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Division of Research
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    Streamlining research processes at UTRGV. Access tools and guidance for compliance, proposal submissions, funding, and more

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    The Division of Research at UTRGV is dedicated to advancing and supporting the university's research activities, benefiting students, faculty, and staff.

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  3. Centers and Institutes

Centers and Institutes

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is home to 19 centers and institutes that are integral to advancing our research enterprise and solidifying our position as a leading regional research university. These centers and institutes are at the forefront of innovation, driving impactful research across multiple disciplines and delivering regional impact. Explore our centers and institutes below.

Center For Community Resilience Research, Innovation, and Advocacy (CCRRIA)

The Center for Community Resilience Research, Innovation, and Advocacy (CCRRIA) works to establish a local Community Resilience Hub and develop a research agenda on community resilience with both local and global impact. Following the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) convergence research model, CCRRIA brings together various disciplines within UTRGV to address issues such as public health, climate events, social conflict, and infrastructure security. The center also strengthens research proposals through national collaboration and engages with economically-disadvantaged communities to enhance community resilience.

Director: Cecilio Ortiz Garcia 

Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM)

The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) contributes to strengthening the American manufacturing base by integrating engineering disciplines that support excellence in advanced manufacturing in the South Texas region, the U.S., and beyond. Through focused research, education, and outreach in defense materials and energy manufacturing, IAM aims to be a key center for manufacturing innovation, driving advancements that meet societal and technological needs.

Director: Jianzhi Li

Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC)

The Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) focuses on advanced energy research in manufacturing and water plants, emphasizing energy use and efficiency. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the IAC plays a key role in educating energy professionals and offering federally recognized certifications, supported by significant funding for energy efficiency implementation grants.

Director: Alexander Domijan

Nanotechnology Center of Excellence (NCE)

The Nanotechnology Center of Excellence (NCE) aims to raise awareness of nanotechnology efforts, support junior faculty in establishing research careers, and promote collaboration within UTRGV to enhance research productivity. The center also focuses on increasing student engagement in materials science and engineering by linking nanotechnology research with the recruitment, retention, and degree completion of students to increase student success and workforce readiness.

Director: Victoria Padilla

University Transportation Center For Railway Safety (UTCRS)

The University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) focuses on developing knowledge, diverse human resources, and technology to improve safety in the U.S. rail transportation industry. Through partnerships and resources, the center supports rail safety research, education, technology transfer, implementation, and workforce development. The center's goals include reducing accidents, fatalities, and economic losses, as well as fostering new safety technologies.

Director: Constantine Tarawneh

Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)

Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) is dedicated to enhancing the growth and competitiveness of companies by improving profits, products, processes, technologies, and people. TMAC offers affordable technical, management, consulting, and training services to boost company performance across Texas. The center leverages its affiliation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and partner institutions to deliver cost-effective services that help businesses grow, increase profits, improve management systems, adopt new technologies, develop skilled workforces, and be environmentally responsible.

Director: Jose David Ortiz

Center for Broadening Participation in Engineering (CBPE)

The Center for Broadening Participation in Engineering (CBPE), funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), is part of the College of Engineering's efforts to increase the enrollment, retention, and advancement of students in engineering. The center aims to address roadblocks in the engineering career development pathway and transform the education and preparation of the next generation of engineers.

Director: Ala Qubbaj

Center for Latin American Arts (CLAA)

The Center for Latin American Arts (CLAA) is dedicated to advancing scholarship, performances, and exhibitions of arts, with a focus on Latin American cultural traditions. As a hub for collaboration, the Center promotes the arts through teaching, scholarship, performance, and creative works. Its mission is to connect traditions significant to communities in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond, fostering a shared sense of Latin American and Iberian cultural heritage that transcends borders.

Director: Katherine McAllen

Center for Vector-Borne, Zoonotic, and Emerging Diseases (CVBZED)

The Center for Vector-Borne, Zoonotic, and Emerging Disease (CVBZED) is dedicated to advancing research on vectors and vector-borne diseases. It focuses on providing educational and research opportunities for students while serving as a key resource for community education and expertise on vector-borne diseases.

