Four from UTSA earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship

Lazaro is a first-generation college student who earned his bachelor's degree from UTSA in statistics and data science with a concentration in biology. He is currently a doctoral candidate in biomedical data science at Stanford University.

Ramos studied psychology and neuroscience at UTSA, working in the labs of Assistant Professor Anthony Burgos-Robles and Associate Professor Matthew Wanat, both in the neuroscience, developmental and generative biology department. Ramos has been admitted to a PhD program in pharmaceutical sciences with a concentration in molecular mechanisms and therapeutics at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Santi earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from UTSA and continues her studies here. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in biomedical engineering while working as a graduate research assistant in a lab overseen by Klesse Endowed Professor Gabriela Romero Uribe, associate professor, Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering.

Lazaro, Ramos and Santi are UTSA Honors College students.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding graduate students in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited institutions in the United States.

This year, the agency selected 1,000 students nationwide for the highly competitive award. The fellowships provide students with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000, an education allowance of $16,000, and access to opportunities for professional development.

The NSF also presented honorable mention awards to 10 UTSA students and alumni, including Jessica Alvarez '23, Jacqueline Avila '24, Abigail Bush '19, Joseph Nieto Carrion '23, Samuel Greco '22, Creehan Healy '25, Luree McCann '23, M.S. '25, Matthew Messick '24, Luis Santillan '23, M.S. '25, and Ana Aviles Vargas '24.

Joshua Proehl, who is studying genetics at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, also received honorable mention.