Paula Myrick Short, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, has been selected as a Fulbright Specialist to engage in short-term collaborative projects at international universities. She will share expertise in reform strategies, leadership development, and policy support to enhance student success.
Miljanic aims to enhance students' educational experience through recorded lectures and 3D printed models. His research focuses on molecular self-sorting and development of new molecules for sensing, separations, and energy-relevant applications.
Jeffrey Morgan, UH math department chair and 10th professor to receive the prestigious title, is recognized for his superior college-level teaching and community outreach. He has inspired numerous students to pursue math majors and developed free resources for teachers and students.
Navin Varadarajan will study adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using a special polymer slide called the Nano well array. He aims to identify specific properties of modified TIL cells involved in fighting tumors, helping researchers develop successful new therapies.
Ana Bencomo, chair of UH Hispanic studies, has been awarded a Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant to study the Mexican journalistic chronicle genre and its reporting on narco-violence. She will teach courses at the University of Guadalajara and conduct research, exploring the intersection of journalism, literature, and identity.
Researcher Peter Vekilov will test his theories on crystal formation in space, studying how liquids transform into crystals. His work could lead to more efficient large-scale production methods.
A University of Houston research team partnered with NASA and astronauts on the International Space Station to examine how spaceflight affects the immune system. They will collect blood, saliva, and urine samples from two astronauts before, during, and after a mission to monitor natural killer cells and assess viral reactivation risks.
A five-year NIH grant will support research from the University of Houston College of Education to investigate mechanisms influencing drug-related health disparities in African-Americans. The study aims to understand how environmental stressors impact a person's regulatory system, potentially leading to substance abuse.
Lindsey Michelle Brier, a University of Houston math sciences major, has been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for her research in pharmaceutical chemistry. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry and teach at the university level.
OzoneMap is a free mobile app that provides real-time air quality reports for the greater Houston area. It features a map of the city with colored clouds illustrating ozone levels, allowing users to select from three different maps and access information on health effects.
Three University of Houston optometry educators, all UHCO graduates, received top honors from the Texas Optometric Association. Kevin Gee assumed TOA presidency, Nancy George received the William D. Pittman Leadership Award, and Pat Segu was awarded Educator of the Year.
H. Julia Hannay, a clinical neuropsychologist and pioneer in experimental neuropsychology, received the Lifetime Distinguished Career Award for her groundbreaking research on cognitive functions in children and adults, brain injury, and rehabilitation.
Daugulis develops new reaction methodology to transform C-H bonds into new compounds with higher yields and fewer steps. His work has advanced synthetic organic methodology and may lead to applications in drug preparation and polymer industry.
The University of Houston has been selected to receive support from the National Park Service for a trail development project in Southeast Houston. The project aims to improve hike and bike connections between three neighborhood parks and the Brays Bayou trail, providing recreational access to nearby park lands and natural landscapes.
Researchers have achieved impressive results in a three-year project to develop wind turbines using superconducting wire, exceeding initial targets by 15 percentage points. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded additional funding, increasing the total project value to $4 million.
Assistant mechanical engineering professor Halel Ardebili has received a $400,000 NSF CAREER award to study the fundamental science behind flexible, stretchable batteries. Her research aims to develop battery components with optimal stability and performance for various applications.
The University of Houston has received a high-speed computer cluster donation from Total, expanding its computing capabilities for research and education. The cluster will be used for large-scale simulations, data analysis, and teaching students about systems administration.
The National Science Foundation grant will support the teachHOUSTON program, which recruits and prepares physics and chemistry teachers for urban schools. The five-year grant aims to increase the number of qualified STEM teachers in Houston's school districts.
A pilot study involving 30 at-risk adolescent girls will assess the feasibility and promise of a bundled risk reduction intervention to address HIV, alcohol-exposed pregnancy, and nicotine-exposed pregnancy. The intervention includes counseling sessions, pediatrician appointments, and referrals for smoking cessation.
Gustavo Arellano, best-selling author and '¡Ask a Mexican!' columnist, will discuss how Mexican food conquered America in his new book. He'll address misconceptions about what constitutes 'Mexican' food and its influence on US cuisine.
The University of Houston's Graduate Design/Build Studio has received the Mayor's Proud Partner Award for its sustainable design and construction of a solar-powered outdoor classroom. The studio, part of UH's Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, collaborated with local organizations to create the eco-friendly pavilion.
A University of Houston geologist is leading an international team on a two-month, $10 million expedition to drill into the Pacific Ocean's lower crust. The voyage aims to distinguish between competing theories on magma intrusion, shedding light on volcanic seafloor spreading and oceanic processes.
The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work has been awarded a three-year, $480,000 grant to place approximately 20 bilingual graduate students in internships with Harris County agencies. The grant aims to provide culturally competent mental and behavioral health services to underserved populations.
Assistant Professor Navin Varadarajan will use a novel research tool to study individual CAR T cells and determine their properties relating to their ability to fight cancer. The goal is to identify which modified T cells are most effective at fighting cancer, allowing researchers to design better treatment regimens.
The University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering has won its sixth NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, with assistant professor Jeffrey Rimer receiving a $400,000 grant to further his research on zeolites. The award aims to develop a rational system for creating molecules that can tailor the growth of specific zeolites.
A team of University of Houston architects and designers developed new ideas on how the city can better serve its growing populations through innovative uses of ditches, easements, Metro transit centers, and park and rides. The 'Thick Infrastructure' exhibition will showcase bold possibilities for these components of the city.
