Texas A&M University (2015 – 2017)
BTD XI Student Biographies
Jessica Aviles
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Eng. Sci. and Mechanics at Virginia Tech |
| Career Goals - "My goal is to work in the prosthetics and/or exoskeleton industry with a specialization in third world initiatives." | |
Julieta Collazo
MS - Soil Science, Texas A&M University
| BS | Plant and Env. Soil Sci. at Texas A&M University |
| Career Goals - "I plan to have a career working as a soil scientist for a private sector and later plan to create my own consulting company. My plans will help me become an inspiring icon for the female and Hispanic minority." | |
Ivan Cortes
MS - Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Mechanical Eng. at Texas A&M University |
| Career Goals - "My ultimate goal has always been to play a significant role in the advancement of technology to improve our lives. I enjoy the challenge of designing and creating something new, and I hope to do this by one day participating in design or research at a leading tech company." | |
Kokou Serge Dogbevi
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Biomedical Eng. at University of Arizona |
| Career Goals - "My goal is to find ways to make difference in people’s life and help the next generation continue our works. Any career path that help me accomplish those goals will be fine; however, I am interested in translation research as a PI." | |
Natalie Michelle Garza
Ph.D. - Biochemistry, Texas A&M University
| BS | Biochemistry at Texas A&M University |
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Carlos Lara Maldonado
MS - Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Physics at University of Texas at Arlington |
| Career Goals - "Upon completion of my graduate program, I plan to obtain a position at a national laboratory or company in the area of nuclear reactor safety. My goal is to make nuclear reactors safer, and to help prevent severe nuclear accidents like Fukushima." | |
Candice Medina
MS - Soil Science, Texas A&M University
| BS | Bio-environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University |
| Career Goals - "After obtaining my PhD, I plan to research the affects pollution transmission has soil water. I hope to also join the rankings of my fellow female scholars and be a mentor to students looking to advance in academia.." | |
Jose Eduardo Mejia
MS - Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Mathematics at University of Texas at Brownsville |
| Career Goals - "Upon completion of a Master’s degree, I would like to acquire a PhD as well. My ultimate goals are to work in R&D facilities, specialty in fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and hopefully be able to obtain a position in academia in the future." | |
Mariela Vazquez
Ph.D - Organic Chemistry, Texas A&M University
| BS | Chemistry at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi |
| Career Goals - "I aspire to work in a qualitative government research laboratory and aid in the expansion of women in the STEM fields through community outreach activities." | |
Taneidra Walker
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Biomedical Eng. at University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Career Goals - "I wish to translate the knowledge and skills developed throughout my doctoral studies to the healthcare industry in order to advance the field of tissue regeneration." | |
Jose Wippold
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
| BS | Biological Eng. at Louisiana State University |
| Career Goals - "Wishes to bridge the gap between clinician and patient. Research focus primarily on the development of Lab-on-a-chip technology used for point-of-care infectious disease diagnostics. " | |
Kecen Zhou
MS - Oceanography, Texas A&M University
| BS | Oceanography at University of Washington |
| Career Goals - "To do groundbreaking work in the microbiology of the deep biosphere, and expand the understanding of life in unlikely places. I would like to become a full-time research scientist and if I am able, contribute to NASA’s astrobiology program." | |