November, 2021.
Our group presented four posters at the ACS Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM 2021) in Austin, TX, on our work on photothermally controlled responsive hydrogels (Joanna Zepeda), functionalization of PEDOT nanoparticles for targeted delivery (Lillian Roe), and conductive polymer-based electrochemical biosensors (Grace Haya and Gabriel Pohlman). Lilian Roe received the Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Presentation in Materials Chemistry award during the conference. Congratulations Lilian!
July, 2021.
A team of faculty led by Dr. Tania Betancourt has received a six-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) grant of nearly $4 million to establish the NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (CIMA). The PREM CIMA is a research and education partnership between Texas State and The University of Texas at Austin Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials (CDCM), an NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). PREM CIMA will promote recruitment, retention and degree attainment of a diverse student cohort with a pathway into advanced degrees and careers in materials science. PREM CIMA will conduct research in areas of reconfigurable soft materials and nanostructure control to develop advanced materials for applications in biomedicine, water purification, chemical fuel generation from renewable energy resources and nanoelectronics. Visit the NSF PREM CIMA website for more information.
July, 2021.
The Texas Monthly published an article highlighting the work of Dr. Tania Betancourt in research and education. Take a look!
July, 2021.
Doctoral student Damilola Runsewe and M.S. student Emilio Lara defended their dissertation/thesis in early July. Dr. Runsewe (Dami) will be joining Corning in NY this fall. Emilio moves on to pursue his Ph.D. degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. We are very proud of both and wish them the best in their future endeavors!
April, 2021.
Undergraduate students McKenzie Siller presented our lab’s work at the Texas State’s 15th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and Thesis Forum. Not only did she do a marvelous job, but she also was awarded this year’s Scott Emerson Health Innovation Award.
Undergraduate student Idania Galvan and former undergraduate student Alejandro Conde presented their research on the development of an immune photothermal biosensor for the SURE program. Great job guys!
August, 2019.
Our very own Shahad Abdulsahib, Emilio Lara and Jerry Miller presented their work at the Second Annual Texas State University Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. Jerry was awarded 3rd place for his presentation! Congratulations to all three for their wonderful performance.
April, 2019.
Congratulations to Dami Runsewe for their excellent performance at the 2019 Rice Business Plan Competition as Chief Operating Officer of NABACO.
Spring, 2019.
Congratulations to Juan Castillo on receiving the Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) award to conduct research on the use of biodegradable nanoparticles as agents for dual photothermal and chemotherapeutic treatment.
Fall, 2018.
Congratulations to Emilio Lara on receiving the Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) award to conduct research on the use of fiber reactors for nanoparticle manufacture.
April, 2018.
Damilola Runsewe won the Runner Up award at the 3MT (three minute thesis) competition at Texas State. Congratulations Dami!
April, 2018.
Madeline Huff presented her research at the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) conference in Dallas, TX.
April, 2018.
Congratulations to Madeline Huff and Collin Bryant on receiving awards from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Madeline received the Outstanding Biochemistry Graduate Student award. Collin received the Outstanding Biochemistry Junior award, Smith-Willms Science Scholarship, and the Larry D. Herwig Research Scholarship.
March, 2018.
Congratulations to Madeline Huff for successfully defending her M.S. thesis on the elucidation of the “Mechanisms of Cell Death Caused by Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells Mediated by Conductive Polymer Nanoparticles.” Madeline will be starting medical school at the UTRGV School of Medicine this summer.
July, 2017.
Congratulations to Dr. Tugba Yildiz for successfully defending her Ph.D. dissertation on the development of “Biodegradable Enzymatically Activated Nanoprobes for Dual Imaging and Therapy of Breast Cancer”. Tugba will be graduating this summer and has accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Minnesota in the laboratory of Efie Kokkoli.
June, 2017.
Congratulations to Tugba Yildiz for receiving an award for her poster presentation regarding her theranostic nanoparticles at the Biomaterials Day at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to Tugba, Collin Bryant and Dr. Shiva Rastogi presented posters regarding photoresponsive micelles for image-guided drug delivery and photoresponsive hydrogels.
September, 2014.
We were awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the NIH. This grant deals with the development of a technology for high throughput preparation of nanoparticles for biomedical applications. This project, which will begin in October 2014, is being conducted in partnership with Chemtor LLC and Dr. Holly Stretz from the Tennessee Technological University.
August, 2014.
Robert Danso joined the Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He will be defending his MS thesis at Texas State this fall semester. Best wishes for success at UTSA Robert!
July, 2014.
Sam Navarro successfully defended his MS thesis titled “Click-Chemistry Based Molecularly Responsive Hydrogels as Biodegradable Scaffolds for 3-D Cell Culture: Design and Preparation of Building Blocks.” Sam is now a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. He is working in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Ma. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!
February, 2014.
Dr. Betancourt, Travis Cantu, Sam Navarro, Robert Danso, Joe Dominguez, and Kyle Walsh participated in the San Marcos STEM Fair at the San Marcos Activity Center as part of the science demo organized by the SACNAS student organization of which they’re members. It was a complete success. For more pictures, additional events in which the laboratory participated, and demo instructions visit the SACNAS webpage.
November, 2013.
Dr. Betancourt presented two nanomedicine seminars at the Department of Biology at Texas State University and at the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) conference at Texas State University.
November, 2013.
Travis Cantu was selected to present his work on the development of organic nanomaterials for photothermal ablation of tumors as an honorary speaker at the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition in Dallas. Travis’ seminar will occur in March, 2014. Travis’ work stems from the collaboration of our lab with that of Dr. Jennifer Irvin at Texas State University. See news releases regarding this honorary presentation at: MSEC News, TX State News.
Texas State University graduate student Travis Cantu was recently selected to attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition in Dallas March 16-23 to present his academic pursuits in reforming cancer treatment through biomedical polymer engineering.
October, 2013.
Joe Dominguez and Travis Cantu presented posters at the national SACNAS meeting in San Antonio. Joe presented his work on the assembly of amyloid nanostructures while Travis presented his work on organic nanomaterials for photothermal ablation of tumors.
September, 2013.
Our REU-graduate mentor teams presented posters at the national BMES annual meeting in Seattle, WA. Khaled Abdelrahmand and Robert Danso presented their work on the development of nanogels for triggered drug delivery, while Katie Beaven and Sam Navarro presented their work on the synthesis of hydrogels for 3-D cell culture using copper-free click chemistry.
August, 2013.
Dr. Betancourt presented a seminar in the Department of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University (NCSU).
August, 2013.
Best of luck to our REU and high school students Katie Beaven, Khaled Abdelrahman, and Sarah Mitchell who did a wonderful job during the summer. We enjoyed having you in the lab!
August, 2013.
Both of our REU students won awards at the CheMIE REU poster session. Khaled Abdelrahman won 1st place and Katie Beaven won 2nd place. Way to go guys!
May 21, 2013.
Joe Dominguez was the 1st Place Winner in the Undergraduate Student Poster Session at the PREM PI Meeting in Arlington, VA. Congratulations Joe!
May 7, 2013.
Travis Cantu, Joe Dominguez and Dr. Betancourt participated in introduction to science day at Hernandez Elementary.
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April 26, 3013.
Sarah Warren and Joe Dominguez represented the university at the Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in Austin, TX. They presented their work on the assembly of amyloid nanostructures from hybrid peptide-polymer macromolecules.
March 20, 2013.
Joe Dominguez and Travis Cantu both won Best Poster Awards at the HSI Research Symposium at Texas State University in the categories of Research Funded Through HSI-Related Grants and Hispanic Students Involved in Research respectively. Congratulations Joe and Travis!
November 3, 2012
An Open House, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Texas State PREM, was held at Texas State University for all area high school students interested in a degree in chemistry or biochemistry. They toured research laboratories and some of our lab members were able to give students a firsthand look at what goes on in the lab.
October 16, 2012.
Our RCSA-funded research on the development of molecularly responsive biomaterials based on DNA-crosslinked hydrogel particles was documented on th front page of the Texas State University’s newspaper, The University Star.
May 2012
Congratulations to our 2012 graduates: Kristen Carbonaro and John McFarland!