Researchers at the University of Houston are exploring how aging kidneys affect sodium balance and blood pressure, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets for hypertension. Exercise training builds up strong anti-inflammatory environments, improving kidney functions during aging.
Scientists at UH Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling discovered LXRbeta, a nuclear receptor that promotes the survival of dopaminergic neurons, which are the main source of dopamine in the central nervous system. The presence of LXRbeta may offer protection against neurodegeneration of the midbrain.
The Houston Clean Air Network provides real-time air quality updates using maps of the greater Houston area. The site allows users to track ozone levels and plan their day accordingly, benefiting those with health concerns about ozone or respiratory illnesses like asthma.
A new super-resolution microscope will be built at the University of Houston with a $1 million grant, allowing scientists to study the chemical properties of surfaces more accurately. The device combines sum frequency generation and compressive sensing imaging techniques to provide detailed data on surface reactions.
Students from various majors spent 10 weeks conducting intensive research projects under faculty mentorship. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program aims to provide students with a concentrated research experience, leading to groundbreaking discoveries in fields such as cancer and neurological disorders.
The University of Houston has been awarded the largest grant in Texas this funding cycle, totaling $426,115, to study and publish a 10th-century manuscript of Homer's Iliad. The grant was announced by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), supporting research in classical studies.
A new UH experiment evaluates whether changing perpetrator communication skills can improve arguments and reduce abuse. The study found that interventions worked to decrease aggressive behavior, contemptuous behavior, and criticism.
Researchers aim to achieve superconductivity at non-cryogenic temperatures by studying polariton condensates, a phenomenon exhibiting quantum collective behavior. Theoretical physicist Eric Bittner and experimentalist Carlos Silva will collaborate on the project.
The University of Houston has received a nearly $100,000 grant from the National Security Agency to offer a professional training program for Chinese language teachers in Texas. The two-week program, supported by STARTALK, will focus on teaching methodologies and techniques for teaching Chinese as a second language.
Researchers found that a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy with a transdiagnostic approach significantly improved anxiety disorders such as fear of flying and public speaking. This approach treats patients with one set of principles across all types of anxiety disorders, leading to considerable improvement in comorbid diagnoses.
Researchers at the University of Houston will pursue projects related to prostate cancer, diabetes, and obesity with funding from the NIH and DOD. The center's eight active NIH grants account for more than $18 million in research funding.
The University of Houston has been selected as one of 10 universities nationwide to participate in the GENI project, which aims to shape the future of internet networking. The university will enable research innovations that will facilitate advanced research on network protocols and have a substantial impact on its competitiveness.
The University of Houston College of Optometry will receive a $5 million pledge from Dr. Doug Barnes and his wife Molly to support further research in optometry. The gift will be matched by the state of Texas through the Texas Research Incentive Program, enabling the college to expand its clinical and basic research portfolio.
A study published by the University of Houston found that wearing progressive addition lenses slowed myopia progression in children. The research suggests that understanding why different types of lenses affect myopia progression can lead to the development of more effective treatments.
Marta Fairclough, associate professor at University of Houston, receives Fulbright grant to study Croatian as a heritage language in Croatia. The six-month project aims to document her own learning experience and shed light on the importance of teaching heritage languages.
A University of Houston civil engineering researcher has received a $2.6 million grant to develop 'smart' cement that can monitor the health of offshore wells during construction and operation. The new material will retain its piezoresistive nature after hardening, allowing for easy detection and localization of structural problems.
The CNRCS has awarded three students for their work on prostate cancer, including Jayantha Tennakoon, who aims to identify molecules that provoke cancer cell growth. Undergraduate Hannah Do is maintaining a drug library to isolate new therapeutic targets for advanced prostate cancer. Eylem Aydogdu became the first Ph.D. graduate at the...
University of Houston's Simon Bott receives $5,000 honorarium as a 2012 Piper Professor for his exceptional college-level teaching. He is praised for engaging students with hand-written pop quizzes and encouraging campus involvement.
The University of Houston will launch the Center for Health Equity and Evaluation Research (CHEER), a joint venture between the UH Graduate College of Social Work and MD Anderson Cancer Center. CHEER aims to investigate health disparities and develop real-world solutions for promoting health equity.
H. Julia Hannay has received the University of Houston's 2012 Esther Farfel Award for her outstanding contributions to clinical neuropsychology and her highly respected clinical neuropsychology training program. The award recognizes her efforts in mentoring students and advancing research in the field.
The University of Houston has been awarded a $9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study and treat learning disabilities in children and adolescents. The grant will support five years of research on reading comprehension difficulties, brain function, and diagnosis, intervention, and treatment.
The National Science Foundation has awarded five University of Houston students with Graduate Research Fellowships to pursue advanced degrees in various fields. The fellows will study at top institutions including Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan, and receive funding for tuition and a $30,000 annual stipend.
The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded $17 million in grants to two University of Houston professors, Natalie Houston and Casey Dué Hackney. The grants will support innovative digital humanities projects, including a book history project and an undergraduate course on the ownership of the past.
Two University of Houston students, Emilio Herrera and Victoria Reyes, have received the Hogg Foundation Bilingual Scholarship to pursue graduate studies in social work. The scholarship supports bilingual mental health services in Texas and attracts high-quality students from underrepresented communities.