UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

🧬 Provost Profiles: UH biology junior Cole Woody is working to make real-world impact — studying potential cancer vaccines in the UH Sequencing Core (UH-SEQ).

🎥 Watch: https://bit.ly/438atA2

#GoCoogs #UHNSM #CantStopDiscovery #UHResearch #StudentSuccess #ProvostProfiles

NSM Graduate students took on the challenge of the Hot Topics in NSM: Three-Minute Thesis Competition.

🏅 Judges’ Choice: Ryan Boyce, Physics
🏅 People’s Choice: Anuththara Yoshini, Chemistry

📸 Read the full recap: https://bit.ly/4ofP0gK
#GoCoogs #UHNSM #UHResearch #CantStopDiscovery

UH Re-Designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research National Security Agency reaffirms UH’s leadership in cybersecurity innovation and research excellence through 2029.

UH has been re-designated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity – Cyber Research (CAE-R) through 2029.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/4oMypBb

#UniversityOfHouston #Cybersecurity #UHNSM #CantStopDiscovery

Researchers from the University of Houston working in a lab around a sophisticated apparatus to study thermal conductivity with Boron Arsenide. Logo of University of Houston and College of Natural Sciences displayed.

Led by Professor Zhifeng Ren, the Texas Center for Superconductivity discovered boron arsenide crystals that conduct heat better than diamond. Their work could transform semiconductor design and thermal management in modern electronics.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/4htLj4B

#GoCoogs #UHResearch #UHNSM

Promotional image for a new publication about joint neutrino oscillation from the T2K and NOvA experiments featured in Nature. Includes the University of Houston logo, and portraits of Lisa Whitehead Koerner and Daniel Cherdack, both professors in the Department of Physics.

UH Department of Physics researchers collaborated with scientists worldwide through the NOvA and T2K experiments to explore how neutrinos change type and mass.

🔗 Nature article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09599-3

#UHPhysics #UHResearch #NeutrinoScience #GoCoogs

Portrait of Erin Kellner, smiling, with the University of Houston logo, College of Natural Sciences mentioned, and text indicating the NSF Mid-Career Award.

UH geneticist Dr. Erin Kelleher has been awarded a $348K NSF grant to study the hidden life of DNA’s “jumping genes.” Her research could help explain how these mobile elements contribute to mutations, genome instability, and cancer.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/3WiYBr2

#UHResearch #UHNSM #STEM

Portrait of Rikki Raflo, Ed.D., recipient of the NSM College Alumni Award, with University of Houston logo.

We proudly honor Dr. Rikki C. Raflo, the first-ever NSM Honorary Alumna! 🎓

An educator and philanthropist, Dr. Raflo’s $2.5M endowment and scholarships empower women in STEM and advance NSM’s mission of discovery. ❤️
#CantStopDiscovery #UHNSM #GoCoogs #Philanthropy #WomenInSTEM

Portrait of Dr. Dan and Mrs. Eva Wells, 2025 da Vinci Society Red Jacket Recipients at the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

We proudly honor Dr. Dan & Mrs. Eva Wells, inducted into the da Vinci Society and recognized with the Red Jacket Distinction for lifetime giving exceeding $1M to NSM.

Their vision and generosity continue to shape student and faculty success. ❤️
#CantStopDiscovery #UHNSM #GoCoogs

UH researcher in a biology lab working with petri dishes; caption highlights UH scientists featured in Houston Chronicle for discovering that a rare bacterium can “play dead” to survive NASA clean rooms.

Dormant T. phoenicis (right) forms a hazy biofilm at the flask’s base.

The Houston Chronicle featured UH’s discovery that a rare bacterium that “plays dead” to survive NASA clean rooms - it could reshape clean room safety on Earth and in space.

Full story:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/nasa-clean-room-bacterium-21105910.php

Portrait of Jerome Silvestre, Ph.D., recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Features the University of Houston logo.

NSM recognizes Dr. Jerome Silvestre (’83) as our 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award honoree!

He has advanced both quantum chemistry and global healthcare leadership through a remarkable career with Sanofi and beyond.

READ: https://uh.edu/nsm/people/distinguished-alumni/
#GoCoogs #NSMAlumni #UHNSM

Dean Gregory B. Dudley address the audience at the 2025 da Vinci Society and Distinguished Alumni Dinner

Dean Dudley (l) with Dr. Dan E. Wells and Mrs. Eva Wells (da Vinci Society Members and Red Jacket Distinction Recipients) along with Margarita Pérez Frinsco (r)

Dr. Jerome Silvestre, Ph.D. ‘83, 2024 NSM Distinguished Alumni Recipient

Dean Dudley (l) with Dr. Rikki Raflo (NSM Honorary Alumna) and Margarita Pérez Frinsco (r)

At the 2025 da Vinci Society and Distinguished Alumni Dinner, NSM celebrated honorees including Dr. Dan & Eva Wells, Dr. Jerome Silvestre (’83) and Dr. Rikki Raflo (’94) for their contributions.

