Members
Texas State University Faculty
Texas State SEED Faculty & Liason
Christopher Wight
PREM-MRSEC Faculty Liaison
University of Texas MRSEC Faculty
Dr. Joaquin Resasco
Doctoral PREM Researchers
Scott Barrett
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Advancement of Renewable Energy via Organic Chemistry (Brittain Lab)
Viola Fieglein
PhD IMBC: Utilization of ortho- and para- substituted azobenzene for concerted and controlled photoswitching (Brittain Lab)
M.S. PREM Researchers
Makena Burns
M.S. Chemistry: Contact Angle Analysis to determine CMC and Trace Analysis using Gas Chromatography (Brittain Lab)
Micheal Goodman
M.S. Physics: Imaging 2D materials using advanced AFM techniques (Miyahara Lab)
Jackelyn Rodriguez
M.S. Chemistry: Effect of Carbon Substrate and Anion Environment within Nickel Hydroxide Cathodes on Electrochemical Performance of Nickel-Zinc Batteries (Rhodes Lab)
Jaret Manley
M.S. Chemistry: Effect of Nickel Hydroxide Cathode Composition on Electrochemical Performance of Nickel-Zinc Batteries
(Rhodes Lab)
Jessica Peterson
M.S. Biochemistry: Polymer hydrogel nanocomposites as antibacterial would healing materials (Betancourt Lab)
Undergraduate PREM Researchers
Melany Bouyer
B.S. Microbiology: Polymer nanocomposites for water purification (Irvin Lab)
Natalie Brown
B.S. Biology: Synthesizing and Characterizing DNA-GNP complexes (Miyahara Lab)
George Bruen
B.S. Industrial Engineering: Designing and fabricating battery and electrolyzer cells (Rhodes Lab)
Nicolas Bueno Ponce
B.S. Biochemistry: Dynamic agar hydrogels with hyaluronic acid (Betancourt Lab)
Tegan Dagley
B.S. Biochemistry: (Kerwin Lab)
Denally Escalona
(Betancourt Lab)
Kayley Green-Tooney
B.S. Physics: (Miyahara Lab)
Yordanos Kinfe
B.S. Biochemistry: Dynamic Reconfigurable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications (Betancourt Lab)
Alan Martinez
B.S. Chemistry: Laser synthesis and characterization of metal oxides on metal surfaces (Martin Lab)
Mason Mault
B.S. Applied Mathematics: Mathematical analysis of electro-mechanical coupled system (Miyahara Lab)
Ian Morgan
B.S. Chemistry & Criminal Justice: Photoisomerization of Azobenzenes in Polysaccharides
(Brittain Lab)
Iris Okoro
B.S. Electrical Engineering: Building Low-Cost STM to Observe Nanostructures (Miyahara Lab)
Eunice Rodriguez
B.S. Clinical Laboratory Science: Incorporation of RGD peptide into PEG-MAL hydrogels for cell encapsulation (Betancourt Lab)
Caleb Solis
B.S. Electrical Engineering/Physics: Synthesizing and Characterizing DNA-GNP complexes (Miyahara Lab)
McKenzie Siller
B.S. Biochemistry: Nanoparticles with miRNA in treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab)
Amelia Strait
B.S. Microbiology: Dynamic Reconfigurable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
(Betancourt Lab)
Edna Vasquez
B.S. Electrical Engineering: Growth and simulation of new semiconductor materials (Wistey Lab)
PREM Affiliates
Sunil Adhikari
M.S. Physics: Investigating the Electric Field-Induced Isomerization (Miyahara Lab)
Ayodeji Akinloye
M.S. Chemistry: Dynamic Interpenetrating Hydrogels as Biomaterials (Betancourt Lab)
Khorshed Alam
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: MBE growth GeCSn thin films for On chip silicon photonics laser (Wistey Lab)
Luis Albiter
Postdoctoral Researcher: Ruthenium-Zirconium Oxides for Highly Stable Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts (Rhodes Lab)
Sakib Bhuiyan
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Synthesis and Characterization of Photothermal Hydrogels (Betancourt Lab)
Shuvo Brahma
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Vapor phase deposition of Electroactive polymers on nanofiber (Betancourt Lab)
Edith Collins
M.S. Chemistry: (Brittain Lab)
Dillon Gee
B.S. Biology: Leveraging Star-like PEG Macromolecule Valence to Improve the Tunability of Drug Delivery from Hydrogels (Betancourt Lab) (part of URISE program)
Nicholas Lontkowski
M.S. Chemistry: (Kerwin Lab)
Malay Kumar Das
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Study of Non-Canonical Nucleic Acid Structures and ligands: G- quadruplex and G- triplex (Kerwin Lab)
Md Mahamudul Hasan
Postdoctoral Researcher: Characterization of Quantum Materials and quantum dot qubits by advanced scanning probe microscopy technique (Miyahara Lab)
Rigo Mayorga-Luna
