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From the College of Natural Sciences
Texas Biologics to Bolster Research in Therapeutics

Texas Biologics to Bolster Research in Therapeutics

Protein therapeutics research takes place at The University of Texas at Austin in numerous labs, including that of professor of molecular biosciences Jason McLellan with former graduate student Akaash Mishra.

Nearly two years after COVID-19 vaccines entered widespread use, featuring technology from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, the Cockrell School of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences have launched Texas Biologics, a cross-disciplinary effort made up of world-renowned faculty members and researchers working across all areas of therapeutics.

Department of Energy Selects Timothy Liao for Graduate Student Research Program

Department of Energy Selects Timothy Liao for Graduate Student Research Program

Timothy Liao, a physics Ph.D. student from The University of Texas at Austin, was recently selected to participate in the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program along with 43 others. Liao will conduct part of his thesis research at Ames National Laboratory where he will develop computational tools for material design and discovery.

Shining a Light on How Bilingual Children Learn

Shining a Light on How Bilingual Children Learn

There's a cute little curly headed cherub in a yellow dress, and she is the star of the show. She's sitting on her mother's lap and her mother is talking to her in that gentle mother voice that says, despite all appearances, this is normal, you are safe and there will probably be a nice treat for you for cooperating. A scientist and her research assistant, neither of whom the child has met before, hover around her in a smallish room with a desk, some electronic equipment and a flat-screen TV.

Wearing a cap with instruments that map brain activity, a child completes various cognitive tasks related to learning. Photo credit: PBS/Otherwords/Spotzen.
Rachel Ward Receives NSF TRIPODS Phase 2 Award for Data Science Research

Rachel Ward Receives NSF TRIPODS Phase 2 Award for Data Science Research

Rachel Ward, professor of mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Transdisciplinary Research in Principles of Data Science, or TRIPODS, Phase II award. The award will help establish The Institute for Emerging CORE Methods in Data Science (EnCORE), led by the University of California San Diego in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles; University of Pennsylvania; and UT Austin.

New UTeach Access Program Creates Pathway to Grow STEM Teacher Workforce

New UTeach Access Program Creates Pathway to Grow STEM Teacher Workforce

Jack Coker, a freshman, prepares a lesson on surface tension for a 4th grade class. Photo by Mark Tway, UTeach.

The University of Texas at Austin's UTeach program, based in the College of Natural Sciences, and Austin Community College have joined forces to launch UTeach Access, a new co-enrollment program to prepare secondary STEM teachers.

Seven Natural Sciences Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards

Seven Natural Sciences Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards

Seven faculty in The University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences have recently received distinguished Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Awards from the National Science Foundation. The CAREER award recognizes junior faculty for their potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

7 Insights About Aging from College of Natural Sciences Researchers

7 Insights About Aging from College of Natural Sciences Researchers

In less than 15 years, the U.S. Census Bureau projects older adults (over 65) will outnumber children for the first time in history. Research on the relationships, health and well-being of the elderly has traditionally lagged behind research on children, adolescents and young adults. With its Center on Aging and Population Sciences (CAPS) and Texas Aging and Longevity Center (TALC) and its status in the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network, The University of Texas at Austin is working to advance understanding about and support for older populations.

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Mini Robots Reveal Links Between Bird Flocks and General Relativity

Mini Robots Reveal Links Between Bird Flocks and General Relativity

When self-propelling objects or living things interact with each other, interesting phenomena can occur. Birds align with each other when they flock together. People at a concert spontaneously create vortices when they nudge and bump into each other. Fire ants work together to create rafts that float on the water's surface.

Two small robots move on a stretchy, trampoline-like surface.
Maggie Miller Receives Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize

Maggie Miller Receives Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize

Maggie Miller, a UT Austin alumna in mathematics who will soon return to join the faculty, has been awarded a Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize, an early career award for women in mathematics that is part of the annual Breakthrough Prizes. She is being honored for her work on fibered ribbon knots and surfaces in 4-dimensional manifolds.

Visualizing Science 2022: Illuminating the Intrinsic Beauty in Academic Research

Visualizing Science 2022: Illuminating the Intrinsic Beauty in Academic Research

This past spring, the College of Natural Sciences invited our University of Texas at Austin faculty, staff and students to send in the top images from their research for our Visualizing Science competition. The images they produced nourish both the mind and the soul, offering not only food for thought but a feast for the eyes as well.