Read more: http://bit.ly/4qlyNrS

#UHNSM #daVinciSociety #UHAlumni #UHGiving #CantStopDiscovery

Promotional poster for the Roaring Red Homecoming Tailgate event at University of Houston, showing four enthusiastic fans in team gear celebrating, with event details like date, location, and ticket prices included.

🐾 Join us for the Roaring Red Tailgate on Oct. 18 before UH takes on Arizona!

Reconnect with friends, enjoy great food, and show your Cougar Red! ❤️
📍 Party on the Plaza
🎟 RSVP: https://bit.ly/495o1Qh

Be sure to select “NSM Alumni Association.”

#GoCoogs #UHHomecoming #UHouston #NSMCoogs

Group of students and faculty outside at the University of Houston Coastal Center, celebrating a decade of discovery in Earth Science field education. Text on image reads 'A Decade of Discovery: Earth Science Field Education at the University of Houston Coastal Center.'

UH Earth & Atmospheric Sciences students explore the coastal prairie to study energy systems, groundwater, GPS geodesy & UAV operations—turning theory into real-world science.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/3J3NqiS

#GoCoogs #UHEarthSciences #UHResearch #STEMLearning #UHNSM #CantStopDiscovery

Dr. Quentin Vicens, Assistant Professor of Biology & Biochemistry at the University of Houston, smiling in a professional portrait. The cover highlights a new publication in Protein Science about the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1p150 and Cromolyn as a novel pharmacophore.

UH Assistant Professor Dr. Quentin Vicens co-authored a Protein Science paper showing that cromolyn, an FDA-approved drug, binds to the Zα domain of ADAR1p150, reshaping our understanding of RNA structure and immune signaling.

🔗 Read the study: http://bit.ly/47a9wIt

#GoCoogs #UHResearch

Three scientists from the University of Houston, wearing lab coats, stand together in a laboratory setting. The background features the University's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics logo. They are smiling at the camera, with text above describing their research on a rare bacterium in NASA clean rooms.

UH researchers uncovered how a rare bacterium, Tersicoccus phoenicis, “plays dead” to survive NASA’s sterile clean rooms.

Their work reveals new challenges for planetary protection & sterilization in extreme environments.

READ: http://bit.ly/4o8u5f4

#Microbiology #UHNSM #CantStopDiscovery

New publication titled 'Phonotomizer: A Compact, Supervised, Online Training Approach to Real-Time, Multilingual Association for Computational Linguistics' from the University of Houston. Features headshots of researchers Michael Yantosca and Albert Cheng from the Departments of Computer Science and Computational Science, respectively.

UHNSM researchers Michael S. Yantosca & Albert M. K. Cheng presented Phonotomizer at ACL 2025—an unsupervised, multilingual system for real-time phonetic segmentation that trains directly from sound data.

Read the paper: https://bit.ly/3IXiBw2

#UHNSM #AI #SpeechTechnology #CantStopDiscovery

Jiaxuan Li from the University of Houston's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, celebrating the achievement of earning the 2025 AGU Keiiti Aki Early Career Award.

Jiaxuan Li, assistant professor of geophysics, has been awarded the 2025 AGU Seismology Keiiti Aki Early Career Award. His innovative fiber-optic sensing research is shaping the future of seismology and deepening our understanding of earthquakes and volcanoes.

http://bit.ly/4mx3KWZ

#UH #UHNSM

Promotional poster for a new publication by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Houston, featuring Ny Riavo Voarintsoa, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences. The publication focuses on a 35-year Madagascar record and its implications for paleoclimate research, titled 'Applied Geochemistry'.

Thrilled to share Dr. Ny Riavo Voarintsoa’s new article in Applied Geochemistry:
A 3.5-year rainfall isotope record from NW Madagascar featuring 17O-excess—advancing tools for tropical paleoclimate reconstructions and monsoon studies.
🔗 http://bit.ly/3VyUJSh #Madagascar #UHNSM #CantStopDiscovery

NSM Career Fair - September 16 The NSM Career Center invites students to its Career Fair on Tuesday, September 16, from 1–5 PM. Meet with leading employers across STEM fields, explore internship and full-time opportunities, and elevate your professional brand through on-site resume reviews and networking sessions.

🚀 STEM careers are waiting for you!
📅 Sept. 16 | 1–5 PM | Student Center South
🤝 Meet employers
📄 Resume reviews
🎯 Find internships & jobs

Details ➡️ http://bit.ly/3IlvLTk
#CantStopDiscovery #UH #UHNSM #NSM #GoCoogs #CareerFair

Natalie Sumrow smiles while holding her award with UH President Khator.

Celebrating Natalie Sumrow, executive director of NSM Advising, for earning the C. F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor for UH staff!

With more than 25 years of service, Natalie built a student-first advising model now recognized across higher ed. 👏

#GoCoogs #UHNSM

Chris Watts receives the President's Excellence Award in the Technical, Service, and Craft Category for 2025.

Honoring Chris Watts, Dir of Web & Digital Communications, recipient of the President’s Excellence Award in the Technical, Service, and Craft category!

Chris has dedicated 15+ years to building innovative digital strategies that enhance student success and community at UH.

#GoCoogs #UHNSM #UHProud

University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics - New Publication Observation of Quantum Darwinism and the Origin of Classicality with Superconducting Circuits (Science Advances) Kiera Salice, Research Assistant, Department of Physics Rubem Mondaini, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Congrats to Kiera Salice, Research Assistant, and Rubem Mondaini, Assistant Professor, from the Department of Physics, for their manuscript on quantum information science, accepted in Science Advances!

🔗 Read the Manuscript: bit.ly/40SBGVX

#UHNSM #QuantumDarwinism #ScienceAdvances #Physics

Leon Thomsen | Most-Cited Work in the Field of Geophysics | More than 6,400 Citation to Date | Published in Geophysics, "Weak Seismic Anisotrophy" transformed how scientists understand subsurface structures and remains central to research in shale gas and exploration geophysics. | UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Leon Thomsen’s 1986 paper, Weak Seismic Anisotropy, now holds the all-time citation record in geophysics.

📚 “It’s like F=ma for physicists,” said UH’s Yingcai Zheng.

Read more: bit.ly/4nshhkx
#Geophysics #UniversityOfHouston #EarthScience #AcademicImpact

2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Recipient - Bryan Hlavinka - UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Student researcher Bryan Hlavinka (Biochemistry) received a UH SURF fellowship to study how energy and electricity move through sol-gel coatings. His project has the potential to pave the way for spray-on solar panels and smarter buildings. 🔬🏙️

#UndergraduateResearch #UHNSM #STEM #Nanomaterials

Faculty-Student Research Spotlight | The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics congratulates Melissa L. Zastrow, Ph.D., associate professor, and Uyen Huynh, research associate, in the Department of Chemistry, for their co-authorship on a new study published in Scientific Reports.

Research Spotlight | Melissa Zastrow, Ph.D., & Uyen Huynh co-authored a Scientific Reports study showing that calcium boosts Lactobacillus acidophilus growth and biofilm formation—key for successful probiotic colonization in the gut.

🔗 bit.ly/3ZHMF45
#UHNSM #Research #GutHealth #Probiotics #Calcium

UH NSM Names Gregory B. Dudley as Next Dean | Accomplished Academic Leader Joins UH August 1 | University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

🚨 Leadership Update: Gregory Dudley, Ph.D. has been named dean of the University of Houston's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics!

🔬 NSF Program Director
📚 MIT Ph.D.
🧠 100+ publications

He joins UH Aug. 1. Read more: bit.ly/43MWvCV
#UHNSM #GoCoogs

Please join us with Friday with our Spring Seminar series with Dr. Deepak Chamlagain, who will give a talk about a “Dynamic Characterization and Basement Topography of the Kathmandu Valley Affected by the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake: A Passive Seismological Approach” Details are in the poster.

NASA Grant Awarded to UH NSM Alumnus $1.2 million award supports astronaut exploration and safety.

UH NSM alumnus Dr. Jose Daniel Velazco-Garcia was awarded a $1.2 million NASA grant. UH received $325,00 of the grant. Read more about his mentors, team, and technology:

Really wonderful and inspiring talk by @colinaverill.bsky.social from Funga at Austin. Wow!

Thanks so much Colin for the visit!

@uh-earth-atm-sci.bsky.social scientists are doing groundbreaking climate research in Greenland and Antarctica! ⛰🌎 See more extraordinary images and read the full immersive article here:
bit.ly/4gsVZ1s