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Charge transfer through individual DNA molecules measured by mechanically detected electric charge sensing (Miyahara Lab)
Zachary Naymik
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization (Rhodes Lab)
Ifeanyi Nwanegbo
M.S. Chemistry: Polymer nanoparticles for miRNA delivery
(Martin Lab)
William Pollack
M.S. Chemistry: Characterization of high entropy oxide catalysts by annealing nitrate metal salts onto titanium substrates via laser synthesis (Martin Lab)
Mohammed Reaz Rahman Munna
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: MBE growth GeCSn thin films for On chip silicon photonics laser (Wistey Lab)
Junaid Ur Rehman
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Polymer nanocomposites for water purification (Betancourt Lab)
Brandon Taylor
B.S: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt lab) (part of URISE program)
PREM Alumni
PREM Alumni
Eniola Adegbola
B.S. Biochemistry: Evaluation of PEDOT Nanoparticles in Neuroblastoma Differentiation (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Applying to medical school for 2025
Augustus Arbogast
M.S. Materials Physics: Group IV Semiconductors (Wistey Lab)
Now: Working at TXST supervising technical training of PhD students on MBE growth and seeking position in materials science field
Kathleen Bailey
B.S. Chemistry: Evaluation of Metal Substituents on Structure & Electrical Properties of Zirconium & Tin Oxide (Rhodes Lab)
Now: PhD student in chemistry at Texas A&M University
Nikki Broussard
B.S. Microbiology: The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab)
Now: Looking for research position
Abby Bosket
B.S. Chemistry: Laser annealing of metal sulfides grown on metal surfaces (Martin Lab)
Now: Searching for a job related to food science
Ellee Bounds
B.S. Biology: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Applying for medical school for 2025 academic year
Warren Burke
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of Rutile Phase (Ta/Ti)O2 (Martin Lab)
Now: QC/Engineering Technician at Tesla in Austin Gigafactory
Camden Caffey
B.S. Chemistry: High Energy Ball Milling to make Mixed Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts (Rhodes Lab)
Now: Research Technician at Houston
Methodist Hospital
Emily Camera
B.S. Clinical Lab Sciences: The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab)
Carter Cunningham
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of Conductive Polymer Bottle Brushes (Irvin Lab)
Now: Pursuing Ph.D. in
chemistry at University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign
Kobe De La Paz
B.S. Microbiology: Optimization of PEDOT Nanoparticle Preparation (Betancourt Lab)
Laboratory Technician at Fairfax
Cryobank and applying for medical
school
Emma Die
B.S. Physics: Dilute GeC alloys for Silicon phonics (Wistey Lab)
Haley Dutton
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Adrian Fernandez
M.S. Biochemistry: Temperature-Dependent Self-Assembly Remodeling by a Polyether Perylene Diimide in Water (Kerwin Lab)
Idania Galvan
B.S. Biology: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PLA-PEG Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Finished MS at
University of
North Texas for
MS program + applying for medical
school
Jacobo Garza
B.S. Biochemistry: Physical and Chemical Characterization of Putative G-Triplex-Forming DNA Oligonucleotides (Kerwin Lab)
Now: Completing MS n
personalized molecular medicine at
the University of
Texas HSC
Ben Gibson
B.S. Chemistry: Nanostructured Cathode Material (Rhodes Lab)
Now: Technical Staff at Group 1 (energy
materials company)
Austin Gillette
B.S. Biochemistry: Exploring solid solution of Molybdenum-Tungsten-Sulfides using laser heating (Martin Lab)
Now: Seeking position in materials science field
Suzanna Griffin
B.S. Biology: (Betancourt Lab)
Jacob Guerrero
B.S. Biochemistry: Reconfigurable Ion Pairs (Brittain Lab)
Now: Starting PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Nebraska
Aidan Gustafson
B.S. Biochemistry: Reducing Cytotoxicity in Conducting Polymer Nanofibers (Irvin Lab) (Moved to Dr. Karen Lewis Lab)
Mariah Gutierrez
B.S. Biochemistry/Marketing: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PEDOT Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Pursuing MS in
Marketing Research at TXST.
Full time PREM
CIMA staff.
