In late February, 22 students from the University of Houston-Downtown Department of Natural Sciences traveled to the University of Texas at Tyler for the 129th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science (TAS). There, 19 presented on research they conducted with fellow students and UHD faculty, and six Gators won awards across five categories. The wins from this year’s conference continue the upward trend of UHD students’ growth and success at TAS. 

Three of the award-winning presentations were based on cancer research conducted in the lab of Dr. Rachna Sadana, Biology Professor and Natural Sciences Department Chair: 

  • Maximiliano Perez - Cell and Molecular Biology oral competition – first place – Screening TZ62, TZ70, TZ71 and DKNR8, DKNR10, DKNR13 for Induction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of Metastasis – Dr. Sadana’s lab 
  • Tina Prajapati – Biomedical Sciences oral competition – second place - Screening Compounds for Their Anti-Cell Proliferation Properties – Dr. Sadana’s lab 
  • Jiya Desai – Biomedical Sciences poster competition – second place – Screening compounds for their potential to inhibit growth of leukemia cells (Molt-4) – Dr. Sadana’s lab 

Notably, Prajapati took part in the research behind all three of these presentations. 

Dr. Yuan Yuan Kang and Dr. Michael Tobin have provided consistent support to Gators at the TAS conference since 2023, and every year their students have won awards for their presentations. The three winners representing their labs this year showcased the variety of research being conducted here at the university: 

  • Annie Trinh – Neuroscience poster competition – first place – Investigation of the role of Drosophila gene CG12299 in the circadian controlled locomotive activity in fruit flies – Dr. Kang’s lab 
  • Mary Robles – Plant Biology poster competition – second place – “Modest increase in photosynthetic heat tolerance occurs across leaf developmental stages in Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense) – Dr. Tobin’s lab 
  • Yuliana Santos Ventura – Systematics and Evolutionary Biology poster competition – second place – Comparative study of male aggression of food generalists and specialists in Drosophila species – Dr. Kang’s lab 

Attendance at a meeting like TAS can make a big impact on students, giving them exposure to a community beyond the university as well at the opportunity to push themselves. Desarey Reyna Gaytan-Robles said of the experience, “Presenting at the Texas Academy of Science was my first time presenting research publicly, and I intentionally chose to deliver an oral presentation to push myself further outside my comfort zone. While it was challenging, it was also incredibly rewarding. The experience helped me grow as a scientist and communicator, gain confidence in sharing my work, and strengthen my ability to think critically and respond to questions. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, as I left TAS feeling inspired to continue pursuing research and contributing to the scientific community.”  

This conference was the culmination of months of preparation, as the students all received advance one-on-one help with their presentations, coordinated by Natural Sciences faculty members. Dr. Anna Crowell, Assistant Professor; Dr. Pablo Delclos, Assistant Professor; Dr. Yuan Yuan Kang, Associate Professor; Dr. Michael Tobin, Professor; and Dr. Adriana Visbal, Assistant Professor, attended the conference and played vital roles in ensuring the weekend went smoothly.  

The faculty members who attended TAS for the first time this year also voiced their appreciation for the experience: “This was the first scientific conference that either of my students have presented in. Mentoring them through the process of submitting an abstract and creating and delivering a poster presentation was extremely fulfilling,” said Dr. Delclos.  

“Watching my students grow and become confident researchers reminds me why I wanted to become a scientist to begin with,” reflected Dr. Crowell, a new faculty member. “Driving the van full of students, listening to them excitedly discuss their presentations and future careers was a highlight of the trip.” 

Dr. Visbal has been key in linking UHD with TAS. She and Christina Nguyen, now an alumna working as a scientist in the Texas Medical Center, first represented the university at the annual meeting in 2022. Since 2023, Dr. Visbal has served as the TAS section chair for Cell and Molecular Biology, which has bolstered her advocacy for increased participation by UHD students. Her efforts have paid off: Not only has the number of UHD participants climbed drastically, but new faculty continue to participate. In 2024, 15 students attended and seven of them won awards. In 2025, 12 students attended and six won awards.  

Events like the Academy of Science Annual Meeting highlight the influence our faculty have in sparking innovation and building up the next generation of scientists. And by sharing their work with peers, mentors, and the broader academic community, all the attending Gators demonstrated Gator Greatness and contributed to a vibrant exchange of ideas that will hopefully continue to shape their future pursuits. Congratulations to all involved!  

Travel to TAS was possible thanks to financial grant support awarded to the College of Sciences and Technology and the Scholars Academy, including the HHMI-SynergIE and DOED-MSEIP programs.