Principal Investigator
Tania Betancourt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Associate Professor, Materials Science, Engineering, and
Commercialization Program
Tania.Betancourt@txstate.edu
PhD Students
Kushal Thapa, Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization Program
Sakib Hossain, Ph.D. student in Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization Program
MS Students
Sarah Mitchell, MS Biochemistry
Jessica Barrera, BS Biochemistry
Ayodeji (Deji) Akinloye, MS Sustainability
Undergraduate Students
Elle Bounds, BS Biology
Nicolas Bueno Ponce, BS Biochemistry
Yordanos Kinfe, BS Biochemistry
Mackenzie Otakpor, BS Biochemistry
McKenzie Siller, BS Biochemistry
Amelia Strait, BS Microbiology
Brandon Taylor, BS Exercise and Sports Science
FORMER VISITING SCIENTISTS
Fatma Gokmen, Ph.D., Researcher, Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Central Research Laboratory
FORMER GRADUATE STUDENTS
Damilola Runsewe, Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization (’21), Currently at Corning
Carol Ellis-Terrell, Ph.D. Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (’20)
Niloofar Heshmati, Ph.D. Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (’20), Currently at The University of Texas at Austin
Tugba Yildiz, Ph.D. Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (’17), Currently at Senda Biosciences, Inc.
Travis Cantu, Ph.D. Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program (’15)
Emilio Lara, MS Biochemistry (’21), Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio
Renato Samuel (Sam) Navarro, MS Chemistry (’14), Received his Ph.D. in macromolecular science & engineering at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University
Robert K. Danso, Biochemistry MS
Received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio
Karolyn Barker, MS Chemistry (’16)
Madeline Huff, BS and MS Biochemistry (’18). Currently at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School
Cally Moore, MS Biochemistry
Christopher Munoz, MS student, Biochemistry
Shyam Prasad, MS student, Computer Science
Michael Marks, Ph.D. (former postdoctoral researcher), currently research investigator, Process Engineer at International Flavors and Fragrances
FORMER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Edgar Torres, BS Biochemistry
Josue Osorio, BS Biochemistry
Greta Sanchez Montemayor, BS Biochemistry
Eniola Adegbola, BS Biochemistry
Mariah Gutierrez, BS Biochemistry & Marketing
Idania Galvan, BS Biology
Jacob Guerrero, BS Biochemistry
Grace Haya, BS in Biochemistry and BS in Psychology
Gabriel Pohlman,
Niyahnee Thomas, BS Biochemistry
Joanna Zepeda, BS Biology
Lilian Roe, BS Biology (’21)
Kobe De La Paz, BS Microbiology (’21)
Terreck Kizzie, BS Exercise and Sports Science
Shahad Abdulsahib, BS Biochemistry (’21), Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Alejandro (Alex) Conde, BS Biology (’21)
Nallelie Torres
Juan Castillo; BS Biology (’19)
Collin Bryant, BS Biochemistry (’19)
David Jaime, BS Biochemistry (’18)
Gabriela Herrera, BS Biochemistry (’17)
Laura Anaya, BS Biology (’17)
Taryn Olivas, BS/MS Biochemistry (’18)
Gione Retana
Jose (Joe) Dominguez; BS Biochemistry (’19)
Janet Vela Ross; BS Biochemistry (’16)
Kyle Walsh; BS Biochemistry (’15), currently at Luminex.
Ron Hall; BS Biochemistry (’16), currently a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Zachary Goddard; BS Computer Science (’16)
Jamie McKinzie; BS Biochemistry (’14), currently a graduate student in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
Eugenia Barnes; BS Geography (’14)
Casey Hamon; BS Chemistry (’12)
Ryan Richter; B.S. Biology (’12)
Sarah Warren; B.S. Biochemistry (’12)
Laison Nguyen; B.S. Biology (’13)
Currently a vet student, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Bradley Rodier, B.S. Biochemistry (’13)
Ph.D. Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University
Dylan Hall, BS Biochemistry (’14)
David Oakland; Biochemistry
John McFarland, B.S. Biochemistry (’12)
Kirsten Carbonaro, B.S. Biology (’12)
Jeffrey Moore; BS Biochemistry
Kole Knutson; Undergraduate student in biology
Former REU Students
Katie Beaven; Chemical Engineering – University of Kentucky
Khaled Abdelrahman; Bioengineering – University of Pittsburg
Former High School Student Researchers
Sarah Mitchell, New Braunfels High School