panels, and discussions, CCRRIA24 highlights The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s role in connecting academic insights with community resilience efforts.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, with participation from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, invites researchers, industry professionals, government stakeholders, and everyone interested in the future of wind energy to a special webinar: 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗥&𝗗, 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆. 📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 🕒 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 12-12:45 p.m. CT 💻 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Online — Register here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3A9Tnq6) Gain insights into key research and policy themes, and learn about the critical challenges and partnerships shaping wind energy innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and prepare for the full summit in February at UTRGV. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 — 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

The University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has joined a $9.7 million partnership led by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) to advance rail safety innovation.  As part of this initiative, UTRGV will receive $4 million to focus on preventing train derailments through state-of-the-art technology. The partnership, supported by the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, emphasizes innovative research, workforce development, and enhancing rail safety standards. “This partnership exemplifies how a labor union like BRS can make a lasting impact in applied research and development, driving real advancements in rail safety across the United States,” said Dr. Can Saygin, UTRGV Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College. “UTRGV is proud to establish an environment that enhances testing capabilities and expands R&D infrastructure, setting the stage for improved safety protocols on a national level.” Research at UTRGV’s UTCRS, led by Dr. Constantine Tarawneh, focuses on mitigating train derailments caused by rolling stock failures. “Rolling stock failures pose serious risks to lives and infrastructure, and we need prescriptive technology to ensure our rail network’s safety and reliability,” Tarawneh said. “At UTCRS, we’re implementing advanced onboard sensors for real-time detection to provide early alerts and prevent derailments. UTCRS has the most extensive bearing test facilities available for contract testing in the United States – we will lead laboratory testing and support partners in design work and data analysis to ensure accuracy and efficacy.” Read more: https://bit.ly/48xUBrZ Story by María González | Photo by Jesús Alférez

Last Friday, the Division of Research’s Office of Research Enhancement, under the leadership of Abby Guillory, Assistant Vice President for Research Enhancement, introduced COMPASS—Collaborative Opportunities for Making Progress toward Strategic Success. This new series is dedicated to fostering strategic collaboration and advancing research impact across The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The inaugural event, COMPASS: From Silos to Synergy, brought UTRGV faculty together to explore collaborative research opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. Researchers shared insights aligned with UTRGV’s seven research pathways, creating a valuable forum for networking and potential partnerships. We thank all faculty who attended and contributed to these discussions. The next COMPASS event will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the UTRGV Brownsville campus, with a continued focus on expanding collaboration. Stay tuned for more details.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has marked a record-breaking $86.9M in total research expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024, continuing its journey toward Carnegie R1 status. Dr. Can Saygin, UTRGV's senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College, emphasized UTRGV’s research community strong commitment. “These numbers are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at UTRGV. We are steadily establishing ourselves as a leading regional research university, and we look forward to what lies ahead.” Additionally, in the 2024 academic year, UTRGV awarded a record-breaking 68 research doctoral degrees – a fivefold increase from 2016. “The growth in doctoral degrees underscores UTRGV’s accelerated progress and its successful attainment of Emerging Research University (ERU) status and National Research Support Fund (NRSF) eligibility – a key milestone in the institution’s strategic plan,” Saygin added. Read more: https://bit.ly/405T5Lw The University of Texas System | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley set to make major strides in reducing cancer disparities with a $18.4M grant from The National Institutes of Health to establish the Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center. "I’m proud to see this institution leading the charge in research and innovation. It will be transformative for generations to come," Rep. Vicente González said. https://lnkd.in/gF_geuuh

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has received an $18.4 million grant from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center (RGV-CHDRC). Announced today during a press conference, the center aims to reduce cancer health disparities in underserved Hispanic communities. Led by Dr. Subhash C. Chauhan, director of the South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, and Dr. Everardo Cobos, chair of medicine and oncology, the center will focus on research projects targeting cancers prevalent in the RGV, such as liver and cervical cancer. “This award will facilitate accelerated transdisciplinary research, bringing together diverse disciplines – such as biomedical, clinical, and social sciences – to deliver timely solutions to real-life problems, making a visible impact in our region and community,” said Dr. Can Saygin, senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College. Dr. Subhash C. Chauhan added, “This grant will allow us to establish the first biomedical research facility of its kind in the region, offering a unique opportunity to address these health inequities and improve outcomes for the 1.3 million residents of the Valley.” RGV-CHDRC will be one of just 24 RCMI centers in the nation and one of only four in Texas. Read more: https://bit.ly/47QXSSC | The University of Texas System

Dr. Nirakar Sahoo, associate professor, recently tenured in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, has been awarded an National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant of $992,639 to advance groundbreaking research on cellular defense mechanisms against infections. Sahoo is the first UTRGV faculty member to receive this award. The five-year project will investigate how non-immune cells, like epithelial cells, use lysosomes to combat harmful bacteria. The research could lead to new treatments for infections and contribute to addressing antibiotic resistance. Read more: https://bit.ly/3BmNlCN Story by María González | Photo by Jesús Alférez