Chloe Hansom
B.S. Chemistry: Nerve Regeneration: Grafting Conductive Polymers using Electrochemistry (Irvin Lab)
Now: Looking for industry position and applying for PhD programs next year
Grace Haya
B.S. Biochemistry: Conducting Polymer Aptasensors (Betancourt/Irvin Lab)
Now: SSS TRiO Advisor
at Lane Community College
Ikel Hernandez
B.S. Physics: Surface potential measurements of SrTiO3 films on Si using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Now: Starting PhD in physics at Drexel University
Dean Koehne
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Quantum effects in the electronic properties of epitaxial SrTiO₃ films on Si(001) (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Patrick Kollias
M.S. Physics: Resistive Switching Behavior in SrTiO3/Si Thin Films (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Now: Product Development Engineer at SigmaSense
Hector Lazaro
B.S. Chemistry (Irvin Lab)
Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field
Sam Lindsey
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Now: Starting PhD in physics at University of Delaware
Nicholas Lontkowski
M.S. Chemistry: Electroactive polymer nanocomposites for nerve regeneration (Irvin Lab)
Diego Luna
B.S.Chemistry: Laser synthesis of high entropy oxides (Martin Lab)
Now: Helping with family business
Marc Maldonado
B.S. Chemistry: (Irvin Lab)
Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field
Christy Meyer
B.S. Chemistry: Reconfigurable Ion Pairs (Brittain Lab)
Now: Laboratory Technician, BASF
Sarah Mitchell
M.S. Biochemistry: Modulation of Cancer Immunogenicity by PEDOT Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Therapy (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Working in IT position
Juanangel Montemayor
B.S. Physics: Quantum and electromagnetic properties of CdTel or ZnTel solar panels annealed with other metals (Transferred to other institution)
Ezequiel (Zeke) Montes
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of conductive polymer bottle brushes (Irvin Lab)
Jennifer Navarro
M.S. Biochemistry:
The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab)
Now: Medicinal chemist at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Shashank Neupane
B.S. Physics: Low cost STM_AFM (Miyahara Lab)
Tan Nguyen
B.S. Physics: Quantum Dot with Azobenzene (Miyahara Lab)
Now: Self employed
Alison Nichols
M.S. Physics: Low-Temperature Electronic Properties of PbTe doped with Tl grown on CdTe (211)B by MBE (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Now: Research staff at HRL Laboratories
Josue Osorio
B.S. Biochemistry: Creating a PLGA-PEI-miRNA nanovector to reprogram neuroblastoma cancer cells in vitro (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Started a personal business
Mackenzie Otakpor
B.S. Biology: Conducting polymer aptasensors (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Conducting research at Texas
State, applying for medical school
Madeleine Pastore
B.S. Chemistry: Electroactive polymer nanocomposites (Irvin Lab)
Now: Starting PhD in Chemistry at UT Austin in Fall 2024
Gabriel Pohlman
B.S. Chemistry: Conducting Polymer Aptasensors (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Pursuing PhD in Chemistry at University of Texas at Austin
Lilian Roe
B.S. Biology: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PEDOT Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Patient Care Technician at Heart
Hospital of Austin
and applying for
medical school
Greta Sanchez
B.S. Biochemistry: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Studying at UT Austin
Marvin Santiago
M.S. Chemistry:
Chemical Modification of Polymer Nanofibers (Irvin Lab)
Now: Pursuing PhD in chemistry at UCSB
Layne Sauer
B.S. Physics: Optical Measurements of Highly Mismatched Alloys (Wistey Lab)
Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field
Cory Silguero
B.S. Chemistry: Nanostructure Synthesis and Analysis via X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
(Rhodes Lab)
Now: Pursuing PhD in
Chemistry at University of Texas at
Austin
Venus Stanton
B.S. Chemistry: Esterifcation of Ragweed-sourced Cellulose for Production of Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers (Irvin Lab)
Now: At the University
of Texas at San
Antonio for PhD in
molecular microbiology and immunology
Madeline Tello*
B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Titanium dioxide (Martin Lab)
Kushal Thapa
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization:
Synthesis and characterization of photothermal hydrogels (Betancourt Lab)
Edgar Torres
B.A. Communication Studies & B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Tungsten Sulfide (Martin Lab)
Now: PhD student in biomedical engineering at Georgia
Tech / Emory
Adelyne Towne
B.S. Biochemistry: Synthesis of Conductive Polymer Bottle Brushes (Irvin Lab) (Moved to Dr. Karen Lewis Lab)
Michael Urena
M.S. Chemistry:
Evaluation of Catalysts & Catalyst Layers on Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer Performance and Durability (Rhodes Lab)
Now: Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories
Isaiah Velazquez
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab)
Now: Conducting post-back summer experience at UT Austin. Applying for doctoral programs for next year
Sarah Weisbrodt
B.S. Biochemistry: Temperature-Dependent Self-Assembly Remodeling by a Polyether Perylene Diimide in Water (Kerwin Lab)
Joanna Zepeda
B.S. Biology: Synthesis of photothermally active hydrogels (Betancourt Lab)
Now: Pursuing PhD in
biomedical sciences at University of Texas
Southwestern
Medical Center
Texas State PREM Staff
Mariah Gutierrez
PREM Admin Assistant II