Director: Christopher Vitek

Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement (SARA)

The UTRGV Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement (SARA) enhances agricultural sustainability and fosters the development of rural communities in South Texas through collaborative efforts involving UTRGV students, faculty, and community partners. Through multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach initiatives, SARA strives to address the complex challenges facing agricultural systems while promoting the well-being of rural populations and the environment.

Director: Colin Cain

South Texas Space Science Institute (STSSI)

South Texas Space Science Institute (STSSI) integrates the interdisciplinary strengths of various departments to focus on space science education and research. It was formed from the merger of two former UTRGV centers—the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy (CGWA) and the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA). Both centers made significant contributions to the field, including the Nobel Prize-winning detection of gravitational waves in 2015.

Director: Joseph Romano

The Center of Excellence in STEM Education (C-STEM)

The Center of Excellence in STEM Education (C-STEM) supports students across K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The center promotes exploration of STEM careers and enhances understanding of STEM disciplines through activities such as presentations, hands-on activities, and educational films on topics including the International Space Station, paleontology, and the Arctic.

Director: Cristina Villalobos

Institute of Neurosciences (ION)

The Institute of Neuroscience (ION) aims to transform brain health in the Rio Grande Valley by driving excellence in research, education, clinical care, and community partnerships. The ION seeks to be a catalyst for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary advancements that enhance brain health and well-being.

Director: Ihsan Salloum

South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR)

The South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR), established in 2019 by the UTRGV School of Medicine, focuses on addressing cancer-related health issues affecting Rio Grande Valley (RGV) residents and developing a premier facility for cancer research. Located within the 80,000 square-foot Biomedical Research Building, the center is equipped with advanced core facilities and infrastructure to support a broad range of cancer research initiatives.

Director: Subhash C. Chauhan

South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute (STDOI)

The South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute (STDOI) was established on October 13, 2014, to focus on world-class biomedical research at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. With extensive research efforts in diabetes, obesity, and related disorders, STDOI aims to address critical public health issues in the South Texas region. Building on a long history of work with wide range of populations at the national and international levels. STDOI scientists are dedicated to reducing health disparities in the Rio Grande Valley and improving global health.

Director: Sarah A. Blangero

Human Mobility Institute (HMI)

The Human Mobility Institute (HMI) is a leading resource center dedicated to assisting organizations focused on helping individuals in mobility. Founded on four core pillars—service, education, development, and research—HMI strives to empower organizations throughout the southern United States to deliver exceptional service and address the unique challenges faced by individuals in mobility.

Director: Lauren Serafy

Center for Aerospace Research (CAR)

At the Center for Aerospace Research (CAR), we understand that the pursuit of optimized aerodynamic performance of air vehicles is a contemporary concern of great significance, considering the escalating need for energy efficiency, range extension, and emission reductions. We're driven by the quest to optimize these critical factors through innovative aerodynamic techniques and materials. Central to our mission is also providing unparalleled aerospace-related educational and research opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students, fostering an environment of innovation and academic excellence.

Director: Isacc Choutapalli

Marine Ecosystems Institute (MEI)

The MEI is dedicated to the study of marine ecosystems, addressing such topics as impact and mitigation of climate forcings and human activities, sustainable management and conservation of ecosystems, and human dimensions for effective policy, conservation, and management strategies. We study the ways in which marine ecosystems both impact and are impacted by human systems, and we aim to contribute to their protection and restoration through integrative education, training, and community engagement.

Director: Erin E. Easton

Maternal Health Research Center (MHRC)

The Maternal Health Research Center is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes for mothers and babies in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Here at the UTRGV Maternal Health Research Center, you will find information about our ongoing research projects, educational resources, and community outreach initiatives.

Director: Candace Robledo

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