The University of Texas at El Paso - UTEP Magazine

The University of Texas at El Pasor e s e a r c h g u i d eSpring 2010

INSIDE2 UTEP Fast Facts4 Overview6 About This Guide8 Tier One12 Biomedical Engineering16 Biomedical Sciences22 Computational Science24 Defense Research28 Education Innovations36 Environmental Scienceand ResourceManagement40 Geological Sciences44 Health Sciences48 Materials Engineering54 Transportation56 Programs Inspire NewResearchers59 Future Facilities of UTEPResearch Programs60 President, Provost/VicePresident for AcademicAffairs,Vice Presidentfor Research andCollege DeansResearch Guide | 1

UTEP offers 79 bachelor’s degrees, 86 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates—with more in development. UTEP alsooffers cooperative Ph.D. programs in pharmacy and nursing with UT Austin and the UT Health Sciences Center atHouston.UTEP is a key economic force in the Paso del Norte region that includes West Texas, Southern New Mexico andNorthern Mexico. UTEP’s operating budget for FY09-10 is $355 million. According to the UTEP Institute for Policyand Economic Development, the University’s contribution to the personal income of local individuals in the region is$343 million, and the number of jobs attributed to UTEP’s presence totals 6,123.On the playing field, the UTEP Miners compete in Division 1 sports as a member of Conference USA’s West Division.UTEP is home to the 51,500-seat Sun Bowl Stadium and the 12,222-seat Don Haskins Center, named for thelegendary coach who, in 1966, delivered Texas’ only Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.In the 2008-09 academic year, the University embarked on an unprecedented $250 million program of newconstruction and renovation projects, including a teaching and research building for chemistry and computerscience; a facility for the College of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing; a new University Bookstore and theFoster Stevens Basketball Complex.UTEP has nearly 1,200 faculty, and one of the highest percentages of minority faculty among universities in theUnited States—more than 30 percent.Research Guide | 3

Overview4 | The University of Texas at El Paso

the university of texas at el pasoThe University of Texas at El Paso islocated in El Paso, Texas, on the northernbank of the Rio Grande along theU.S.-Mexico border. UTEP students liveand study in one of the world’s largestbinational metropolitan areas, pursuingcultural, social and academic opportunitiesnot available on most universitycampuses.UTEP has been a cornerstone of the ElPaso community since it was founded asthe Texas School of Mines and Metallurgyalmost 100 years ago.In 1914, the school opened with 27students and a handful of faculty andstaff. From this modest beginning, UTEPhas grown into a dynamic urban universitythat serves the needs of more than21,000 students.Nearly 76 percent of UTEP’s studentpopulation is Mexican-American. In recognitionof the University’s success increating educational opportunities fornontraditional students, the National ScienceFoundation designated UTEP as aModel Institution for Excellence, one ofonly six in the country. This has resultedin a multimillion-dollar NSF grant to supportUTEP’s science, computer science,engineering and mathematics programs.Capitalizing on the University’s bordersetting, faculty research focuses on areassuch as biomedicine, environmental scienceand engineering, and manufacturingengineering. Research expenditurestotaled more than $50 million in 2008,the last year for which comparative figuresare available. The University’s undergraduatestudents participate in hands-onresearch, working at a professional levelunheard of at other universities. Studentsalso have many opportunities to participatein binational research programs betweenUTEP and higher education institutionsin Mexico.To expand its research capabilities,UTEP has embarked on an unprecedented$250 million program of new constructionand renovation projects, the mostsignificant single campus transformationin its history. New construction includes ateaching/research building for chemistryand computer science and expansion ofthe science and engineering complex aswell as a new $60 million facility for theCollege of Health Sciences and School ofNursing.UTEP’s achievements extend far beyondits traditional strengths in scienceand engineering. The University has receivednational acclaim for innovativeprograms in business, fine arts, education,humanities and health sciences.The Carnegie Foundation ranks UTEPas a doctorate-granting university withhigh research activity, placing the Universityamong the top 7 percent of allcolleges and universities in the UnitedStates. This classification reflects UTEP’ssuccess in providing its students with opportunitiesto pursue advanced degreesin a broad range of fields. Today, theUniversity offers 16 doctoral degree programs,and two more—in nursing andpharmacy—through cooperative programswith UT Austin and the UT HealthScience Center at Houston.Proposals for new doctoral programs,including a Ph.D. in Ecology and EvolutionaryBiology and Doctors of NursingPractice, Physical Therapy, and PublicAdministration degrees, have been sentto the UT System and the Higher EducationCoordinating Board for review.Research Guide | 5

About This Guide6 | The University of Texas at El Paso

NewAEra ofResearchAn exciting era of discovery and innovation is under way atThe University of Texas at El Paso.At UTEP’s state-of-the-art Bioscience Research Building,researchers are advancing the field of “personalizedmedicine” by studying genetic targets for treatment of cancerwww.utep.eduthe university of texas at el pasoand infectious diseases. Inside the walls of the College ofEngineering, the field of bioengineering is flourishing asengineers, biologists and physicians collaborate on projectsinvolving engineered tissue, novel medical devices andcutting-edge imaging technologies.And the future looks bright as UTEP positions itself togrow its research capacity: a $70.2 million, 140,000-squarefootChemistry and Computer Science Building and a $60million, 130,000-square-foot College of Health Sciences/School of Nursing are under construction and expected toopen in 2011.The investment in outstanding faculty, equipment andfacilities supports UTEP’s goal of becoming one of Texas’next national research universities.This edition of the UTEP Research Guide highlights manyof the projects and programs that are taking UTEP to a higherlevel of research excellence.Research Guide | 7

Tier One8 | The University of Texas at El Paso

on the road toTier oneUTEP’s unique characteristics make it an ideal candidateto become one of the country’s next national research(Tier One) universities. Part of UTEP’s ability to providea quality education for its students has to do with theUniversity’s geographic location. Situated on the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso is the largest border communityin the world, and through its bilingual and biculturalpopulation, the area provides the UTEP faculty andstudents with rich opportunities to conduct research thatfew, if any, institutions can match. These include borderhealth, border security, geological studies and educationreform. The El Paso region represents a laboratory forresearch on these topics, providing investigators with anenvironment unlike any other in the world.Research Guide | 9

Tier OneUTEP Takes StepsToward Tier OneThe year 2009 may well be remembered asrepresenting a critical turning point in transforminghigher education in Texas, and at The University ofTexas at El Paso in particular. The most exciting specificdevelopment was the passage of legislation designedto elevate UTEP and six other institutions to nationalresearch (Tier One) university status. UTEP’s significantprogress in research and doctoral education during thepast 20 years had already earned us designation bythe Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as an“Emerging Tier One university.” The 81st Legislaturemoved UTEP a step closer to this Tier One goal bycreating a framework of state-funded incentives to rewardUTEP and the other six institutions for the progress wemake in continuing to move toward it.Specifically, House Bill 51 awards state matchingfunds to UTEP and other emerging Tier One universitiesfor success in securing competitive research grants andphilanthropic gifts that support research and doctoralprogram growth and productivity on our campuses.As part of the new Texas Research Incentive Program(TRIP), gifts to UTEP of $100,000 or more from generousdonors, who designate them for support of research anddoctoral education, may be matched from a pool of statefunds appropriated for this purpose. With such support,UTEP will be able to recruit and retain additional highlycompetitive faculty and doctoral students who will createa climate of research and scholarship that will accelerateour momentum toward becoming a Tier One university,the first in the U.S. with a 21st century demographic.There were other important actions taken by the 81stTexas Legislature, such as the creation of the ResearchUniversity Development Fund. This fund will distributedollars to emerging research universities to supportactivities that promote increased research capacity.Disbursements will be based on a formula related to eachuniversity’s annual research expenditures.Through these legislative actions, the commitment totransform Texas higher education has truly begun.10 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Texas voters joined in showing their support for thistransformation of higher education. On Nov. 3, 2009,state voters—including 78 percent of El Pasoans whoparticipated in the election—approved Proposition 4 toestablish the National Research University Fund. The fundwill provide incentives to universities that meet criticalbenchmarks toward achieving national prominence asmajor research universities.This bold commitment to higher education byTexas voters and the state legislature comes at a timewhen many other state governments, from Arizonato California to Florida, have responded to the severeeconomic downturns they face by dramatically reducinginvestments in their public universities. By contrast, Texasis building on its ambitious “Closing the Gaps” studentparticipation and success goals by turning its attentionto increasing the number of universities across thestate whose heightened level of research and graduateeducation will assure Texas’ competitiveness and qualityof life in the global economy of the 21st century. Andwith continued hard work and support of our alumni andfriends, UTEP will surely be one of those universities! “We can all be very proud of theprogress we’ve made, and confidentthat it is providing us the momentumrequired to achieve UTEP’s goal ofbecoming a Tier One University.”—Diana Natalicio, Ph.D.President,The University of Texas at El PasoDiana NatalicioUTEP PresidentResearch Guide | 11

Biomedical Engineering12 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Physicians andEngineers Engagein ResearchCollaborationsWith the recent opening of the first four-year medicalschool on the U.S.-Mexico border, biomedical engineeringresearch at UTEP is growing stronger than ever.UTEP faculty are collaborating with teaching physiciansat the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas TechUniversity Health Sciences Center in El Paso on a varietyof bioengineering projects.For example, Tao Xu, Ph.D., assistant professor ofmechanical engineering at UTEP, is working with DanielTerreros, M.D., professor of pathology at the Paul L.Foster School of Medicine, on a project that aims to reducethe cost and improve the performance of nerve guideconduits. Constructed of nano-sized fibers, the conduitshold promise for the repair of injured nerves.Other projects led by UTEP engineers are breaking theboundaries between medicine and machines. At UTEP’sW.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovation, researchers areusing rapid-prototyping technology to build tissueengineeringscaffolds and models of organs and bonesfor surgical planning. And in the Laboratory for HumanMotion Analysis and Neurorehabilitation, engineeringexperts are improving diagnosis and treatment for peoplesuffering from nerve disorders and injuries.UTEP’s momentum in bioengineering research iscreating great opportunities for students interested inthis cutting-edge field of study: new master’s and Ph.D.programs in biomedical engineering are in the works.Research Guide | 13

Biomedical EngineeringTao Xu, Ph.D.Thomas Boland, Ph.DBioprinting ExpertiseNew arrivals provide leadership for cutting-edge research programsBy attracting talented researchers in the field oftissue engineering, the UTEP College of Engineering ismaking impressive strides in building its new biomedicalengineering programs.Thomas Boland, Ph.D., an expert on bioprinting—theuse of inkjet printers to make three-dimensional livingtissue—joined UTEP as a professor of metallurgical andmaterials engineering in the fall of 2009. Boland came byway of Clemson University, where he was instrumental indeveloping Clemson’s bioengineering program. Bolandwill serve as the future director of UTEP’s biomedicalengineering programs. A master’s of science and Ph.D.in bioengineering are expected to be offered in the nearfuture.“Dr. Boland brings the necessary experience andresearch credibility to get those programs off to agreat start,” said College of Engineering Dean RichardSchoephoerster, Ph.D.Another recent arrival is Assistant Professor ofMechanical Engineering Tao Xu, who earned his Ph.D. inbioengineering from Clemson University. Xu also is anexpert in bioprinting and medical-device fabrication, andhas begun collaborative research projects with physiciansat the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas TechUniversity Health Sciences Center at El Paso.Xu and Assistant Professor of Mechanical EngineeringConnie Gomez, Ph.D., an expert on the design andfabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering, will leadthe new interdisciplinary Biomodeling and BiodesignLaboratory in the College of Engineering.Connie Gomez, Ph.D.14 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Research AssetsW.M. Keck Center for 3-D Innovationresearch.utep.edu/wmkeck• Tissue engineering• Cardiovascular hemodynamics• Imaging, modeling and manufacturingLaboratory for Human Motion Analysisand Rehabilitationhumanlocomotion.utep.edu• Biorobotics• Biomedical instrumentation and design• Design, manufacturing and testing ofassistive devices• Fabrication of biosensorsLaboratory for Industrial Metrologyand Automation• Human motion analysis• Biosensors• Cybernetics and systems scienceMedical Imaging InformaticsLaboratoryengineering.utep.edu/imaginginformatics• Medical imaging informatics• Telemedicine• Computerized biomedical imaging• Molecular imaging biomarker analysisMedical ImagingInformaticsResearchers develop improved diagnostic toolsUTEP’s Medical Imaging Informatics laboratory,directed by Professor of Electrical and ComputerEngineering Wei Qian, Ph.D., focuses on the collectionand interpretation of data from medical imaging systems,such as X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),nuclear resonance imaging and ultrasound.In addition to designing improved computer-aidedmedical imaging diagnosis systems, Qian’s research teamis focusing on telemedicine, including remote imageguideddiagnosis and treatment planning of cancers andother diseases.Another major research area involves breast cancer,which is the No. 1 cause of cancer death in Hispanicwomen. Qian aims to improve survival rates and qualityof life of cancer patients through the use of computerizedcancer biomarker analysis. This advanced technologyintegrates medical, cellular and molecular imaging datainto a computerized system to assist physicians indetecting, diagnosing and treating cancers.“Our imaging research will fill a niche inborder and Hispanic health by developingimproved ways for physicians to diagnoseand treat cancers.”—Wei Qian, Ph.D.Research Guide | 15

Biomedical Sciences16 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Targeting BorderHealth IssuesBiomedical research at UTEP is taking aim at cancer,HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other health conditions impactingour community on the U.S.-Mexico border.The nexus of many of these investigations can be foundat the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), housedin UTEP’s new $45 million state-of-the-art BioscienceResearch Building.Established in 1992 with support from the NationalInstitutes of Health Research Centers in MinorityInstitutions (RCMI) program, the BBRC focuses oninfectious diseases, neuroscience and metabolic disorders,and toxicology.The RCMI program recently awarded the center anadditional five-year grant totaling $12.4 million, which willbe used to recruit additional faculty and post-doctorateresearchers.The BBRC’s core research facilities include laboratoriesfor analytical cytology, cell culture and statistics, plusfacilities for biomolecule characterization and DNAanalysis.Research Guide | 17

Biomedical SciencesTargeted TherapyNew drug holds potential for treatment of Tand B cell leukemias and lymphomasA UTEP biochemistry research team led by Professorand Chair of Biological Sciences Robert Kirken, Ph.D., istesting a promising new drug for treating leukemias andlymphomas of T and B cells, white blood cells that play animportant role in the immune system.Kirken’s team has found that an enzyme primarilyexpressed in these immune cells, known as Jak3,plays a critical role in the uncontrolled division of cellscharacteristic of these types of cancers. Their drugtargets Jak3, inhibiting its activity and disrupting itsability to send cell growth signals down the biochemicalpathway, but not affecting other enzymes or cell types.“In laboratory testing, we have had encouragingresults—the compound was successful in reducing thegrowth of certain human leukemia and lymphoma celllines,” Kirken said. In animal studies, the drug is welltolerated and does not appear to elicit the side effects thatlimit the effectiveness of other compounds.Current treatment options for leukemia and lymphomainclude chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill cancercells. But healthy cells are affected as well, leading to anarray of adverse side effects, such as anemia, fatigue,nausea, diarrhea and hair loss.Kirken’s approach of using an enzyme inhibitor toselectively target this enzyme, which is not found intissues such as the stomach, heart, liver, kidney or brain,would mean that cancer patients may be able to avoid thenegative side effects associated with drug toxicity.Fatty Acids andColon CancerResearchers look for effective drug targetsA research team led by Professor of BiologicalSciences Siddhartha Das, Ph.D., is investigating thebiochemical responses triggered by certain dietary fats,and their role in causing colorectal cancer.American diets, which are typically high in processedfoods made with vegetable oils and low in fresh fish,often have an imbalance of omega-6 fatty acids, whichpromote an inflammatory immune system response thatleads to a variety of health problems, including colorectalcancer.Das’ group is exploring the link between dietary fat andcolorectal cancer by studying the behavior of a particularomega-6 fatty acid, known as arachidonic acid.“The synthesis and metabolism of arachidonic acidseems to play a major role in producing inflammatorymolecules responsible for uncontrolled cell growth thatleads to tumors of the colon,” Das said.Das is studying the cross-talk, or interactions,between certain enzymes that regulate the productionof inflammatory agents from dietary arachidonic acid.Excess synthesis of inflammatory molecules can lead totumor formation and malignancy. Das is working withpromising drug compounds that target the enzymes,reducing the production of inflammatory molecules.“Jak3 holds promise as a uniquemolecular and therapeutic target forabating a number of immune-deriveddiseases.”—Robert Kirken, Ph.D.“The inflammation-reducingcompounds our laboratory is studyinghave potential as effective drugtherapies for colon cancer.”—Siddhartha Das, Ph.D.18 | The University of Texas at El Paso

A Novel ApproachCompound may be effective in treatinghormone-resistant cancersAssistant Professor of Biological Sciences MarcCox, Ph.D., is investigating a novel antiandrogen drugcompound for the treatment of metastatic prostatecancer.Patients with this disease are usually treated withhormone therapies aiming to lower androgen levels, a keystimulator of prostate tissue growth.“These androgen-deprivation strategies may beeffective in controlling disease for several years, butprostate cancers eventually develop resistance tohormone therapy, enabling tumors to progress,” Coxsaid. “Patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancershave limited treatment options.”Annually, approximately 29,000 deaths are attributedto prostate cancer in the United States, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Thus, there is a need for effective anti-tumor drugsfor hormone-resistant cancers. Cox’s drug compoundtargets a novel molecular mechanism associated with theregulation of the androgen receptor. The drug compoundshows promise as an effective and efficient inhibitor ofthe androgen receptor, with the possibility of less toxicside effects.“These androgen-receptor inhibitorsmay also lead to novel drugs withapplications in the treatment ofprostate cancer.”—Marc Cox, Ph.D.Research Guide | 19

Biomedical SciencesScreen TimeInvestigator studies compounds’ anticancerand antimicrobial propertiesBiological Sciences Professor Renato Aguilera,Ph.D., an expert in cellular and molecular immunology,is leading efforts to test a large number of chemicalcompounds for anticancer or antimicrobial properties atUTEP’s Border Biomedical Research Center.Aguilera is director of the center’s Cell Culture andHigh Throughput Screening Facility, which houses anarray of state-of-the-art equipment that can test chemicalcompounds simultaneously on multiple organisms. In2006, Aguilera was honored with a prestigious Universityof Texas System Stars Award of $480,000. He usedthose funds to purchase high-end instrumentation for thefacility, including a high-throughput confocal microscopeand a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. He also recentlyreceived funding through the 2009 American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act to purchase an additional confocalmicroscope.“The confocal microscopes allow us to scan sectionsof cells, from the bottom to the top, for instance, to createa 3-D image,” Aguilera said. “Examining these stacks ofimages can show us in detail what effect a compound ishaving on a cell.”Aguilera has purchased large “libraries” of chemicalcompounds, which he is screening for anticancer andantimicrobial properties. A better understanding of thecompounds’ effects on cell structures could lead toimproved, targeted drug therapies for various diseases,Aguilera said.In addition to his research, Aguilera has earnedrecognition for his efforts to help minority studentsfind success in the biosciences. Aguilera is director ofthe Minority Biomedical Research Support-ResearchInitiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) and Supportof Competitive Research (SCORE) programs at UTEP.The federal programs bring millions of dollar in supportto increase the number of underrepresented minorities inbiomedical sciences and health professions.Research AssetsBorder Biomedical Research Centerresearch.utep.edu/bbrcCore Research Units• Toxicology• Infectious Disease• Neuroscience and Metabolic DisordersCore Research Facilities• Analytical Cytology• Bioinformatics Computing• Biomolecule Characterization• Cell Culture• DNA Analysis• Statistical Consulting“The high-end equipment availableto researchers in UTEP’s Cell Cultureand High Throughput ScreeningFacility is at a level of sophisticationcomparable with any major universityin the U.S.”—Renato Aguilera, Ph.D.20 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Renato Aguilera, Ph.D.Research Guide | 21

The BrainpowerBehind ComputerSimulationsScientists and engineers are turning to high-performancecomputers to help address extremely complex challenges—searching for oil, improving earthquake prediction andanalyzing weather, to name a few.The computer simulations necessary for these studiesrequire a specialized mathematical expertise—a disciplineknown as computational science.UTEP’s Computational Science Program, launched in2008, offers master’s and doctoral degrees in the field andis attracting a number of candidates with well-roundedmathematics and science backgrounds.“Computational science draws people who not onlyhave a computer science or mathematics background,but also people who are interested in biology, geology,mechanical engineering and other areas that use powerfulcomputer simulations to solve problems,” said LeticiaVelazquez, Ph.D., associate professor and director ofUTEP’s Computational Science Program.UTEP researchers have access to a number of highperformancecomputing machines and clusters oncampus. As a member of the UT System, UTEP also hasaccess to the Lonestar and Ranger supercomputers basedat the Texas Advanced Computing Center at UT Austin.As part of a true interdisciplinary program, researchactivities under the Computational Science Program’sumbrella include studies of tectonics and structuralgeology, computer operating system adaptation andoptimization, statistical bioinformatics and chemicalsimulations of materials.“These kinds of projects are veryimportant for UTEP, because manyof today’s research grants requireinterdisciplinary teams. Having thisprogram can give us an edge to winthose grant proposals.”—Leticia Velazquez, Ph.D.On the Web: academics.utep.edu/compsciResearch Guide | 23

Defense Research24 | The University of Texas at El Paso

A Leader in Defense,Homeland Securityand AerospaceResearchFor decades, the United States armed forces, theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)and private industry have tapped the expertise of UTEPscientists and engineers on some of the most challengingdefense and aerospace-related projects.The strong relationships between these agencies andthe University have led to the establishment of a numberof centers and laboratories that offer excellent researchopportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.These facilities include the Center for Space ExplorationTechnology Research (cSETR), the Future Aerospace andTechnology (FAST) Center, and the Research Institute forManufacturing and Engineering Systems (RIMES).Taking advantage of UTEP’S border location, adjacent toFort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range, the Universityhas strengthened its partnerships with government andindustry through the UTEP Office of Strategic Initiatives,which oversees two important research centers on campus:the National Center for Border Security and Immigrationand the Center for Defense Systems Research.As faculty address important homeland security anddefense issues, they also strive to offer the best researchopportunities for their students. As the examples in thissection illustrate, UTEP is leading the way in preparingminority scientists and engineers for successful careers.Research Guide | 25

Defense ResearchLaunching NewTechnologiesNASA Boosts Space Exploration Researchat UTEPIn 2009, UTEP became one of only six universitiesin the U.S. to be selected by NASA to host a Centerfor Space Exploration Technology Research (cSETR).The new laboratory, directed by Associate Professor ofMechanical Engineering Ahsan Choudhuri, Ph.D., will besupported by a $5 million grant from the space agency.The center will work closely with other NASA researchfacilities, including the Johnson Space Center in Houstonand the White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.,on advanced capabilities in environmentally friendlypropulsion technologies and the use of natural resourceson the moon and other planets to create spacecraft fueland other materials. UTEP faculty from the College ofEngineering and the Department of Geological Sciencesin the College of Science will collaborate on researchactivities.Choudhuri, an expert on aerospace propulsion andspace system design, said UTEP is “at the right placewith the right focus at the right time” for the developmentof the new center. “With the additional growth of theaerospace industry in southwestern Texas, as well as insoutheastern New Mexico, UTEP’s research capacity isexpanding to meet the needs of this region.”“That’s one of the big missionsof cSETR—Hispanics are sounderrepresented in theseengineering areas. In the aerospaceindustry, the workforce is growingolder, and those workers willeventually need to be replaced.”—Ahsan Choudhuri, Ph.D.The award will provide 35 positions for graduate-levelstudents to conduct research on the future of rocketengines, propulsion systems and propellants. In addition,a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineeringwith a concentration in aerospace engineering will bedeveloped.26 | The University of Texas at El Paso

President Barack Obama, center, poses with the recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematicsand Engineering. Among the honorees is UTEP Professor Benjamin Flores, Ph.D., pictured in the back row, fourth from right.A Researcher and MentorEngineering professor lauded for increasingminority participationBenjamin Flores, Ph.D., a professor of electrical andcomputer engineering, is serving two important rolesat The University of Texas at El Paso. As a researcher,he is an expert on radar technology. As an educator, heis renowned for his leadership in programs designed toproduce successful minority scientists and engineers.Flores’ work with radar has led to the development ofnew signal-processing approaches to obtain images oftargets such as military aircraft or even intercontinentalballistic missiles coming in through the atmosphere athigh speeds.The speeds at which these objects travel challengecurrent radar technology. Flores’ research involves theuse of microwaves to get a clear, focused picture ofairborne targets. It can easily tell the difference betweenfriend and foe and provides numerous other details suchas size, shape and even the type of propulsion engines.“These images provide accurate information that canbe used to make smart decisions,” Flores said. “Forinstance, mobilizing intercepting fighters can be anexpensive proposition when a target is detected. Modernradar technology can be used to decide whether tojust watch the target, or to dispatch the fighter. So theapproach is also cost-effective.”For a number of years at UTEP, Flores also has directedthe prestigious National Science Foundation ModelInstitutions for Excellence program and the UT SystemLouis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, initiativesdesigned to increase diversity in the science, technology,engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. He wasrecently promoted to associate dean of the GraduateSchool and was honored by President Barack Obama atthe White House on Jan. 6, 2010 with the PresidentialAward for Excellence in Science, Mathematics andEngineering. The selection included a $10,000 award,which Flores will use for STEM education and mentoringprograms in Canutillo, Texas, schools.Research Assets“It’s an honor for my work to berecognized at the highest level.”—Benjamin Flores, Ph.D.National Center for Border Security and Immigrationwww.utep.edu/osi• Surveillance and tracking technologies• Screening, scanning and inspection processes• Unconventional security assessments• Migrant population flowsCenter for Defense Systems Researchwww.utep.edu/osi• Functional advanced manufacturing• Miniaturized 3-D embedded sensors• Software systems engineering• Improving dependability through rigorous testing• Visual sensing and image dissemination system formonitoringFuture Aerospace and Technology (FAST) Center• Engineering research and test servicesInvestigative Interviewing Research Laboratoryiilab.utep.edu• Eyewitness memory• Detecting deception• Interrogations and confessionsIntelligence Community Center of AcademicExcellence• Develops core skills in national security, intelligence,foreign area studies, language proficiency andgeographical expertiseResearch Guide | 27

Education InnovationsSaul GutierrezEmily RehmeyerSunay Palsole28 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Unique programs helpstudents thriveWith an eye for ensuring the success of their students,UTEP faculty are eager to incorporate fresh and innovativeteaching techniques in classrooms and laboratories. Manyof the ideas and resources spring from UTEP’s Center forEffective Teaching and Learning, which assists facultymembers in developing teaching materials and assessmenttools and sponsors frequent workshops on the latestclassroom practices.More and more often, learning is taking place outside ofclassrooms, thanks to Web-based tools that bring togetherstudents from all over the world.This is exemplified in many of the projects organized byUTEP’s Office of Instructional Support Services (ISS), wherea dedicated staff implements the latest technologies forteaching and research. ISS staffers recently assisted a biologyprofessor in creating a virtual Galápagos Islands, wherestudents conduct exercises designed to teach concepts inevolutionary biology.Learning is also taking a fascinating interdisciplinary twistin UTEP’s new Center for Science, Technology, Ethics andPolicy. Through classes and workshops, scientists, engineersand philosophers debate and study complex ethical issues intheir fields.And in UTEP’s Language Acquisition Research Laboratory,students get hands-on experience in all the tasks thatseasoned researchers perform, from creating proposals totesting participants, transcribing and analyzing data, andpresenting results and papers.These are just a few of the inventive and engaging programsthat help prepare confident, experienced UTEP graduates.Research Guide | 29

Education InnovationsMiner AvatarsUTEP students get 3-D research experienceWhile many UTEP students experienced the movieAvatar and visited Pandora from behind 3-D glasses,these Miners teleport daily to an island in cyberspaceknown as Eve Galápagos.At home in pajamas or tucked in a comfy chair atStarbucks, students in a UTEP distance learning coursetransform into field scientists, teleporting to an island incyberspace to study how weather and the availability offood affects populations of birds.The exercise teaches the students basic biologicalscience, but it also represents the cutting edge ofeducation today: learning through virtual worlds.Known as Experience Virtual Evolution (EVE)Galápagos, the island was created by a team fromUTEP’s Instructional Support Services (ISS) office.Led by Director Sunay Palsole, ISS promotes the useof technology in teaching and learning. EVE Galápagosserves as the lab component of UTEP Adjunct ProfessorMichael Kolitsky’s online Human Biology course.Palsole, who has long been eager to introduce virtualworlds to the University curriculum, presented the ideaof an interactive island to Kolitsky, who eagerly agreed toadopt it for his course.Recent UTEP computer science graduate and ISSstaffer Saul Gutierrez took on the task of building thevirtual island using Second Life, a three-dimensionalonline community where residents are represented bytheir computer-generated selves, known as “avatars.”Once transported to EVE Galápagos, students explorethe island’s dry and rainy regions. They count populationsof birds, identifying them by the length of their beaks.“We’re studying two things: microevolution—changesthat you can measure over a short period of time—andnatural selection,” Kolitsky said. “During the drought, thegrass seeds disappear and the birds with the long, thinbeaks begin to decline. But the birds with the heavy, shortbeaks do well because they eat the seeds of the cactus,which handle drought much better than the grasses.”It’s Second Life’s potential for teaching science,engineering and other fields in an interactive way that hasKolitsky and his partners at ISS energized.“What we are doing is a little edgy—our students werefield scientists in a very real simulation,” said Kolitsky.“Our idea was to make the lab in thisbiology course a bit more interactive andinteresting. And it also serves as a ‘proof ofconcept’ so that we may sometime in thefuture create many more virtual worlds foruse in teaching at UTEP.”—Sunay PalsoleResearch Assets“It gives us a sense for what’s over thehorizon and how this technology willchange the educational experience.”—Michael Kolitsky, Ph.D.Center for Effective Teaching and Learningacademics.utep.edu/cetal• Faculty workshops• Faculty development retreats• Collaborative faculty mentoringInstructional Support Servicesacademics.utep.edu/iss• Online course design and management• Student motivation and engagement• Multimedia production• Technical certification coursesCenter for Science, Technology, Ethics and Policycstep.cs.utep.edu• Interdisciplinary ethics courses• Continuing education workshops for scientists andengineers• Young Scientists and the Ethos of Current ScienceWeb magazine30 | The University of Texas at El Paso

The Center for Science, Technology, Ethicsand PolicyExamining the moral implications of advancesin science and technologyThe opening of new frontiers in science and technologyoften leads us to a crossroad where we must stop andask ourselves: Is what I am about to do right or wrong?It is a critical question faced daily by scientists whomanipulate genetic material, physicians faced with life-ordeathdecisions and engineers responsible for the safetyof thousands of people who use roads, bridges, vehiclesand buildings.These are among the issues under study in the Centerfor Science, Technology, Ethics and Policy (CSTEP),established at UTEP in 2007.Directed by Associate Professor and Chair ofPhilosophy Jules Simon, Ph.D., CSTEP unites UTEPresearchers from a variety of fields for classes,workshops and student-led projects involving ethicalstudies.“We bring together philosophy students and scienceand engineering students to discuss a number ofimportant issues … for example, how do you manageend-of-life decisions? How do you manage publishingand copyright on the Internet?” Simon said.Simon and Donna Ekal, Ph.D., associate provostof undergraduate studies at UTEP, developed andtaught in fall 2007 the University’s first-ever bioethicscourse, which continues to be offered in conjunctionwith the UTEP Medical Professions Institute. In thesummer of 2008, Simon and Associate Professor ofComputer Science Steven Roach taught a graduatelevel“engineering and ethics” course. Also, Professorof Metallurgical and Materials Engineering JohnMcClure coordinated a CSTEP-sponsored workshop forprofessional engineers on ethics and public policy inregard to bridge failures and bridge construction.CSTEP also offers a student-produced onlineacademic research journal, Young Scientists and theEthos of Current Science. The publication is produced inconjunction with the North American Mobility Program,a consortium of nine universities from the United States,Canada and Mexico that brings together studentsinterested in studying ethical and public policy issues inthe sciences.“It’s what philosophers do best—helpscientists and engineers think aboutthe implications of their work.”—Jules Simon, Ph.D.Steven Roach, Ph.D.Donna Ekal, Ph.D.John McClure, Ph.D.Research Guide | 31

Education InnovationsBehind BarsStudying the educational experiences ofyoung prisonersThree UTEP education professors who ventured intoprisons to learn about the educational experiences ofconvicts have a better understanding of the importance ofearly-intervention programs for troubled youngsters.Helen Hammond, Ph.D., and Lawrence Ingalls, Ph.D.,both associate professors of educational psychology, andAssistant Professor of Special Education Robert Trussell,Ph.D., interviewed convicts who committed crimes at avery young age and were identified as having learning,behavioral and emotional disabilities.“The goal was to see what was done and what wasn’tdone academically for these young prisoners who hadcommitted rapes, thefts, murders and assaults,” Ingallssaid.The researchers are preparing to publish the resultsof their study, which was conducted from 2000 to 2008.The prisoners were asked 10 to 15 questions about theireducations and teachers.They found that despite having emotional problemsand a history of anti-social behavior, none of the convictshad been enrolled in special behavioral programs at his orher school. The prisoners reported that they had receivedassistance for their learning problems, but behavioralissues went mostly unaddressed.Many prisoners said they felt that their generaleducation teachers had “picked on” or discriminatedagainst them because they had been labeled as studentswith “bad behavior.”When the prisoners were asked to describe theirfavorite teacher from their years in school, someconsistencies emerged. The favorite was typicallysomeone from an alternative schooling system, wherethe prisoners said they were better cared for. The classsizes were smaller, the instruction more intense and theexpectations for success higher.The investigations have led to two mainrecommendations for educating these at-risk youth. First,the youngsters should be placed in anti-social behaviorprograms before they reach eight years of age. Second,teacher training should be improved so educators arebetter prepared to deal with emotionally troubled studentsand avoid actions that appear to discriminate against theyoungsters.The researchers hope their study will be used to reducethe problems among young students with emotionaldifficulties and improve the quality of their lives beyondschool.“Appropriate intervention is the key,” Ingalls said.“If these (behavioral) issues are notaddressed by the time the student is8 or 9, they could become chronic,like a medical problem.”—Associate Professor of EducationalPsychology Lawrence Ingalls, Ph.D.Helen Hammond, Ph.D.32 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Research Guide | 33

Education InnovationsProject CHANGEChildren with autism need a great educationAssistant Professor of Special Education RobertTrussell, Ph.D., is looking to produce more teachers whoare better prepared to work with students with autismspectrum disorders (ASDs).Trussell is leading Project CHANGE, a programlaunched in January 2010 that offers 21 UTEP teachingstudents specialized training in the medical, functionaland social needs required by children with ASDs.ASDs are estimated to affect one in 150 UnitedStates children, and include autistic disorder, Aspergersyndrome and atypical autism. The disorders are causedby a problem with the brain and affect social, emotionaland communication skills.Trussell said, “We have wonderful teachers in El Paso,but the expertise in autism is not there.”Funded by a four-year, $781,000 Department ofEducation grant, Project CHANGE will add an emphasisarea in autism to the Master of Education in SpecialEducation degree program. Because there is a significantdemand for special education teachers trained in ASDs,Trussell wants to place more quality educators in thatpipeline. He expects the program to support about 40graduate students, each of whom will conduct researchas part of the curriculum.“Every student will do an original research paper thatwill be of local importance. For example, one student maystudy ways to reduce tantrum behavior through use ofculturally relevant interventions. Another may study waysto reduce problem behavior through the use of positivesocial stories that include the student with autism,”Trussell said.Joe Villalobos, a special education teacher in the ElPaso Independent School District, was accepted intoProject CHANGE. As the father of a young son withautism, Villalobos understands that caring for andeducating these students can be extremely challenging.He is enthusiastic about the new curriculum’s focus onautism.“I think this new plan is great,” he said. “I know we’rekind of like the guinea pigs.”Villalobos’ research will focus on methods to help calmstudents who are throwing tantrums.“We want to enhance the level ofexpertise and infuse our community,our education system with teacherswho have the knowledge and skills towork with people with autism.”— Assistant Professor of SpecialEducation Robert Trussell, Ph.D.34 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Language AcquisitionLaboratory builds research skillsThe mission of the UTEP Language AcquisitionResearch Lab is much more than studying how childrenlearn their native language as well as second languages.The LARLAB, as it is popularly known, empowers studentresearchers to design their projects from the ground up.Graduate and undergraduate students are involved inall the tasks that seasoned researchers perform, fromcreating proposals to testing participants, analyzing dataand presenting results.“That’s what is unique about this lab—our maingoal is pedagogical,” said LARLAB Co-Director EllenCourtney, Ph.D., an associate professor of languagesand linguistics. “This means giving the students theopportunity to learn how to become outstandingresearchers through hands-on experience.”That was literally the case for graduate student CliffJones, who serves as the student director of the lab.Jones sculpted a clay lizard, dog and cat and broughtthem to life using Adobe Director animation software. Thecute characters are the stars in an interactive computerprogram that Jones’ research team is using to studychildren’s ability to understand degrees of certainty inlanguage.LARLAB Co-Director Maria Blume, Ph.D., an assistantprofessor of languages and linguistics, is co-principalinvestigator on a project to create a Virtual LinguisticsLaboratory under the VCLA (Virtual Center for the Studyof Language Acquisition) that will train students to usenew linguistics cybertools for research. The project issupported by an $896,000 National Science Foundationgrant.“El Paso is the perfect place to studybilingualism and the processesthrough which children acquirelanguage.”—Associate Professor of Languagesand Linguistics Ellen Courtney, Ph.D.Research Guide | 35

Environmental Science and Resource Management36 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Research aimsto protect andpreserve ournatural resourcesAn international community of more than 2 million, inthe midst of one of the largest deserts in North America,offers endless opportunities for study of the impact ofhuman activity on nature.UTEP’s Center for Environmental Resource Management(CERM) provides the leadership to coordinate Universityresources on environmental research relevant to the Pasodel Norte region, as well as many community outreachprograms dealing with hazardous waste management andair and water quality.CERM also manages the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park,representing an ongoing community effort to restorea portion of the Rio Grande’s habitat to a condition thatexisted long before the river’s water was appropriated foragricultural and domestic use.The Rio Bosque project offers UTEP biology researchersample opportunities to study wildlife and the effect ofinvasive plants on the river.UTEP aims to be the leading resource on the watersources, the mountain ranges and all the other aspectsof life in the Chihuahuan Desert. UTEP’s CentennialMuseum has developed an excellent online resource ofChihuahuan Desert information through its research arm,the Laboratory for Environmental Biology.Research Guide | 37

Environmental Science and Resource ManagementSpecial CollectionLaboratory for Environmental Biologyspecializes in Chihuahuan Desert’snatural historyA variety of impressive displays at the CentennialMuseum on the UTEP campus allows visitors to learnabout the natural and cultural history of the ChihuahuanDesert.But an even bigger treasure trove of information isavailable to researchers, thanks to the UTEP Laboratoryfor Environmental Biology, which shares a constantlygrowing body of knowledge about the Chihuahuan Desertthrough the museum’s Web site.The laboratory serves as the museum’s research armand offers searchable online databases of informationabout mammals, birds, insects and just about anythingelse in North America’s second-largest desert.Arthur Harris, professor of biological sciences anddirector of the laboratory, serves as the research liaisonfor the museum.“The Web outreach in conjunction with the researchmission of the Centennial Museum was started severalyears ago,” Harris said. “It reflects our strength inresearch on the Chihuahuan Desert.”The museum’s Web site may be one of the best, if notthe best, one-stop resources of information about theChihuahuan Desert anywhere in the world. In additionto databases for scientific researchers, the site containsarticles and educational materials easily accessible foranyone. One popular section features photographs anddescriptions of native plants, useful for homeownerswho xeriscape and others eager to learn more about themyriad plant species in the surrounding desert. Harrisalso has contributed a section on vertebrates of thePleistocene (Ice Age) Epoch.Harris said the Web site serves to “educate as wellas entertain,” and is constantly evolving as UTEPresearchers learn more about the Chihuahuan Desert’spresent and past.On the Web: museum.utep.edu38 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Rio BosqueUnique 372-acre wetlands park offersenvironmental scientists numerous researchopportunities“It’s our hope to inspire people,through education, to care for thenatural resources we have in theChihuahuan Desert.”—Arthur Harris, Ph.D.“With the removal of the saltcedar,there is a dramatic change withthe way the tornillo (screwbeanmesquite) is colonizing all over thepark.”—John SproulOnly a half-hour’s drive southeast of the campus,the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park is a 372-acre outdoorlaboratory for UTEP biologists. Managed by UTEP’sCenter for Environmental Resource Management (CERM),the park was created in 1997. It arose from a communityand government effort to restore the kind of wetlandenvironment that existed along the Rio Grande before theriver was channelized for agricultural and domestic watersupply purposes.The park is home to an abundance of flora and fauna.More than 200 species of birds, including severalendangered and threatened species, have been observedat the wetlands. Researchers such as Vanessa Lougheed,Ph.D., assistant professor of biology and director ofthe Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, study the impact thatinvasive plant species, such as saltcedar, have on thewetland. The lab’s scientists also are studying the effectsof changing water deliveries to the park.The park has provided the University with outstandingopportunities to engage the community in wetlandsrestoration projects. The Friends of the Rio Bosque,with help from numerous volunteer organizations, haveworked for many years to clear away saltcedar from thepark. Their dedicated efforts have paid off with the strongreturn of the native tornillo, or screwbean mesquite,shrub, said CERM’s John Sproul, program coordinatorand manager of the park.“In a lot of areas, we’ve passed a threshold,” Sproulsaid. “Now we’ve got these thickets of tornillos and a lotof resident birds have really taken to them,” Sproul said.Research Guide | 39

Geological Sciences40 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Understanding Earth’sphysical, chemical andbiological processesWith the Franklin Mountains to the east and volcanicpeaks and craters to the west, UTEP is an ideal locale forgeological researchers.While there are plenty of opportunities for studieslocally, UTEP expertise is sought all over the world.Projects include earthquake research based in Alaska,Guatemala and the Himalayas. Seismic studies also havetaken UTEP researchers to countries in Eastern Europe,New Zealand and Libya.Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences BridgetSmith-Konter, Ph.D., with support from the NationalScience Foundation, is making geological research easilyaccessible to the El Paso community. Two interactivecomputer kiosks will be installed on campus, featuringeducational material on local and regional geological areasof interest.In the laboratory, UTEP scientists now have access toa state-of-the-art mass spectrometer in the Center forEarth and Environmental Isotope Research, thanks to aNational Science Foundation grant awarded to AssistantProfessor of Geological Sciences David Borrok, Ph.D. Thespecialized machine, which identifies elements in rock andother materials, will create numerous interdisciplinaryresearch opportunities.Research Guide | 41

Geological SciencesEarthquake AwareProject brings Earth science to the communityStudents in the El Paso community will get a taste ofearthquake research, thanks to a unique program led byAssistant Professor of Geological Sciences Bridget Smith-Konter, Ph.D.Smith-Konter is studying the San Andreas Fault inCalifornia using global positioning system (GPS) dataand analysis of prehistoric earthquakes in a sophisticatedcomputer model she developed. The model could helpscientists recognize patterns in earthquake activityover the past 1,000 to 2,000 years. The research willbe incorporated into the EarthScope project, a leadinglarge-scale community effort to understand the nature ofearthquake hazards along the Pacific-North America plateboundary.As part of the project, Smith-Konter is developinginteractive computer kiosks at UTEP to increasecommunity awareness of the project’s research results,as well as local and regional EarthScope scienceactivities. One of these kiosks is currently being installedin UTEP’s Centennial Museum, and a second kiosk isplanned for the entrance of the Geology Building.“A significant component of this project involvesdevelopment of educational tools and opportunities forK-16 teachers and students, while providing pertinent andaccessible information to the general public,” Smith-Konter said.Her research is supported by a National ScienceFoundation (NSF) award of $500,000 through thefoundation’s prestigious CAREER grant program, whichsupports outstanding junior faculty members’ efforts tointegrate education and research.The NSF also is supporting Smith-Konter’sinvestigation of the lifting and subsiding motions of theEarth’s crust using historical tide gauge measurementsof coastal sea level and present-day GPS measurementsof vertical crustal motions. The goal is to simulate the upand down movements of the crust due to seismic activityover the last 100 years.Smith-Konter also plans to investigate tectonic activityon Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus and Jupiter’s icy moonEuropa. The project, funded by a NASA award, will focuson the development of models that simulate fault motionsdue to orbital interactions between each moon and itsparent planet.“The new Center for Earth andEnvironmental Isotope Research willgreatly enhance the training andeducational opportunities for facultyand students.”—David Borrok, Ph.D.“We want to make people moreaware of what Earth scientists aredoing.”—Bridget Smith-Konter, Ph.D.42 | The University of Texas at El Paso

David Borrok, Ph.D.Isotopic InvestigatorNew mass spectrometer is one-of-a-kindin the regionUTEP geological sciences researchers have a newtool in their analytical arsenal: a specialized machineknown as a multi-collector inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometer, or MC-ICP-MS. The spectrometerprecisely measures the isotopic ratios—the fingerprintsof elements—in rock, environmental and biologicalsamples.The purchase of the equipment was made possiblewith the help of a $524,000 National Science Foundationaward secured by Assistant Professor of GeologicalSciences David Borrok, Ph.D.Borrok said the spectrometer is the centerpiece ofUTEP’s new Center for Earth and Environmental IsotopeResearch, and is the only one of its kind in a 500-mileradius. The equipment will provide a huge range ofacademic research opportunities, and just as manycommercial uses. For example, agencies such as theDepartment of Defense and the FBI are interested in theforensic applications of isotopic measurements.“There was a great need for (the spectrometer),”Borrok said. “This will open the doors to wonderfulcollaborative research opportunities.”Research AssetsKidd Seismological Observatory• Five seismic stations in West Texas• Each station is equipped with Kinemetrics TH-11 sensorsPan-American Center for Earth and EnvironmentalStudiesresearch.utep.edu/paces• Data network for geological sciences research• Archive of satellite and aircraft imagery• Gravity and magnetic field data repositoryRegional Geospatial Service Centergis.utep.edu• Maps and other geographic images and data for localemergency responders and Texas National Guard• Web-based mapping services available to the publicResearch Guide | 43

Health SciencesMagnolia Dela Cruz, UTEP physical therapy studentCelia Pechak, Ph.D.44 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Community HealthWorking to improveequity in careResearchers in UTEP’s College of Health Sciences andSchool of Nursing are driven by a desire to improve carefor the Paso del Norte community.That was the motivation behind Master’s of Public Healthcandidate Hector Reyes, Jr.’s project to assess importanthealth indicators in El Paso County’s population. The resultis a first-of-its-kind document that puts vital information atthe fingertips of researchers and government policymakers.At the School of Nursing, the Infection Control Centerstays on top of the best ways to prevent the spreadof disease, serving as a valuable resource in a worldthreatened by the new H1N1 influenza virus and increasingcases of illness caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.Another major initiative is the Hispanic Health DisparitiesResearch Center (HHDRC), a collaboration between UTEPand The University of Texas at Houston School of PublicHealth-El Paso Regional Campus. Established in 2003, theHHDRC works to find solutions to poor health outcomesand lack of access to care in certain population groups,such as minorities, the elderly and the poor.Research Guide | 45

Health SciencesHow Healthy Are We?Master of Public Health candidate HectorReyes, Jr. authors a first-of-its-kind report forEl PasoHealth disparities are often more pronounced amongimpoverished Texas border communities such as El PasoCounty than in other parts of the state.But no one had a truly accurate, comparative snapshotof the county’s well-being until Hector Reyes, Jr., aUniversity of Texas at El Paso Master of Public Healthcandidate, spent hundreds of hours gathering data asauthor of How Healthy Are We?, a first-of-its-kind reporton 22 measures of health in El Paso County’s population.Published this year, How Healthy Are We? reveals thatEl Paso County has the highest incidence of hepatitis Ainfections, the highest overall cancer mortality rate andthe highest percentage of low-weight births among majorTexas border counties.Reyes authored the report as part of a master’sprogram internship with the City of El Paso Department ofPublic Health.“I have always had an interest in public health, and thiswas an opportunity to create something that would havea real benefit for the community,” Reyes said. He spenthundreds of hours compiling statistics from the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Department ofState Health Services and other agencies with databasesof health information on El Paso County. His hard workpaid off in a document that provides health professionals,researchers and policymakers easy access to importantmeasurements of community health.How Healthy Are We? also assesses El Paso County’sprogress in attaining the goals of Healthy People 2010,a disease prevention and health promotion initiativelaunched in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services. Reyes’ research revealed thatthe population of El Paso County meets just five of 21national health objectives set by Healthy People 2010.On the Web: How Healthy Are We? Selected Measuresfor El Paso, Texas 2008 is downloadable from the Cityof El Paso Department of Public Health Web site at www.elpasotexas.gov/health.“City and county officials neededa document making importanthealth data easily accessible toresearchers.”—Hector Reyes, Jr., MPH candidate46 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Infection Control CenterSchool of Nursing brings together experts on disease preventionThe 2009 global outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus and the increaseof illness caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)bacterium are two sobering reminders of the need for effective education andresearch on infection control.The UTEP School of Nursing has responded by creating the InfectionControl Center, a University and community resource that taps the expertiseof the University’s health scientists, biologists and social scientists, to name afew.Launched in 2008, the Infection Control Center is directed by AssistantProfessor of Nursing Velma McInnis-Edmonds, D.N.S.The center’s responsibilities include incorporating the best practices ofinfection control and disease prevention in the School of Nursing curriculum,as well as fostering increased involvement of faculty and students in infectioncontrolresearch.McInnis-Edmonds said a group of UTEP undergraduate students recentlyresearched locally practiced infection control measures for MRSA andinjection techniques.“We found that practices are not necessarily consistent from facilityto facility,” McInnis-Edmonds said. “Having this kind of evidence-basedknowledge can help the health care community develop better procedures forinfection control.”The center also assisted the University in developing a response to theoutbreak of the H1N1 virus in the Borderland. The center plans to buildupon its outreach activities by opening the lines of communication betweenUniversity experts and public health officials and developing a comprehensiveplan of action in case of an infectious disease crisis.H1N1 influenza virusMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) bacteriumResearch AssetsHispanic Health Disparities Research Centerwww.hhdrc.org• Border health research• Training for minority researchers• Research-to-practice dissemination“The center fosters an interdisciplinaryapproach to infection control involvingnursing, medicine, allied health,biology, social sciences and otherfields.”—Velma McInnis-Edmonds, D.N.S.UTEP Infection Control Centernursing.utep.edu/infection_control_center.shtml• Infectious disease research• Prevention and infection control activities• Development of curriculum related to infection controlTIES Partnership Programchs.utep.edu/healthpromotion/ties-partnerships-program• Collaboration between UTEP and Universidad Autónomade Ciudad Juárez• Prevent, diagnose and control tuberculosis and relateddiseasesResearch Guide | 47

Materials Engineering48 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Mining commercialpossibilitiesUTEP’s expertise in chemistry, metallurgy and materialsengineering is in high demand by industry and governmentagencies seeking innovative, high-tech solutions for realworldproblems.A number of projects have exciting commercial potential,such as Professor of Physical and Organic Chemistry CarlW. Dirk’s patented light filter, designed to protect delicateworks of art from photochemical damage.Another technology with commercial possibilities isbeing studied by Lawrence Murr, Ph.D., professor andchair of metallurgical and materials engineering. Murr isusing a special technique to fabricate high-performancethermoelectrics, devices that create electricity from heat.The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has tappedmechanical engineering Professor Arturo Bronson, Ph.D.,and Associate Professor Jack Chessa, Ph.D., to developmaterials that can resist ultra-high temperatures andhypersonic speeds.UTEP works to build strong relationships with industryand government partners through a number of centersand laboratories, such as the Research Institute forManufacturing and Engineering Systems, which takes aninterdisciplinary approach to solving complex engineeringproblems.Carl W. Dirk, Ph.D.Research Guide | 49

Materials EngineeringShockwave FabricationA unique approach to high-efficiencythermoelectricsLawrence Murr, Ph.D., professor and department chairof metallurgical and materials engineering, is exploring anunusual way to fabricate thermoelectric materials: with anexplosion’s shockwave.Thermoelectric materials are semiconductors thatturn heat into electricity. It’s a wonderful concept, but thetechnology has been relatively inefficient and expensivecompared to other means of generating electricity. Thisis because fabrication methods that melt or compactthermoelectric powders limit interparticle bonding, andthe result is a low-efficiency material.Murr’s unique approach to making high-performancematerials involves a patented device that uses asafe, controlled explosion to create a shockwave thatconsolidates thermoelectric nanopowders without meltingthem. Interparticle bonding is maximized, creating highperformancethermoelectrics.“It’s the only way we know of to create a solid withoutmelting the material,” Murr said. “You change theproperties of the material if you heat it up and melt it. Weneed the material in a solid form without melting it.”Murr’s research is supported by a grant from El PasobasedTXL Group, Inc., a manufacturer of thermoelectricmaterials and devices.The technology holds exciting potential for a number ofapplications, including the fabrication of small electricitygeneratingdevices for satellites and space probes.High-efficiency thermoelectrics can also be used in someindustries to convert waste heat into electricity, helpingreduce energy costs.“Potential commercial applicationsinclude heat-capture devices onroadways or in deserts that can powerlights or signage.”—Lawrence Murr, Ph.D.“This is a joint effort that will helpdictate the material development.With us working together, we’re tryingto push the envelope.”—Jack Chessa, Ph.D.50 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Jack Chessa, Ph.D.Arturo Bronson, Ph.D.A Material PartnershipMechanical engineers join forces to speed thedevelopment of ceramic compositesUTEP mechanical engineering researchers ArturoBronson, Ph.D., and Jack Chessa, Ph.D., are investigatingmaterials that could be used in spacecraft and othervehicles exposed to ultra-high temperatures andhypersonic speeds.Chessa, an associate professor of mechanicalengineering who is an expert in computationalmechanics, is designing ceramic materials that canwithstand temperatures above 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.By working together, Chessa and Bronson expect tosignificantly reduce the time it takes to produce theseunique materials.Often, the development of these kinds of state-of-theartcomposites can take as long as 30 years to go fromthe laboratory to a marketable product.“Historically, this is the domain of materials scientists,”said Chessa. “They go into the lab and create somethingand then have to run experimental tests to characterizethe materials. It takes years to develop … andcommercialize them.”By working together, the professors believe they canshave the commercialization time down to 10 years.“In the past, experimentalists, like myself, would finda new material and then take it to someone like Chessa,”said Bronson. “So we turned it around. We’re doing thecomputational mechanics first, and then he will tell mewhat I need to create to better design the material. So, inessence, instead of me driving him, he’s telling me whatto do in the lab.”Bronson and Chessa’s research is supported by a$350,000 award from the Air Force Office of ScientificResearch.Research Guide | 51

Materials EngineeringTemperature RisingNavy turns to special alloys to extend jetengine longevityMetallurgical and Materials Engineering ProfessorShailendra K. Varma, Ph.D., and his research groupare helping the Office of Naval Research investigatematerials that could improve the performance and costeffectivenessof jet engines.Navy researchers are studying metals that havebetter heat resistance than nickel-based alloys, whichare widely used in jet and gas turbines and canwithstand temperatures around 1,000 degrees Celsius.They are particularly interested in alloys containingthe rare element niobium, which has a high meltingpoint and improves the strength of steel. Niobiumbasedalloys hold promise for effectively operating intemperatures of 1,500 degrees Celsius.“Alloys that can operate at these temperatures willhelp improve the efficiency of engines, making themlast longer and ultimately reducing operating costs,”Varma said.Varma’s role in the Navy’s investigation focuses onunderstanding the resistance of niobium-based alloysto oxidation at high temperatures. His present project issupported by a $900,000 grant from the Office of NavalResearch. This, and an earlier $1 million grant fromthe ONR, helped purchase special furnaces capable ofproducing temperatures up to 1,500 degrees Celsiusand other high-end equipment for characterization ofmaterials by both transmission and scanning electronmicroscopy.Varma’s project is representative of many researchopportunities at The University of Texas at El Paso–histeam consists of both undergraduate and graduatestudents.“The research grant support also serves an importantpurpose—to train undergraduate students who willpursue higher studies and possibly careers in the Navyresearch laboratories,” Varma said. “These studentsget the opportunity to present their work at nationaland international conferences—and get published inrefereed journals.”Research AssetsResearch Institute for Manufacturing andEngineering Systemsrimes.utep.edu• Model-based systems engineering• Reliability analysis• Risk analysisNanoMaterials Integration Laboratoryresearch.utep.edu/nanomil• Semiconductor materials and devices• Nanoscale and millimeter-scale assembliesComputational Mechanics Laboratoryutminers.utep.edu/jfchessa/Lab/index.html• Fluid structure interaction• Solidification modeling• Modeling of friction stir welding52 | The University of Texas at El Paso

“We are part of an effort to find an alloy thatwill resist temperatures up to 1,500 degreesCelsius. These kinds of materials couldbe used in a wide range of applications,including jet engines and gas turbines.”—Shailendra K. Varma, Ph.D.Research Guide | 53

TransportationResearch AssetsBorder Intermodal Gateway Transportation Laboratorywww.utep.edu/biglab• Domestic and international movements of vehicles, people and freight• Emergency service operations and transportation securityCenter for Transportation Infrastructure Systemsctis.utep.edu• Materials, design and construction• Transportation planning• Instrumentation• Nondestructive testing“By performing surveys on potentialcustomers, companies and bordercommuters, we can gauge thepotential of the carsharing markethere and propose a carsharingsystem for El Paso.”—Kelvin Cheu, Ph.D.54 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Carsharing ConceptTransportation alternative could benefit El PasoA research team led by Associate Professor of CivilEngineering Kelvin Cheu, Ph.D., is examining the potential forcarsharing as a transportation alternative for El Pasoans.Carsharing is a fairly new concept in the United States.A city, company or other organization takes ownership of afleet of vehicles, to which drivers can subscribe. Carsharingcustomers pay a monthly subscription fee, plus time anddistance charges, and can pick up and return vehicles todesignated stations without prior notice. The fleet-owningorganization, meanwhile, is responsible for vehicle cost,maintenance and insurance.Major cities such as Washington, D.C., San Francisco,Chicago, Boston and Austin already have carsharingcompanies with growing market shares and profits. Cheu,director of the College of Engineering’s Border IntermodalGateway (BIG) Transportation Laboratory, believes theconcept could catch on with Paso del Norte residents.“What is particularly unique to our city is that we regularlyhave commuters who cross the border,” said Cheu.“Carsharing may be attractive to them because instead ofwaiting two hours at the bridge, they can just walk across,pick up a vehicle, and drive in El Paso.”Carsharing could offer an eco-friendly benefit as well, Cheusaid.“The tendency is that if you buy your own car, you drivemore,” said Cheu. “But if you drive a carsharing vehicle, youtend to plan your trips more carefully, save gasoline and helpthe environment.”Cheu’s study of carsharing’s potential in El Paso is fundedby the Texas Transportation Institute.Research Guide | 55

Programs Inspire New Researchers56 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Attractingtalented studentsto science andengineering fieldsUTEP is proud to be involved in a number of efforts torecruit and retain new researchers, particularly minoritiesand others who have been traditionally underrepresentedin the STEM fields of science, technology, engineeringand mathematics.Research Guide | 57

Programs Inspire New ResearchersThis page highlights a few programs that are inspiringthe next generation of researchers.Cyber-ShAREThe UTEP Cyber-ShARE Center conducts innovativecyberinfrastructure research to advance education andinterdisciplinary science and engineering collaborations.Cyber-ShARE promotes diversity through educationaloutreach programs aimed at underrepresented middleand high schoolers and their teachers.El Paso T-STEM CenterThe T-STEM Center assists math and science teachersin developing high quality curriculum and instructionprograms to ensure high academic achievement inmathematics and science in K-12 students.Intelligence Community Center of AcademicExcellenceThe Intelligence Center’s mission is to preparestudents of all backgrounds for positions in theintelligence community. Graduates become proficient inthe study of national security, intelligence, foreign areastudies, language proficiency, geography and relatedcompetencies.MBRS-SCOREPathways to the GeosciencesThe Pathways program seeks to increase thenumber of Hispanic students who earn undergraduateand graduate degrees in the geosciences. Pathwaysbrings together high school students and teachers in asummer research experience designed to introduce thegeosciences and their connections with other disciplinessuch as biology, chemistry and physics.RISE ScholarsThe Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement(RISE) program provides stipends to qualified studentsin biological sciences and engineering to performundergraduate research. The students are paired with afaculty mentor during the research experience.UT System LSAMPThe Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation(LSAMP) program seeks to increase the number ofunderrepresented minority students pursuing careersin science, technology, engineering and mathematicscareers. At UTEP, the LSAMP’s Bridge to the Doctorateinitiative provides 12 minority students with scholarshipsto pursue their doctorates.The Minority Biomedical Research Support andSupport of Continuous Research Excellence (MBRS-SCORE) programs at UTEP take an interdisciplinaryapproach to solving health problems, while increasingthe number of underrepresented minorities in biomedicalsciences.Medical Professions InstituteThe Medical Professions Institute is an awardwinningprogram that prepares students for medical,dental, veterinary, optometry and physician assistantcareers. Students are given assistance in preparing forprofessional school tests, such as the MCAT. They alsogain valuable experience volunteering in clinics, sheltersand other nonprofit organizations.58 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Future Facilities of UTEP Research ProgramsScheduled to open in spring 2011, the College of Health Sciences/School of Nursing building is a $60 million,130,000-square-foot facility that will include classrooms, simulation laboratories and research space. The heart of thefacility will be a 16,000-square-foot center where students will train using interactive patient mannequins.UTEP’s new Chemistry and Computer Science Building is expected to open in 2011.The $70.2 million building will feature 140,000 square feet of classroom and laboratory space.Research Guide | 59

President, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs,Vice President for Research and College DeansDiana Natalicio, Ph.D.PresidentThe University of Texas at El PasoRichard S. Jarvis, Ph.D.Provost/Vice President for Academic AffairsThe University of Texas at El PasoRoberto A. Osegueda Ph.D., P.E.Vice President for ResearchThe University of Texas at El PasoKathleen Curtis, PT, Ph.D.Dean - College of Health SciencesResearch expertise: Prevention ofSecondary Disabilities in Spinal CordInjury; Aging and Health Issues in Womenwith Disabilities; Role Conflict andProfessional Socialization; Regional HealthDisparitiesHoward Daudistel, Ph.D.Dean - College of Liberal ArtsResearch expertise: Criminology, CriminalJustice, Evaluation Research, HigherEducation Administration and PolicyAnny Morrobel-Sosa, Ph.D.Dean - College of ScienceResearch expertise: Condensed Matter,Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science/Engineering, Superconductivity,BiomaterialsRobert Nachtmann, D.B.A.Dean - College of Business AdministrationResearch expertise: Corporate Finance,International Finance, Interface of Law,Accounting and FinanceRichard Schoephoerster, Ph.D.Dean - College of EngineeringResearch expertise: Biofluid Mechanics,Flow and Device Related Mechanismsof Thrombosis, Cardiovascular DeviceDevelopmentDennis L. Soden, Ph.D.Dean - University CollegeResearch expertise: Public Policy, PolicyAnalysis, Leadership Studies, AmericanGovernment, Research MethodsJosefina V. Tinajero, Ed.D.Dean - College of EducationResearch expertise: Second LanguageAcquisition, L1-L2 Literacy, Two-Way DualLanguage Programs, Teacher Preparation,Gender EquityElias Provencio-Vasquez, Ph.D.Dean - School of NursingResearch expertise: At-risk women andtheir families; HIV and drug-exposedinfants, children and adolescentsPatricia D. Witherspoon, Ph.D.Dean - Graduate SchoolResearch expertise: Communicationand Organizational Leadership,Communication and the Leadership ofOrganizational Change60 | The University of Texas at El Paso

Research Guide Photo CreditsPage 6:Page 22:Page 24:Bottom row, second from left image courtesy of Craig Tweedie, Ph.D.Image courtesy of The University of Texas at AustinImage courtesy of the Missile Defense AgencyThe UTEP Research GuideVolume 2/Spring 2010Produced by University CommunicationsThe University of Texas at El Paso500 W. University Ave.El Paso, TX 79968-0522915-747-5000www.utep.edu