Posted on November 21, 2025 by College of Sciences
#ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike
Emily Holder, Neuroscience Major
By Lauren Garza, Administrative Assistant
Emily Holder is considered a rising star in the Department of Neuroscience, Development and Regenerative Biology (NDRB). As one of the first students to enroll in the university's B.S. in Neuroscience, she is helping pave the way for future students in the field.
Emily chose UT San Antonio for many reasons, but the UT San Antonio Bold Promise program stood out most. The program allows low-income students to attend the university through a commitment to pay 100% of their tuition and mandatory fees for four academic years.
"As a low-income student, I knew college would be difficult or even impossible without financial aid," said Emily. "UT San Antonio offered more avenues for scholarships, grants, and other aid that many other universities did not offer."
Since her freshman year, Emily has found that the university prioritizes student success, with faculty members who are not only approachable but genuinely invested in helping students grow.
"I have seen so many initiatives in my department and in others to help student success, which really stands out to me," explained Emily. "UT San Antonio offers countless programs and communities designed to keep students engaged and connected. I always feel valued as part of this community."
As a sophomore in the summer of 2023, Emily joined the MARC Pre-PhD Honors Research Training Program, which was previously funded by the NIH Training and Workforce Development division to support underrepresented students in the sciences. It provided stipend payments which allowed Emily to work full time over the summer and part-time during the academic year.
"MARC helped me focus on my growth as an undergraduate researcher," said Emily. "In this program, I received the support and professional development to succeed in a research setting."
During her time in MARC, Emily received encouragement from her peers and mentors to apply and become Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s most competitive scholarships awarded to college students who intend to pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.
When the MARC program ended earlier this year, Emily sought to continue developing as an undergraduate researcher, which encouraged her to join the McNair Scholars Program, a program that prepares first-generation and low-income students for research-based PhD programs.
Emily's admittance to MARC also connected her to her first research experience in The Macpherson Lab. Emily credits Lindsay Macpherson, associate professor in the NDRB department, as being instrumental to her growth as a researcher.
"She has been so amazing in helping me understand the molecular and cellular biology behind our research, as well as in challenging me to grow as a young scientist," said Emily.
In the Macpherson Lab, Emily studies how taste receptor cells connect and communicate with gustatory nerve fibers. Her research explores whether these nerve fibers are necessary to maintain the synapses that allow taste receptor cells to send signals to the brain, a process that remains largely unknown.
In addition to her research experience at UT San Antonio, Emily interned at Dell Medical School, with the Women in Neuroscience nonprofit organization in summer 2024 where she assisted with research on the neural circuits involved in alcohol use disorder. The experience strengthened her data analysis skills and broadened her perspective on neuroscience research.
Beyond her work in the lab and classroom, Emily has taken on several leadership roles that reflect her commitment to helping other students succeed. She serves as director of the COS Rising Researchers Pre-Research Training Program, which she secured sponsorship for and helped redesign and relaunch after its grant funding ended. In her role as director, Emily coordinated and guided a team of mentors to provide structured support for program participants.
"Through my time with MARC and McNair, I experienced the importance of programs that guide students into research pathways," said Emily. "I worked to get Rising Researchers back up and running so there would continue to be a program on campus designed to help students access research careers."
After graduating, Emily plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, where she hopes to continue studying synaptic formation in brain disorders. She aims to build on her experiences in the Macpherson Lab and contribute to understanding how neural connections form and function in the brain.
— College of Sciences
Explore the NDRB Department!
Conducting high-impact, internationally recognized research in the areas of neuroscience and developmental and regenerative biology while educating and training the next generation of leaders in biological sciences.
Recent NDRB Spotlights
View More Spotlights
December 13, 2022
Isabella Sarno MarinPublished by College of Sciences
#ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike
