Posted on September 8, 2023 by College of Sciences
#ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike
Isa Hernandez, Chemistry Ph.D. Student
By Pelle Muñoz
Meet Isa Hernandez '27, a valued graduate researcher with the Frantz Group and former captain of the UTSA Women's soccer team.
Isa started her journey with UTSA in 2017, when she entered as a freshman. She was originally recruited to play for UTSA's Women's soccer team but came to realize that UTSA provided a range of opportunities for its undergraduate STEM majors. Isa found that UTSA was an excellent choice given her interests, passions, and goals. "The culture, the academics and athletics of the university proved to be the perfect fit for my college experience."
Isa chose her undergraduate degree in biochemistry due to her love for both disciplines, but narrowed her interest on synthesis during her time in an interesting organic chemistry course. Isa's decision to join the Frantz Group in 2021 furthered the passion she has for chemistry. Headed by Doug Frantz, the group aims to develop new synthetic methodology in organic chemistry with a focus on practicality.
"This major seems like it would be daunting, but through practice and passionate professors, you can also develop an interest in chemistry," said Isa. "I love that I have the freedom to pursue what interests me and that I'm always encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities presented."
Isa appreciates UTSA for its culture and rapid evolution. "It's rare to be a part of a university that's growing so quickly," said Isa. "The university has an astounding impact on the San Antonio community around it and it provides many avenues and resources for success."
During her time as a graduate assistant with the Frantz Group, she has worked with a natural product called the taccalonolide. This natural product has nanomolar potency against drug resistant cancer cell lines. The work the lab has done involved bioconjugation, steroid derivatization, semi total synthesis. These methods work to bind organic molecules to synthetic ones or create different, complex compounds. These processes help with drug delivery and open the door for innovative development in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, the group has demonstrated the synthesis of small molecules analog development to mimic the anticancer activity of the tacca.
In addition to her work in the lab, Isa played on the UTSA Women's soccer team for 6 seasons (2017-2022) with two of those seasons played in graduate school. For the last two years of her career, Isa served as team captain and helped lead the team to a conference title.
This summer, Isa was awarded female academic athlete of the year and was one of 11 people to receive a Jim Castaneda scholarship for $4000 due to her postgraduate academic achievement in athletics.
During her time at UTSA, Isa served as a volunteer organizer for One Goal, a philanthropic organization founded by student-athletes that aims to promote healthy, athletic behavior by collecting used sporting equipment and raising money to send that gear to impoverished areas both nationally and internationally. In the past, the organization has worked largely with villages in South Africa but are expanding their outreach to work in other areas such as Mexico, South America, and other parts of Africa.
UTSA provides many memorable opportunities for students, and Isa is no different. "I had the opportunity to attend conferences where I could learn from some of the most influential people in our field as a result of what I accomplished in the lab" she said. The scope of Isa's achievements at UTSA know no bounds—whether they unfold in the laboratory, classroom, or on the soccer field. "I'm thankful that the program accommodated the crazy schedule associated with being a student athlete which has allowed be to grow on the field and in the classroom."
Throughout her journey, Isa came to value the initial sense of curiosity that nurtured her passion for science. She continues to hold this inquisitiveness as a valuable trait to this day, and encourages others to lean into it. "By being curious you always give yourself an opportunity to learn something," she said. "Embrace what you don't know as more of a challenge than a shortcoming because you are given more of a chance to grow."
Currently, Isa remains a graduate research assistant in the Frantz Group and is set to graduate in 2027 with her Ph.D. in chemistry. With the freedom, wisdom, and development opportunities that UTSA has granted her, Isa is ready to help build a new future as a chemist.
— College of Sciences
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