News and Events
6/27/2019 - Dr. Mao (PI) and Dr. Cheng (one of four Co-PIs) received a new award from the Department of Defense HBCU/MI for a project entitled “Acquisition of an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy System for Interdisciplinary Research and Education in Advanced Materials at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley”. The instrument will complement and promote investigation in areas: 1) (nano)material science, 2) functional composite materials, 3) biomedical and pharmaceutical research and development, and 4) earth and environmental sciences. The interdisciplinary research projects will involve departments from the College of Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and School of Medicine. July 2019- June 2020. ($599,803).
6/25/2019 - Dr. Benavides (Project PI) and Dr. Hicks (Co-PI) received a new award from the Texas General Land Office for a project entitled “Bahia Grande Channel Widening: Flow and Water Quality Data Collection Effort and Monitoring.” This project seeks to collect flow and water quality data prior to and post-widening of the Bahia Grande entrance channel as a means of evaluating the success of the restoration project. The award extends June 2019 to December 2026 ($335,331).
6/25/2019 - Dr. Cintra and colleagues (M. Kowalewski [PI; University of Florida] and Steering Committee: M. Brenner, N. Cannarozzi, C. Cintra-Buenrostro, K. Flessa, T. Frazer, S. Jackson, D. Killam. M. Moss, L. Park Boush, T. Rick, H. Swain. R. Terry, N. Wallis, J. Williams, Y. Yanes, M. Zuschin) received a new award from NSF for a project entitled “RCN: Integrating and translating conservation paleobiology.” $492,099.
5/7/2019 - Dr. Breier and colleagues received a new award from NSF for a project entitled "Hydrothermal Estuaries: What Sets the Hydrothermal Flux of Fe and Mn to the Oceans?" The project is in collaboration with researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Washington, and Texas A&M University. The project involves using robotic AUV techniques to study the hydrothermal emissions from underwater deep-sea volcanoes off the Pacific northwest. The award extends June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2022 ($299,820).
4/20/2019 - A 5-minute video documentary has been released about Dr. Gabler's Texas Sea Grant research project, which is investigating the impacts of climate change on coastal wetlands and their ecosystem services. This project required the construction of a total of 36 large rainout shelters placed within the Aransas and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuges, the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve, and the Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi campus. The video features interviews and voiceovers by Dr. Gabler and Ivy Hinson (MS student), and video and still images of four other AESS and OCES students. The video was released on Earth Day and was the main feature on the UTRGV homepage for over a week. The press release and video can be found here: