School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering

UIW Healthcare Faculty Awarded $100,000 grant from the American Osteopathic Association

06/26/2026 Sourced from UIW News

Faculty members from UIW’s health professions schools continue to demonstrate their commitment to expanding new medical horizons, as they were just awarded a $100,000 grant from the American Osteopathic Association to study new treatment options for knee osteoarthritis. For the next two years, UIW faculty and collaborative team members will utilize these funds to conduct a pilot clinical trial that will test the efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) combined with Physical Therapy (PT) to improve knee pain and function in adult patients.

UIW Faculty Appointed as 2026 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow

02/13/2026 Sourced from UIW News

Rachell Booth, PhD, professor of biochemistry in the UIW School of Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

UIW Announces Re-Launch of Dietetic Internship Program Under New Leadership

01/06/2026 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) proudly announces the re-launch of its Dietetic Internship Program, now under the direction of Dagny Larson, PhD, RD, LD. This innovative program offers a 9-month, community-focused internship beginning every August, designed to train future registered dietitians with a strong foundation in sustainability and diverse practice settings. Interns will complete two graduate-level courses that prepare them for supervised practice and provide dedicated time for RD exam preparation.

Demonstrating Engineering Excellence in the Community: Gabriella Luna

08/08/2025 Sourced from UIW News

After years of development and accreditation, the institution’s science program has now evolved into the University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering (SMSE). One of SMSE’s remarkable students is senior Mechatronics Engineering major Gabriella “Gabby” Luna.

Dr. Veronica Martinez-Acosta, professor of Biology

UIW Professor Receives Distinguished Award from the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists

07/11/2025 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Veronica Martinez-Acosta, professor of Biology, was recently recognized by the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists (SACNAS) as their 2024 Outstanding College/University Mentor. SACNAS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans be successful in the world of STEM.

UIW Professor Receives Major Grant for Breast Cancer Research

10/08/2024 Sourced from UIW News

For University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) Assistant Professor Dr. Charles Fermaintt the fight against breast cancer is personal. His mother was diagnosed and survived breast cancer in 2016. Now, Fermaintt is taking on one of the most aggressive forms of the disease in his research being done right here at UIW. That research has just been awarded a grant of more than $500,000 over the next three years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

UIW Engineering Students Compete in 2024 American Control Conference Self-Driving Car Student Competition

07/26/2024 Sourced from UIW News

UIW engineering students from the University’s Autonomous Vehicles Systems (AVS) Research and Education Laboratories traveled to Toronto in Ontario, Canada to participate in Quanser’s 2024 American Control Conference Self-Driving Car Student Competition, held July 12-14.

Women in Cybersecurity Student Organization Spreads Awareness on Internet Safety

02/09/2024 Sourced from UIW News

In honor of Safer Internet Day, UIW’s Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) student chapter recently tabled outside of the Student Engagement Center to spread awareness on how UIW community members can better ensure their safety online.

UIW Meteorology Students Present at Annual Meeting of American Meteorological Society

02/09/2024 Sourced from UIW News

Four UIW Meteorology majors, Sabrina Gonzales, Fatima Hernandez, Christian Schell and Katelyn Simenson, recently had the privilege of attending the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The AMS is the world’s largest yearly gathering for the weather, water and climate community. It brings together great minds from a diverse set of scientific disciplines, helping attendees make career-long professional contact and life-long friends while learning from leading experts in the atmospheric sciences.

Garza and her sister attending her sister's graduation

Breaking Boundaries: UIW Student Receives Cybersecurity Scholarship

01/19/2024 Sourced from UIW News

Juliana Garza, a junior Cybersecurity Systems student at the University of the Incarnate Word, was recently honored with the “Cybersecurity & The Latinx Community Scholarship,” a financial award presented to only five students across the country each semester. The scholarship aims to financially support undergraduate Latinx students seeking an education and prospective career in the field of cybersecurity. As a Latinx individual, Garza says that she hopes to break boundaries to help make the cybersecurity industry more diverse and inclusive, a goal that her recent scholarship award will help her achieve.

Cardinals Present Knowledge and Skills at End of Semester Showcases

12/01/2023 Sourced from UIW News

At COMM Extravaganza, many students presented their research, which marked a significant milestone for them in their higher education journeys. Evelyn Torres expressed her joy in presenting her work, which represented her learning during her time in Communication Arts. She congratulated her Communication Arts family and looked forward to graduating next week.

Biology Professor Recognized with Award for Fostering Diversity and Inclusivity

12/01/2023 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Acosta is a supporter of diversity and inclusion in STEM. She has developed programs to promote diversity in STEM at UIW and beyond. According to her biography, she strives to speak up for those who cannot and advocate for those who have limited resources.

A Passion for Students in STEM

06/05/2023 Sourced from UIW News

Amanda Roberts has come full circle. She began her studies in Biology at the University of Incarnate Word as an undergraduate and earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology in 2010. In August, more than a decade after she first stepped foot on campus, she joined the UIW faculty as a visiting assistant professor of Chemistry.

Project Helios

05/11/2023 Sourced from UIW News

Project Helios was inspired by issues that grew out of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the Spring 2022 semester, Broadway Campus students were required to go online for two weeks of virtual instruction. Students were often forced to be close to charging outlets to power their laptops while in their dorm rooms or hallways, which did not always allow for social distancing.

Feik School of Pharmacy students at the community health fair

Academic Round Up

04/20/2023 Sourced from UIW News

Creatures from the Bay

11/30/2022 Sourced from UIW News

UIW's Oceanography class, under the instruction of Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Dr. John Hooker, boarded the RV Katy, a research vessel operated by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, on Nov. 18 for an educational excursion .

Dr. Veronica Acosta and leadership cohort

Growing as a Leader

11/14/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Veronica Acosta, Biology professor at UIW, has had various leadership roles during her 14-year tenure at the University. Recently, she was selected to participate in the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute to hone her leadership skills.

Love for Learning and Leading

10/12/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Carlos Garcia, dean of the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering, has been at UIW for more than a decade. He started his career teaching ocular pharmacology, but since then he has spent time as a researcher and president of a community college. Hear more about Garcia’s leadership style, projects he is currently working on, and his role with UIW’s Sustainability Advisory Board below.

UIW Partners in Major $2.5 Million Grant to Aid Underrepresented STEM Students

10/07/2022 Sourced from UIW News

UIW, along with St. Mary’s University, Trinity University and Our Lady of the Lake University, have been awarded an almost $2.5 million grant by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the grant-funded project from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program is to increase the number of historically underrepresented students and those from lower-income backgrounds to obtain bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

UIW students at the Digital Avionics Systems Conference

Learning through Presentations

10/06/2022 Sourced from UIW News

“I was proud to be part of a cosmopolitan organization that drew intelligent, driven people from across the world.” Those are the words Orion Jones, a senior Meteorology student, shared about the recent 41st AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) several UIW students and faculty attended. At the conference, held in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Autonomous Vehicle Systems (AVS) Research Lab submitted a variety of papers on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs).

Assistant Professor in SMSE Receives Grant from National Science Foundation

09/09/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Gonzalo Parra, assistant professor of Cyber Security Systems in the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering, received $95,000 as part of a grant from the National Science Foundation for the project Collaborative Research: CISE-MSI: Active and Passive Internet Measurements for Inferring IoT Maliciousness at Scale, which focuses on cybersecurity. Parra is collaborating with UTSA and the San Diego State University Foundation (SDSU) on the project. The total grant provided the trio of Hispanic-Serving Institutions with $600,000.

Aidan Quinn showing off his new class ring

Meet Aidan Quinn, Senior Engineering Major

09/02/2022 Sourced from UIW News

With my senior year before me, I can say that choosing to attend the University of the Incarnate Word has greatly impacted my life, and I have learned a lot these past three years. One of my main reasons for attending UIW is that it emphasizes its Catholic faith as the foundation of the school’s history. UIW has helped me grow deeper in my faith because the Catholic identity is prominent throughout campus and participation in church celebrations is encouraged.

Nadia (left) and Scheel (right) Nayar at Nadia's graduation

Giving Family Medicine a New Meaning

07/29/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Nadia (learner) and Scheel (faculty member) Nayar reflect on what it meant to them to be part of UIWSOM’s inaugural cohort together

megaGEMS Prepares for Local Drone Competition

07/29/2022 Sourced from UIW News

The UIW Autonomous Vehicle Systems (AVS) Lab-sponsored outreach program, Girls in Engineering Math and Science (GEMS), is preparing to participate in a drone competition as part of the Digital Avionics Systems Conference. The conference, scheduled for the fall, is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace and Electronics Systems Societies (AESS) and hosted by St. Mary’s University.

UIW’s Community Health Education Program Receives Accreditation

07/01/2022 Sourced from UIW News

UIW’s Community Health Education (CHED) program, an interdisciplinary program housed in the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health professions, has earned full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

megaGEMS AEOP Internship Programs Inspire Next Generation of Women in STEM

07/01/2022 Sourced from UIW News

UIW’s Autonomous Vehicle Systems Laboratories (AVS Labs), in association with the UIW Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS) program, launched its second annual summer internship initiative in partnership the Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP) on Monday, June 6. The internsip program consists of two educational opportunities for local high school girls.

Josh James works on an experiment during the GearHeadsSA camp

UIW Hosts GearHeads San Antonio Summer Research Academy

06/30/2022 Sourced from UIW News

From June 20 - July 1, 12 high school students attended the GearHeads San Antonio Summer Research Academy (GearHeadsSA SRA), a project-based learning summer program provided by the UIW School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering (SMSE).

Love for Incarnate Word, Passion for Research

06/06/2022 Sourced from UIW News

For Dr. Ricardo Carrion ’98, the decision to attend the University of the Incarnate Word was an easy one. In addition to his family’s bond with the Sisters, he loved the school’s Catholic identity and small class sizes, as well as the enthusiasm of the instructors who encouraged his passion for biology.

Summer: A Time for Research

06/02/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Summer is often a time for relaxation, rest and rejuvenation for college students. But for Emma Vequist, a rising junior Biology major at the University of the Incarnate Word, this summer is a time for research and discovery. For 11 weeks spanning June, July and August, Vequist is participating in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Biological Discovery in Woods Hole.

UIW Receives Major Funding for Kidney Research

05/23/2022 Sourced from UIW News

UIW is proud to announce it has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund further research into kidney disease and diabetes. The $300,000 grant will specifically go into research regarding an enzyme, Duox2, and how it effects those with kidney disease.

Spring 2022 Academic Highlights at UIW

04/28/2022 Sourced from UIW News

As the spring semester comes to a close, academic departments from around the University of the Incarnate Word have been hard at work, wrapping up major projects and celebrating big wins.

Inspiration through Presentations: UIW Students Share, and Win, at Texas Academy of Science Meeting

03/25/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Thirty students from University of the Incarnate Word School of Math, Science and Engineering attended the Texas Academy of Science’s (TAS) 125th annual meeting at the University of Houston Clear Lake. Sixteen of the 30 students presented, sharing posters and research projects.

SMSE Receives Grant to Help STEM Students Graduate

03/18/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Veronica G. Martinez Acosta, PhD, professor of Biology and director of the UIW Honors Program, is part of a group that received grant funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Equitable Pathways program. The landmark $5 million grant will support 20 different partnerships across various organizations to build equitable pathways, helping Black, Indigenous and Latina/o students advance into STEM graduate studies.

UIW to Celebrate Fourth Annual Day of Giving

03/18/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Each spring, the University of the Incarnate Word community comes together as “One Word” to work towards “One Goal” – raising funds to support current and future UIW students. UIW’s fourth annual Day of Giving, known as “One Word. One Goal.,” will be celebrated for 1881 minutes, in honor of the University’s founding year, during Incarnate Word Week beginning March 23.

Wynette Keller Poses with 20 Year Service Award

Keller Receives 20 Year Service Award from Texas TRiO Association

02/22/2022 Sourced from UIW News

Wynette Keller, director of TRiO Student Support Services at the University of the Incarnate Word, was recognized by the Texas TRiO Association with a 20 Year Service Award at the organization’s conference. We caught up with Keller to discuss how rewarding her work is and how it aligns with the Mission of UIW.

minGEMS students participate in an activity

AVS Research Lab Receives Grant from Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word

01/13/2022 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word’s Autonomous Vehicle Systems (AVS) Research Lab is excited to announce that the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word has funded the GEMS after-school miniGEMS clubs for the upcoming FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitions. A generous $5,000 award from the CCVI “Sisters supporting women for a better world” grant will help support the GEMS after-school programs.

Miguel Cortinas presents on water and art for the students

Seven Faculty Help Area High School Students with Texas Academic Decathlon Competition Prep

11/18/2021 Sourced from UIW News

Seven UIW faculty members assisted the Texas Academic Decathlon team from Travis Early College High School prepare for the state academic decathlon competition, which will take place Feb. 25-27.

Chance Trentman-Rosas poses in an Army uniform on the left and in a black polo on the right

Education, Football, and Something Bigger than Himself

11/04/2021 Sourced from UIW News

Chance Trentman-Rosas chose UIW for the opportunities in education and football, but he soon realized that joining the ROTC and the Texas National Guard would help him leave a greater legacy.

Cardinal Math Talk with Guest Speaker Dr. Md Rafiul Islam

10/29/2021 Sourced from UIW News

Dr. Suleyman Tek, professor of Mathematics and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, hosted a Cardinal Math Talk session on Oct. 28 with guest speaker Dr. Md Rafiul Islam, postdoc research associate of Mathematics at Iowa State University.  Islam’s topic was a “Mathematical model of COVID-19 transmission with vaccination and optimal vaccine allocation strategy with limited supply.”

Group of family members smiling at the camera

Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Ben Garza

10/14/2021 Sourced from UIW News

Ben Garza, a graduate student in UIW’s Nutrition program, grew up in McAllen, Texas but he has grown to love San Antonio. As an undergraduate student at Trinity University looking into what his next steps would be, he began taking more of an interest in his personal health through exercise and nutrition. During one of his Psychology classes, Lifespan Development, he examined how certain foods affect the human body.

Outside of AT&T Science Center and Bonilla Science Hall - Biochemistry

UIW Biochemistry Program Receives Major Accreditation

01/08/2021 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to announce that its Biochemistry program in the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering has received full accreditation from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

UIW Lands Major Funding for Neurosciences

12/07/2020 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to announce it has received a grant in the amount of $32, 992 from the Grass Foundation in support of Neuroscience education in the Biology and Engineering departments.

STEM Students Stay a Step Ahead at UIW

09/24/2020 Sourced from UIW News

Three summer STEM programs at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) continued to help students stay ahead of their preparation programs amid the pandemic.

Outside of AT&T Science Center and Bonilla Science Hall

UIW Receives Major Grant Funding for Research Projects

08/06/2020 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is pleased to announce that the Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded two grants this summer totaling more than $1.2 million to two research projects in the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering.

UIW Receives Major Grant Funding for Drone Project

07/08/2020 Sourced from UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is pleased to announce that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Army Research Office has awarded $643,759 to a research project led by Dr. Michael Frye, professor of Electrical Engineering in the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering.