College of Science and Engineering

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  • Email:  jbergh@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3355

    Research Interests: I collaborate with Dr. Dana Garcia. Research is oriented toward understanding the mechanisms through which light- and dark-adaptation are accomplished in the retina of fishes. Of particular interest are those processes involved in regulating pigment granule movements in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Much of the effort has been oriented toward discovering how acetylcholine activates light-adaptive pigment granule dispersion in retinal pigment epithelium, both in terms of the cell surface receptors involved and the downstream signaling processes.

  • Email: carlos-shanley@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-2178

    Research Interests: I am particularly interested in understanding how microbiomes mediate animals health and physiology. My research integrates experimental, genomic and computational approaches for inferring the roles for members of animal-associated microbial communities.

    Bio: Here

  • Email: ic13@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-5546

    Research Interests: Disease Ecology (Zoonotic diseases, Hantavirus ecology, tick borne diseases), Community Ecology (Temporal Niche Overlap, Metacommunity Theory), Mammal Ecology, Invasive Species, endangered mammal species.

    Bio:  here

    Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan_Castro-Arellano

  • Email: gabor@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3387

    Research Interests: Evolutionary Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Conservation Physiology

    Bio: http://gabor.wp.txstate.edu/

  • Email: md34@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-4911

    Research Interests: Hormonal regulation of plant growth and development, application of hormone research in crop improvements.

    Bio: here

     

  • Email: dg08@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3368

    Research Interests: Cell biology and neurobiology of the retina.

    Bio: Ever since high school, I’ve been interested in how cells communicate with one another using signaling molecules.  As a graduate student in Beth Burnside‘s laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley, I was entranced by the potential of fish retinas as model systems for studying cytoskeleton, cell motility, and cell signaling.  As a professor, I pursue my interest in those topics by studying how nerve cells in the retina communicate with the retinal pigment epithelial cells. In fish, the retinal pigment epithelium has long, apical projections which under daylight conditions fill with melanin pigment granules.  In the dark, the pigment granules leave the apical processes and reside in the base of the cell around its nucleus.  These movements are extensive, making them a good study system for understanding the signaling pathways and mechanical systems that regulate and execute organelle transport.

  • Email: m_k135@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-8968

    Research Interests: The C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a major concern in hospitalized elderly patients. This condition is induced by certain antibiotics given during either surgery or treatment for bacterial infections which wipe out the normal microflora in the gut resulting in overgrowth and toxin production by C. difficle. Metronidazole is used as first line of defense but has a high relapse of the disease with development of resistance against it. The mechanism of action of metronidazole is elusive and it has been proposed that formation of nitoso- radicals and nitrous oxide exert nitrosative stress on bacterial cells eventually killing them. Using molecular and genetic tools we have identified genes in C. diffcile with altered expression upon exposure to metronidazole and related nitroaromatic drugs. However, we could not detect the nitrous oxide production under the tested condition, indicating that it may not play a significant role in bacterial killing. We also attempted to isolate metronidazole resistance mutants in order to understand the resistance mechanism; however the resistance was unstable and lost upon storage and sub-culturing. Our study has identified the genes that may be involved in metronidazole resistance.
    My other areas of interest are antimicrobial resistance, regulation of biofilm and bioremediation of industrial pollutants.

    Bio: Education : PhD Microbiology, Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad, India. Postdoctoral fellowships: University of Florida and University of Texas at Arlington.

    Publications:

    Kumar M, Adhikari S and Hurdle JG (2014) The action of nitroheterocyclic drugs against Clostridium difficile. Int. J. Antimicrobial Agents. 44:314-9

    Shen L, Maddox MM, Adhikari S, Bruhn DF, Kumar M, Lee RE, Hurdle JG, Lee RE and Sun D (2013) "Syntheses and evaluation of macrocyclic engelhardione analogs as antitubercular and antibacterial agents" J. Antibiotics. 66:319-25.

    Bharati BK , Sharma IM , Kasetty S, Kumar M, Mukherjee R and Chatterji D. (2012) A full length bifunctional protein involved in c-di-GMP turnover is required for long term survival in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Microbiol. 158: 1415-1427

    Jain V, Kumar M and Chatterji D. (2006) ppGpp: Stringent Response and Survival. J. Microbiol. 44(1): 1-10

    Kumar M, Gupta SK, Garg SK and Kumar A. (2006). Biodegradation of hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers in contaminated soils. Soil Biol. Biochem. 38: 2318-2327

    Kumar M, Chaudhary P, Dwivedi M, Kumar R, Paul D, Jain RK, Garg SK and Kumar A. (2005) Enhanced biodegradation of - and -hexachlorocyclohexane in the presence of - and -isomers in contaminated soils. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39 (11): 4005-4011.

  • Email: McLean@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3365

    Research Interests: Microbiology, biofilms, polymicrobial interactions, quorum signaling and other aspects of chemical biology.

    Bio: here

    Lab: here

  • Email: jv27@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-7909

    Research Interests: I primarily study the habitat ecology of various species at spatial scales from local communities to entire ecoregions. I also study the ecological processes that affect species diversity, including anthropogenic processes. Some of my research involves collection of data in the field and some of it is very much computer-based (GIS, modeling, computer programming).

    Bio: here

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  • Email:  tb26@txstate.edu

    Phone 512-245-7703

    Research Interests:  Biomaterials, nanomedicines, drug delivery, cancer therapy.

    Bio here

  • Email: wdavid@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3342

    Research Interests: DNA/ protein/ small molecular intermolecular interactions; surface plasmon resonance.

  • Email: william.hoffmann@txstate.edu

    Phone: 521-245-3120

    Research Interests: Development of mass spectrometric tools to investigate biological ion structure and problems of forensic interest.

    Bio: Dr. Hoffmann came to Texas State from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and West Virginia University where he was involved in developing novel tools to investigate gas phase ion chemistry and sampling techniques. His research interests include furthering these techniques so that the range of problems they are applied to may be extended.

  • Email: ji12@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-7875

    Research Interests: Projects include synthesis of novel n-doping polymers with enhanced stability, using electroactive polymers to develop energy storage devices as alternatives to traditional batteries and capacitors, using electroactive polymers to detect and treat cancer, using processing approaches to enhance electroactivity, developing nanocomposites for water purification, and preparing, modifying, and characterizing nanoparticles.

    Bio: Dr. Jennifer Irvin is the Director of the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Texas State University. Her research focuses on electroactive polymers, that is, polymers that change their properties in the presence of an electric field. Dr. Irvin received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida under the guidance of Dr. John R. Reynolds prior to spending two years as a post-doctoral fellow at Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Irvin then spent eight years as a Research Chemist and Head of Analytical Chemistry in the Chemistry and Materials Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, CA. In 2008 Dr. Irvin joined the faculty at Texas State University as an Assistant Professor; she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014. Dr. Irvin has more than 40 publications, 19 patents issued, and over 100 technical presentations. She is a member of the American Chemical Society. You can find out more about Dr. Irvin’s research here.

  • Email: cj22@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-4949

    Research Interests: Analytical chemistry, organic electrochemistry, and catalysis.

    Bio: https://www.txstate.edu/chemistry/About-the-Department/faculty/ji.html

  • Email: smk89@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-1056

    Research Interests: Bio-organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids focused on non-canonical structures; Synthetic Organic Chemistry focused on Natural Products, N-Alkynylazoles, Microwave-Assisted Reactions, Flow Chemistry, and Biomolecule Conjugates; Computational Chemistry focused on novel diradical- and carbene-generating cyclizations and In-Silico Screening.

    Bio: Kerwin Faculty Profile

  • Email: Karen.Lewis@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-6391

    Research Interests: Structure and function of RNA binding proteins; post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression; specificity and affinity of biomolecular interactions.

    Bio: http://lewiskalab.wp.txstate.edu

  • Email: LL18@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-8594

    Research Interests: Analysis of genes and proteins required for repair of DNA that has been damaged by radiation or chemicals; importance of DNA repair in aging; development of new techniques for purification and analysis of DNA and RNA.

    Bio: here

  • Email: c_l268@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-1290

    Research Interests: Chemistry education research; impact of curricular choices and study habits on student success in chemistry classes; student understanding of chemistry using representations and eye tracking; faculty perceptions of testing feedback.

    Bio: http://luxford.wp.txstate.edu/

  • Email: bmm172@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3119

    Research Interests: Chemical Education Research, examining factors to increase student success in General Chemistry I & II. Using online homework (increasing time on task) and mathematics fluency for both logical thinking skills and number literacy.

    Bio: Dr. Blain Mamiya currently holds a Lecturer position in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Texas State University. Recently, he held the position of Professor of Chemistry and department chair at Independence Community College in Independence, KS. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, he received B.S. in chemistry from the University of Hawaii in 1982. He went on to the University of Washington in Seattle, WA and received a M.S. in organic chemistry before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin, completing his doctorate in medicinal chemistry in 1993. In addition to his teaching responsibilities while at Independence Community College, Dr. Mamiya is involved with recruiting/marketing for the college by participating in Career Day, Pirate Preview Day, and Future Pirate Day, and sits on the college’s Core Outcomes Committee.


    Dr. Mamiya conducts chemical education research in collaboration with Dr. Diana Mason. He has presented the findings on student success using various online homework systems at the 200th, 204th and the 210th 2YC3 conferences, the Kansas College Chemistry Teachers Conference in April 2014. He had a presentation at the 23rd BCCE conference discussing advice to new faculty, and at the 24th BCCE conference on developing the articulation agreement for chemistry courses in the state of Kansas and Technology in the classroom to develop student cognitive and metacognitive skills. At the 210th 2YC3 meeting, he presented a second presentation on an Independent Studies Project three of his students conducted investigating; Atomic Emission Spectroscopy and Nernst Equation. At the 203rd 2YC3 meeting, he co-hosted a workshop called “Documenting Excellence, Development of the Self-Study Tool for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs”. In addition to the conferences Dr. Mamiya has p resented, he has attended the 22nd BCCE conference, 195th, 208th 2YC3 conferences, 201st 2YC3 conference online conference (2nd online conference presented by 2YC3). Dr. Mamiya served the past 3 years as a member of the ACS Assessment Review Panel for two-year chemistry programs. He serves as a committee member of the newly formed 2YC3 TAB designed to develop policy for social media.


    He has held faculty appointments at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin Community College located in Austin, TX, Southwestern University located in Georgetown, TX, North Central Missouri College located in Trenton, MO, and Blinn College located in Bryan, TX. He also held a faculty appointment as a high school science teacher, teaching biology, chemistry, and physics, at Kaiser High School in Honolulu, HI and NYOS charter school in Austin, TX. When he is not in the classroom, Dr. Mamiya has a number of interests including cooking and taking every opportunity to play a round of golf.

  • Email: bmartin@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-6077

    Research Interests: Solid state synthesis of metal sulfides using innovative methods to trap solids in 'unstable' states, for use in catalysis, energy storage, and other materials applications. Currently my laboratory is exploring electrochemical ion intercalation, photochemical reduction, and laser annealing approaches.

    Bio:
    Education: Truman State University Kirksville, MO B.S. 1996, Pennsylvania State University State College, PA Ph.D. 2001, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Postdoctoral Fellow 2001-2003.

    Appointments
    2009-present, Associate Professor, Texas State University
    2003-2008, Assistant Professor, Texas State University

  • Email: cprhodes@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-6721

    Research Interests: Nanostructured materials, batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, spectroscopy, electrochemistry
    Research Description: Research in Dr. Rhodes’ group is aimed at (i) understanding the synthesis, unique structures and distinct properties of nanostructured transition metal oxides and related compounds and (ii) developing materials with improved properties for electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices including batteries, fuel cells, and water electrolyzers. Dr. Rhodes’ research involves studying the structure and properties of nanomaterials using a variety of materials characterization, electrochemical, and spectroscopic methods and developing correlations between structure and electrochemical properties (e.g. activity, stability, capacity, etc.) to enable the development of improved electrochemical energy materials. You can find out more about Dr. Rhodes’ research following the link https://rhodes.wp.txstate.edu/

    Bio: Dr. Rhodes received a B.A. in Chemistry in 1992 from Texas A&M University and received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2001 from the University of Oklahoma. Subsequent to his doctoral work, Dr. Rhodes held a postdoctoral appointment at UCLA in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering with a joint appointment at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the Surface Chemistry Branch. Following his postdoc, Dr. Rhodes spent nine years in a private company, Lynntech, Inc. In 2014, Dr. Rhodes joined the faculty in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program at Texas State University. Dr. Rhodes’ accomplishments include numerous peer-reviewed journals articles, patents, and presentations. Dr. Rhodes is a member of the Electrochemical Society and the Materials Research Society.

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  • Dr. Martin Burtscher - Computer Science

    Email: burtscher@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3443

    Research Interests: GPGPU, program parallelization, data compression, energy efficiency, performance assessment.

    Bio:  Martin Burtscher is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Texas State University. He received the BS/MS degree from ETH Zurich and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Martin's research interests include parallelization of complex programs for GPUs, high-speed data compression, and energy-efficiency optimization. Martin has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He is a distinguished member of the ACM and a senior member of the IEEE.

    http://cs.txstate.edu/~mb92/index.html

  • Email: apan@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-0347

    Research Interests: High-performance computing, GPGPU, Energy-efficiency, Machine learning.

    Bio: Apan Qasem is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at Texas State University. He received his PhD in 2008 from Rice University. Qasem directs the Compilers Research Group at Texas State where he and his students are working on a number of projects in the area of high-performance computing including developing intelligent software for improving programmer productivity and using GPUs for general-purpose computation. Qasem's research has received funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Semiconductor Research Consortium (SRC), IBM, Nvidia and the Research Enhancement Program at Texas State. In 2012, he received an NSF CAREER award for his foundational work on autotuning of exascale systems. Qasem has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications including one that won a best paper award. He regularly teaches the undergraduate and graduate Compilers and Computer Architecture courses.

  • Email: dt19@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-739-9277

    Research Interests: Data Compression, MultiMedia, Image / Signal Processing, Computer Graphics, Graphical User Interface.

    Bio: http://cs.txstate.edu/~dt19/

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  • Email: ba13@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-3059

    Research Interests: Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Additive Manufacturing, Product Development, Electromechanical System.

    Bio: Dr. Bahram Asiabanpour is an Associate Professor of Manufacturing Engineering and a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) with more than 20 years of experience in industry and academia. He is the director of the Rapid Product and Process Development (RPD) lab. Dr. Asiabanpour is PI or CoPI of more than 50 external and internal grants including CoI of a $15 million grant from NASA, PI for a $614K grant from the Department of Education, and PI for a $1M USDA grant. He is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing (IJRapidM). He has led many product development projects with more than a dozen companies and the designs and teams under his supervision have won national level prizes including Best model and Top Design Team Awards for Mars Drilling mechanism from NASA TSGC competition, Johnson Space Station-Houston, TX. (2014), and Second Place Best Design for the "Toyota production Line Fixture Design," from SME International Competition (2012).

    http://rpd.engineering.txstate.edu/

     

  • Email: fgutierrez@txstate.edu

    Phone: 5127409176

    Research Interests: -
    -Biological wastewater treatment 
    -Wastewater solids treatment
    -Phosphorus recovery from wastewater and wastewater residuals
    -Sustainability on wastewater treatment systems
    -Water distribution modeling
    -Wastewater treatment modeling

    Bio: Felipe Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Texas State University. Felipe graduated in 2016 with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin focusing on wastewater biological treatment and phosphorus recovery. After graduation, Felipe worked for CH2M and CP&Y evaluating potable water quality, designing water and wastewater systems, designing municipal solids treatment and management systems, and modeling biological processes and distribution systems. His current research, teaching and professional interests focuses on sludge/biosolids treatment and management. 

  • Email: kikehata@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-0855

    Research Interests: Water Quality, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Sustainable Water Resources Management, Water Reuse, Desalination, Storm Water, Environmental Remediation.

    Bio: here

    Lab: here

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  • Email: eclose@txstate.edu

    Phone: 512-245-8664

    Research Interests: Physics Education Research: situated learning and identity development through communities of practice (physics identity development, STEM teacher identity development), K-12 teacher preparation and professional development, Learning Assistant Model adoption and impact, programmatic reform and faculty change, and embodied cognition.

    Bio: Dr. Eleanor Close is an Assistant Professor of Physics and a physics education researcher. She directs the TXST Physics Learning Assistant Program and co-organizes regional and national workshops through the National Learning Assistant Alliance. She received her Physics M.S. from the University of Washington in 2003 and her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Seattle Pacific University in 2009. Before moving to Texas in 2011, she taught at Seattle Pacific University for eight years, where she had a joint appointment in the Physics Department and the School of Education. Between receiving her B.A. in Physics from Bryn Mawr College and starting graduate school, Eleanor taught high school physics and physical science for three years in rural North Carolina, where she became science department chair by seniority after teaching for five months. In her non-work life, she co-parents three young children with her husband Dr. Hunter Close, also a physics professor at TXST.

    Physics Faculty Research Interests