Students with lab coats giving back to camera.

Rio Grande Valley Bridge to Baccalaureate in Biomedical Sciences (B2BMED)

About

BMED Student Ambassador Applications

Now accepting applications for BMED Ambassadors. Please fill out the application by March 27th. Please click on the link below or scan the QR code.

Application Link

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Tammy at Tammy.Munoz01@utrgv.edu. Dr. Castaneda and I will be conducting interviews via Zoom for Edinburg campus applicants and in person for Brownsville Campus applicants within 2 weeks after the application deadline. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

We highly encourage those who are interested in applying to the B2BMED program attend one of our information sessions. This will give you an opportunity to learn more about the program, and also meet our B2BMED team and ask questions.

Information sessions are scheduled on the following dates:

Saturday, April 13th at 12-1 pm

Saturday, April 27th at 12-1 pm

Wednesday, May 8th at 5-6 pm

Zoom Link: https://utrgv.zoom.us/j/84956839262

All safety policies are enforced. No shorts, open-toe shoes, and no food/drinks are allowed in the labs. Please contact Tammy Munoz and Humberto Valdez to RSVP for the campus tours during the following dates and times:

Brownsville

Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday, April 12, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday, April 18, 2025 – 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday, May 9, 2025 – 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday, May 23, 2025 – 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, May 31, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Brownsville Contact:
Tammy Munoz – tammy.munoz01@utrgv.edu or 956-466-7824

Edinburg

Saturday, February 15, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Friday, March 7, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Saturday, April 26, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Friday, May 10, 2025 – 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Friday, May 24, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Edinburg Contact:
Humberto Valdez – humberto.valdez01@utrgv.edu

Develop a diverse pool of research-oriented undergraduates who bridge from TSC’s Associate of Science in Science or STC’s Associate of Science with a field of study in Biology programs to UTRGV’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science Program (BMED). The program will provide support to help students:

Complete an associate's degree and transfer to the UTRGV BMED program
Complete the UTRGV Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree
Continue to graduate school and/or enter the biomedical science research workforce

Mentored research experience (conduct research with a UTRGV faculty or UTRGV and STC faculty team)
Stipend support (up to $14,340 per year, $1,195 per month)
Up to 60% of tuition and fees (TSC or STC tuition and fees for Year 1 and UTRGV tuition and fees for Year 2)
Funding support to travel to a national research conference yearly
Funding support to travel to a summer internship in Year 2
Multi-level advising and mentoring
Professionalism workshops
STEM tutoring (math and science)
Research seminars
Guidance in applying to graduate school (must submit a minimum of 5 graduate school applications)

Apply to UTRGV and register for UTRGV BMED 3121 Independent Research I and BMED 3121 Independent Research II courses for the Fall and Spring of the second year of your associate’s degree
Transfer to the UTRGV BMED program after the completion of your associate’s degree
Conduct research at UTRGV (10 hours/week for Fall and Spring, 20 hours/week in the summer of 1^st year and 15 hours/week for Fall and Spring of 2^nd year in the B2BMED program)
Attend summer internship at a research-intensive institution at the end of your 2^nd year in the B2BMED program
Attend STEM Workshops
Attend Professionalism Workshops
Attend research seminars
Attend mentoring and advising meetings
GRE practice test
Apply to graduate school (must submit a minimum of 5 graduate school applications)

Must have at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Must have U.S. citizenship, non-national citizenship, or permanent resident status
Must be in the STC Associate of Science with a field of study in Biology program or TSC Associate of Science in Science program
- Cannot be enrolled in a dual-enrollment program
Must graduate from STC/TSC by Fall 2024, Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 (for Cohort 5)

B2BMED Program Email: b2bmed@utrgv.edu

B2BMED Contact Directory

Dr. Sue Anne Chew
UTRGV B2BMED Program Director (PD)
Office: UTRGV Brownsville Campus, BBRHB 2.112
Phone: 956-882-6518
sueanne.chew@utrgv.edu

Dr. Saraswathy Nair
UTRGV B2BMED Co-Program Director (Co-PD)
Office: UTRGV Brownsville Campus, BRHB 1.101
Phone: 956-882-5108
saraswathy.nair@utrgv.edu

Dr. Mehrzad Mahmoudian-Geller
STC B2BMED Program Director (PD)
Office: STC Pecan Campus STEM Building V1-605F
Phone: (956) 872-6460
mmahmoud@southtexascollege.edu

Dr. Griselda Galvez
TSC B2BMED Program Director (PD)
Office: SETB 2.342
Phone: 956-295-3594
galvez@tsc.edu

Jaqueline Quintanilla
B2BMED Part-Time Assistant
quintanilla01@utrgv.edu

Celeste Martinez
B2BMED Peer Mentor
celeste.martinez05@utrgv.edu

Stella Rios
B2BMED Peer Mentor
stella.rios01@utrgv.edu

Application

B2BMED Program Application
January 15^th	B2BMED Program Application Opens (Acceptance decision will only be informed after reviewing full competitive applications, on June 15^th) * For TSC students, please submit an “Intent to Apply” by clicking at the TSC Intent to Apply Form Intent to Apply - TSC Form For STC students, please submit an “Intent to Apply” at the STC B2BMED website: https://www.southtexascollege.edu/info/b2bmed/ The B2BMED will review your transcript and will contact you by email to inform you if you meet the requirements to apply to the B2BMED Program.
June 1^st	B2MED Phase I Application Deadline B2BMED Phase I Application Eligible students (after receiving B2BMED eligibility confirmation email) may complete the B2BMED Phase I Application. Please fill in all the information requested and upload PDF files only. Submit the Phase I Application Form Phase I Application Form Submit B2BMED Program Recommendation Letter (Link will be provided directly to the recommender once you provide your recommender’s name and email address to the program)
June 15^th	B2BMED Program Admission Decision B2BMED Phase II Application Students that are accepted to the B2BMED Program will complete the second phase of the application process (i.e., apply to UTRGV and the BMED program) Submit the Phase II Application Form Phase II Application Form
June 30^th	B2MED Phase II Application Deadline (BMED Program Application Deadline for B2BMED Accepted Scholars) The BMED Program will contact you by email to inform you if you have been accepted or conditionally accepted to the BMED program.
Rest of the summer of before Year 2 of associates degree at STC or TSC	B2BMED Program Onboarding Process Attend B2BMED Welcome Session Register for BMED 3121 for Fall Get matched with a research mentor
Summer before transfer to UTRGV from STC or TSC	BMED Program Onboarding Process Attend mandatory Student Success Academy Attend Academic Advising with faculty/staff Register for BMED classes

Dear Student,

Thank you for expressing interest in the BMED Program for Fall 2025! The Health and Biomedical Sciences Department has opened the applications link for Fall 2025 admissions.

1. Apply to UTRGV; check the Pre-BMED box on the ApplyTexas application, to specify interest in the BMED program.

2. Whether you did Step # 1 (checking Pre-BMED box or not), you MUST be accepted to UTRGV to be admitted to the BMED program. Complete the secondary, BMED-specific application.

3.Provide your college GPA and number of credit hours taken and name(s) of college(s) where you have taken courses, if applicable (we may request transcripts later to confirm or if not on file by UTRGV)

4. Or if no college courses have been taken yet, provide HS rank and percentile (for example: 2/200; 99th percentile); (we may request documentation later if not on file by UTRGV)

5. Or if neither is applicable, provide us with additional information, for example SAT/ACT scores or HS transcripts (see upload option)

Even if you indicated interest in the BMED program (by checking the pre-BMED box in the Apply Texas application), you are NOT admitted into the BMED program until you follow the above process and receive a letter of admission from the Department.

You can contact us at healthandbiomedicalsciences@utrgv.edu or (956) 882-7383.

Current Students

Below, please find the suggested four-year degree roadmap for B2BMED transfer students:

STC’s Associate of Science with a field of study in Biology programs (2 years) + UTRGV’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BMED) Program (2 years)
TSC’s Associate of Science in Science (2 years) + UTRGV’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BMED) Program (2 years)

STC UTRGV Degree Roadmap

TSC UTRGV Degree Roadmap

Research Mentors
Name	Expertise	Campus	Institution
Dr. Kelsey Baker	Neuroimaging, Neurodegeneration and Plasticity	Harlingen Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Claudia Biguetti	Musculoskeletal Health and Regeneration, Biomaterials	Harlingen	UTRGV
Dr. Sue Anne Chew	Biomaterials, Bone Tissue Engineering and Cancer Therapy	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Jacob Galan	Chemical and Environmental Toxins/Toxicants and Proteomics	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Mario Gil	Behavioral Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Robert Gilkerson	Cell and Molecular Biology	Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Meena Jaggi	Cancer Biology	McAllen	UTRGV
Dr. Murat Karabulut	Neuromuscular & Cardiorespiratory Adaptations	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Ulku Karabulut	Metabolic syndrome risk factors, Arterial stiffness and Physical activity and Diet among Hispanics	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Alexander Kazansky	Cancer Biology	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Megan Keniry	Cell and Molecular Biology	Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Satish Kumar	Genetics and Stem Cell Biology	McAllen	UTRGV
Dr. Alejandro Lopez-Juarez	Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience of Diseases	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Karen Martirosyan	Nanoscience and Nanomedicine	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Shizue Mito	Medicinal Chemistry	Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Saraswathy Nair	Obesity and Diabetes	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Blanca I. Restrepo	Diabetes and Obesity	Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Upal Roy	Nanomedicine and Virology	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Ryan Russell	Cardiometabolic Disease and Exercise Science	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Nirakar Sahoo	Cell and Molecular Biology	Edinburg	UTRGV
Dr. Yu Lun Tai	Cardiovascular functions & Autonomic modulation	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Ahmed Touhami	Biophysics	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Manish Tripathi	Cancer Biology	McAllen	UTRGV
Dr. Andrew Tsin	Cell Biology, Ophthalmology and Diabetes	McAllen	UTRGV
Dr. John VandeBerg	Infectious and Complex Diseases	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Chun Xu	Neuroscience and Genetics	Brownsville	UTRGV
Dr. Murali M. Yallapu	Nanotechnology, Imaging Technology, Cancer therapeutics, Drug delivery and Biomaterials	McAllen	UTRGV
Dr. Masoud Zarei	Neuroscience and Protein Targeting	Brownsville	UTRGV

2020-2023 B2BMED Newsletter

The following link below is to learn more information about our program.

Rio Grande Valley Bridge to Baccalaureate in Biomedical Sciences (B2BMED)

Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences Menu

About

Brownsville

Edinburg

Application

Current Students

College of Health Professions

Edinburg Office

Brownsville Office

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Rio Grande Valley Bridge to Baccalaureate in Biomedical Sciences (B2BMED)

Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences Menu

About

B2BMED Information Session Dates

BMED Lab Tours

Brownsville

Edinburg

Goal of the B2BMED Program:

What will the Program Provide?

What Must I do as a B2BMED Scholar?

Eligibility

Contact Us

Application

B2BMED Application and Admission Process

BMED Application Instructions

Current Students

B2BMED Degree Roadmap

B2BMED Research Mentors

Newsletters

College of Health Professions

Edinburg Office

Brownsville Office

Find us on Social Media

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