Thank you for your interest in the RISE PhD program. After a long run at The University of Texas at San Antonio, the RISE program has ended. We celebrate our students and their accomplishments and will continue to seek out ways to support the highly talented and dedicated future scientists at UT San Antonio.

2021 RISE PhD Student Awards

Vanessa Cerda

  • NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award

Tiara Phipps

  • DoD Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship

2018 RISE PhD Student Awards

Francisca Acosta

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Regenerative and Molecular Medicine (COS Research Conference)

2017 RISE PhD Student Awards

Andrew Mendiola

  • American Society of Neurochemistry (ASN) Neuro Award

Jesus Romo

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Infectious Diseases and Immunology (COS Research Conference)

Thierry Wambo

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Physics & Astronomy and Nanotechnology (COS Research Conference)
  • Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs Honorable Mention

2016 RISE PhD Student Awards

Jorge Gomez

  • NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA)

Andrew Mendiola

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Infectious Diseases and Immunology (COS Research Conference)
  • Graduate School Presidential Dissertation Fellowship

Guillermo Naranjo

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Physics & Astronomy and Nanotechnology (COS Research Conference)

Jesus Romo

  • Best Graduate Oral Presentation-Biomedical Research (SACNAS)
  • Graduate School Three Minute Thesis (Doctoral category)

2015 RISE PhD Student Awards

Andrew Mendiola

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Infectious Diseases and Immunology (COS Research Conference)

2014 RISE PhD Student Awards

Willie Hale

  • First Place Graduate Poster Presentation Award (COLFA Spring Conference)

Enrique Sosa

  • Best Graduate Student Poster-Regenerative and Molecular Medicine (COS Research Conference)

2013 RISE PhD Student Awards

Damon Cardenas

  • Bioengineering Oral Presentation Award (SACNAS)
  • Sloan Scholar
  • Valero Travel Award

Justin Garcia

  • Biochemistry Oral Presentation Award (SACNAS)

Willie Hale

  • Psychology/Social Sciences Oral Presentation Award (SACNAS)
  • Doctoral Oral Presentation Award (Ready, Set, Research Competition)

Kristin Reddoch

  • Post-Doc Prep Attendee (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Magaly Salinas

  • Provisional Patent Approval
  • Best Student Poster Presentation-Chemistry & Biochemistry Award (COS Research Conference)

DeNard Simmons

  • Best Student Poster Presentation-Neuroscience Award (COS Research Conference)

Marley Van Dyke

  • Diversity Recruitment Fellowship Award

2012 RISE PhD Student Awards

Lawrence Mimun

  • SACNAS Travel Award

Linda Nagore

  • SACNAS Travel Award

DeNard Simmons

  • Sloan Scholar

Enrique Sosa

  • Judge (ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair)
  • Graduate Poster Winner (Texas Genetics Society)
  • SACNAS Travel Award
  • Sloan Scholar

2011 RISE PhD Student Awards

Enrique Sosa

  • Sloan Scholar

2009 RISE PhD Student Awards

Magaly Salinas

  • SACNAS Travel Award