Skip to main content
  • About
    • Accreditations
    • Associate Deans
    • Advisory Council
    • Dean
    • Dean's Staff Directory
  • Academic Programs
  • Schools & Departments
    • School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling
    • Department of Communication Disorders
    • Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences
    • Department of Health & Human Performance
    • Department of Health Sciences
    • Department of Medical Laboratory Science
    • Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
    • Department of Occupational Therapy
    • Department of Physical Therapy
    • Department of Physician Assistant
  • Community Initiatives
    • Border Health Office
    • Speech and Hearing Center
  • Research
    • Faculty Research
    • Graduate Research
    • STRONG
    • Undergraduate Research
    • News and Events
  • Resources
    • Faculty Resources
    • Interprofessional Educational Academy
    • Program Coordinators
    • Student Academic Appeals
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
UTRGV
The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
News
GIVE
Open Search Menu
Menu
utrgv logo
College of Health Professions
Division of Academic Affairs
  • About
    ▼
    About Square placeholder image 300px

    The College of Health Professions at UTRGV offers diverse programs in health sciences, research, and community initiatives. Learn more about how we are advancing healthcare education and serving communities across South Texas and beyond.

    • About
      • Accreditations
      • Associate Deans
      • Advisory Council
      • Dean
      • Dean's Staff Directory
  • Academic Programs
  • Schools & Departments
    ▼
    Schools & Departments Square placeholder image 300px

    Explore The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s College of Health Professions, offering diverse, high-quality programs in physical therapy, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, nutrition, health sciences, and more. Join innovative faculty and programs committed to empowering students, promoting health equity, and transforming regional and global communities.

    • Schools & Departments
      • School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling
      • Department of Communication Disorders
      • Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences
      • Department of Health & Human Performance
      • Department of Health Sciences
      • Department of Medical Laboratory Science
      • Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
      • Department of Occupational Therapy
      • Department of Physical Therapy
      • Department of Physician Assistant
  • Community Initiatives
    ▼
    Community Initiatives Square placeholder image 300px

    Explore the Community Initiatives of the UTRGV College of Health Professions, offering a range of services and offices dedicated to supporting and improving the health and well-being of our community. Discover programs, resources, and initiatives designed to make a positive impact.

    • Community Initiatives
      • Border Health Office
      • Speech and Hearing Center
  • Research
    ▼
    Research

    Explore the UTRGV College of Health Professions’ Research Enhancement and Support Team (CREST), offering comprehensive support for faculty, staff, and student research. Services include funding guidance, proposal development, and compliance support to foster a thriving research culture. Connect with expert faculty and access essential research resources.

    • Research
      • Faculty Research
      • Graduate Research
      • STRONG
      • Undergraduate Research
      • News and Events
  • Resources
    ▼
    Resources Square placeholder image 300px

    Discover resources at UTRGV's College of Health Professions to support student success, including academic programs, internships, health insurance information, counseling services, and more. Explore opportunities in healthcare education, research, and leadership with the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions and UTRGV's diverse health services.

    • Resources
      • Faculty Resources
      • Interprofessional Educational Academy
      • Program Coordinators
      • Student Academic Appeals
UTRGV empty lab.

Research Fellows Program

Hexagons
  1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Faculty Research
  4. Research Fellows Program
In This Section
Menu

Research Menu

  • Faculty Research
    • Publications
    • Research Fellow Program
    • Small Grant Program
  • Graduate Research
    • Getting Involved in Research
    • Presentations
    • Publications
  • STRONG
    • STRONG Team
  • Undergraduate Research
    • Getting Involved in Research
    • Opportunities, Presentations, and Publications
  • News and Events

The College of Health Professions (COHP) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is dedicated to enhancing the institutional capacity to conduct biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and translational research that is aligned with UTRGV’s goal of achieving an emerging research university designation. To that end, the Research Fellows Program is a 3-year program designed to provide participating faculty members with the skills, knowledge, and support to develop and advance their research agendas and to enhance their competitiveness in securing external funding.  

The 3-year program supports three faculty cohorts. The first year includes monthly informational sessions that connect faculty with different university resources and with other faculty who have been successful at securing grant funding; the second year provides funding support for pilot projects to generate preliminary data; the third year is dedicated to the submission of a grant. 

Each August, a Request for Applications is issued with two program entry points:  

Year 1 entry is open to all COHP tenured, tenure-track, and three-year faculty members, including clinical appointments.  

Year 2 entry is open to former COHP Research Fellows or COHP tenured, tenure-track, and three-year faculty members, including clinical appointments, with demonstrated grant writing experience.  

Program Structure

GOAL: Provide faculty with the resources, guidance, and mentorship to:  

  • Outline a road map for their research and professional development (individual development plan)  
  • Navigate the grant writing and submission process at the institutional and funding agency levels  
  • Introduce fellows to the different teams and colleagues involved in supporting external funding at UTRGV  
  • Guide grant application components with special focus on the National Institutes of Health  

 TOOLS AND RESOURCES  

  • Guest speakers  
  • UTRGV personnel involved in the grant writing and submission process  
  • Faculty who have been successful at securing grant funding  
  • Informational sessions with guidance on select grant application components  
  • BlackBoard platform: COHP Research Fellows Program, modules on various grant funding resources  
  • The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook (NIH, NSF, USDA, or any other agency version)  
  • Grant writing training programs (e.g., Grant Dynamo) – subject to funding availability  

GOAL: Provide faculty with the resources, guidance, and mentorship to conduct a pilot project to generate preliminary data and strengthen research dissemination records.  

 TOOLS AND RESOURCES  

  • Seed funding for a pilot research project  
  • Informational sessions with guidance on the grant application components  
  • Writing milestones  
  • Guest speakers  
  • Faculty who have been successful at securing grant funding  
  • BlackBoard platform: COHP Research Fellows Program, modules on various grant funding resource  

GOAL: Provide faculty with the resources, guidance, and mentorship to write and submit a grant application  

 TOOLS AND RESOURCES  

  • Writing milestones  
  • Mock review session  
  • Stipend/honoraria support for internal and external reviewers  
  • Additional seed funding, subject to availability  
  • BlackBoard platform: COHP Research Fellows Program, modules on various grant funding resources  

COHP RESEARCH FELLOWS

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 1  

  • Dahlia Cavazos Castillo, Occupational Therapy Program
  • Research interests: Scholarship of teaching and learning within the profession of occupational therapy: This includes both simulated learning in occupational therapy and community-engaged teaching and learning. 
  • Rocio Cavazos, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program 
  • Research interests: Hearing healthcare approaches, applications, protocols, and successful treatments, including social, psychological, and medical factors affecting active hearing communication in patients of all ages (especially in ethnic groups).  
  • Nathalie Chacon, Physician Assistant Studies  
  • Wen-Pin Chang, Occupational Therapy Program
  • Research interests: (1) To elucidate the intricate relationship between mental health and autism spectrum disorders (ASD); (2) To enhance ASD’s mental health and well-being; (3) To examine the negative impact of mental health issues in autism on their families and caregivers and develop strategies to ameliorate the adverse effects on them.  
  • Kim Loan Nguyen Finn, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling:  
  • Karla Garza, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program
  • Research interests: Child language disorders, cultural competence and responsiveness, bilingual speech and language assessment, and intervention issues.   
  • Herminio Guajardo, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests:   
  • Corey Hawes, Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests: Pediatric nutrition with an emphasis on clinical pediatric nutrition, specifically in body composition or cancer in its relationship with pediatric nutrition.   

RESEARCH FELLOWS' YEAR 2 

  • Cherity Ysquierdo, Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences  

RESEARCH FELLOWS' YEAR 3 

  • Hongxing Lu, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests: (1) Effects of psychological stress on body weight, diet habits, and physical activity behavior; (2) Physiological risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes.  

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 1  

Patricia Longoria, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

Lou Rutigliano, Department of Occupational Therapy 

Kendra Stine, Department of Health and Human Performance 

Cherity Ysquierdo, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 2  

Brian Cheslik, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program

Daniela Gill, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

Assraa Jassim, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

Hongxing Lu, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

Soo Yoo, Department of Health and Human Performance 

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 3 

Samuel Buchannan, Health and Human Performance 

Rommel Johnson, Rehabilitation Services and Counseling 

Lisa Salinas, Health and Biomedical Sciences 

Chun Xu, Health and Biomedical Sciences 

 

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 1  

  • Brian Cheslik, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program
  • Research interests: Deaf Studies, including American Sign Language (ASL), ASL Interpreting, Deaf Queer studies, Deaf education, and Deaf performing arts  
  • Roel Garcia, Department of Occupational Therapy  
  • Research interests: Investigating student perceptions of their level of competence in using assistive technology service (ATS) in a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program with the goal of informing a new course design dedicated to evidence-based assistive technology (AT) practice.  
  • Daniela Gill, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests: Early clinical laboratory detection of type 2 diabetes in the asymptomatic Hispanic population with discrepant laboratory results: Investigating whether discrepancies in diabetes screening laboratory methods (e.g., Hb1Ac and fasting plasma glucose) could hinder early intervention in the at-risk asymptomatic Hispanic population.  
  • Assraa Jassim, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests: Investigating the cross-talk between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration during glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease.  
  • Hongxing Lu, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Research interests: (1) Effects of psychological stress on body weight, diet habits, and physical activity behavior; (2) Physiological risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes.  
  • Thelma Ochoa, Department of Occupational Therapy  
  • Research interests: Understanding how sensory gardens can affect the mental health of students in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and /or Hospice clients and their families.  
  • Ralph Schuster, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling  
  • Research interests: Primary research interest: Empirical evaluation of the validity of common practices used in clinical mental health and rehabilitation counseling. Secondary research interest: Imaging techniques used in cognitive neuroscience.  

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 2   

  • Juanita Acevedo, School of Nursing  
  • Eva-Maria Anger, Department of Occupational Therapy  
  • Samuel Buchanan, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Rommel Johnson, Rehabilitation Services and Counseling Program
  • Lisa Salinas, Nutritional Sciences Program
  • Chun Xu, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  

RESEARCH FELLOWS' YEAR 3  

  • Ruth Crutchfield, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program
  • Tracia Forman, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Susheelabai Srinivasa, School of Social Work  
  • Jessica Stewart, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 1  

  • Juanita Acevedo, School of Nursing  
  • Eva-Maria Anger, Department of Occupational Therapy  
  • Joy Barros, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Rommel Johnson, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling  
  • Melinda Rodriguez, School of Nursing  
  • Lisa Salinas, Nutritional Sciences Program 

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 2   

  • Ruth Crutchfield, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program
  • Tracia Forman, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Susheelabai Srinivasa, School of Social Work  
  • Jessica Stewart, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program 

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 3  

  • Bassent Abdelbary, Physician Assistant Studies Program
  • Jameela Banu, Nutritional Sciences Program
  • Sue Anne Chew, Biomedical Sciences Program  
  • Alejandro Lopez-Juarez, Biomedical Sciences Program
  • George Ndeta, Clinical Laboratory Sciences  

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 1  

  • Dr. Samuel Buchanan, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Studying the genetic dysregulation of the aging diseases, osteoporosis and sarcopenia. How various modalities of exercise act to attenuate the progression of aging diseases.  
  • Dr. Ruth Crutchfield, Communication Sciences and Disorders  
  • Awareness and knowledge of ASD in Hispanic communities and current diagnostic practices  
  • Mr. Ivan Figueroa, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Obesity prevention, treatment, and maintenance through the reduction of cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk factors in Hispanic males: Mr. Figueroa would like to incorporate theories of behavior to increase self-efficacy, provide social support (using technology).  
  • Dr. Saara Grizzell, School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling  
  • Patient-focused research measures within mental health and vocational rehabilitation settings (e.g., the impact of utilizing quality assurance measures throughout the course of treatment upon the symptom distress,  social role functioning, mental health, and employment outcomes of individuals who have mental health issues/disabilities). Other areas of interest include group counseling; the International Classification of Functioning; the Outcome Questionnaire-45; and working with adults who have acquired brain injuries.  
  • Susheelabai Srinivasa, School of Social Work  
  • Measuring math and science anxiety and stress in school students and providing positive reinforcement interventions.  
  • Jessica Stewart, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program
  • Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Early childhood language acquisition.  

RESEARCH FELLOWS YEAR 2  

  • Dr. Bassent Abdelbary, Physician Assistant Studies Program
  • Dr. Jameela Banu, Nutritional Sciences Program
  • Dr. Sue Anne Chew, Biomedical Sciences Program 
  • Dr. Leyla Feize, School of Social Work  
  • Dr. Alejandro Lopez-Juarez, Biomedical Sciences Program  
  • Dr. George Ndeta, Clinical Lab Science  

 

RESEARCH FELLOWS 2018-2019  

  • Mr. Sonio Garcia, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Dr. Murat Karabulut, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Ms. Lisa Longoria, Physician Assistant Studies Program
  • Dr. Alejandro Lopez-Juarez, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Dr. John Luna, Department of Occupational Therapy  
  • Dr. Diana Paz, Physician Assistant Studies Program
  • Dr. Yu Lun Tai, Department of Health and Human Performance  

RESEARCH FELLOWS 2017-2018  

  • Dr. Bassent Abdelbary, Physician Assistant Studies Program
  • Dr. Leyla Feize, School of Social Work  
  • Dr. Upal Roy, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Dr. Susheelabai Srinivasa, School of Social Work  
  • Dr. Jessica Stewart, Communication Disorders Program

 

RESEARCH FELLOWS 2016-2017  

  • Dr. Sue Anne Chew, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Dr. Ruth Crutchfield, Department of Communication Disorders  
  • Dr. Tracia Forman, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences  
  • Dr. Ulku Karabulut, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Dr. Susy Villegas, School of Social Work  
  • Dr. Veronica Umeasiegbu, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling  
  • Dr. Soojin Yoo, Department of Health and Human Performance  
  • Dr. Chun Xu, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences 

College of Health Professions


Edinburg Office

Health Affairs Building West - EHABW 2.230
Phone: 956-665-2291
Email: cohpinfo@utrgv.edu

Brownsville Office

Biomedical Research & Health Building - BBRHB 2.101
Phone: 956-882-5000

Find us on Social Media


LIKE. FOLLOW. SUBSCRIBE. ADD.


UTRGV
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Required Links
  • Accreditation Statement
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct
  • Contact UTRGV
  • 1-844-ATUTRGV
  • Facebook
  • X Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Cost and Financial Aid
  • Student Life
  • Search Programs
  • First-Year Students
  • Transfer
  • International Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Visit Campus
  • Directory
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley