The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Minority Leaders Research Collaboration Program recently teamed up with The University of Texas at Arlington to develop a new, more cost-effective semiconductor thin film for infrared light detection. Scientists from AFRL worked with UTA faculty members Jiechao Jiang, Stathis Meletis, and Joseph Ngai, along with students Nonso Martin Chetuya and Enrique Ramirez.

Bruce Claflin, a senior research physicist with AFRL’s Sensors Directorate, said the work performed by UTA students involved measuring and characterizing the crystallinity, or structural quality, of this alternative semiconductor thin film and performing annealing experiments to improve crystallinity.

The program has agreements in place with several HBCUs and minority-serving institutions across the United States, enabling collaborative research partnerships that engage a diverse pool of talent in addressing foundational research challenges to support the nation's air, space, and cyberspace technology needs. Read more.

UT System awarded graduate student Megan Westmore the Norman G. Pauling Endowed Fellowship for the 2024-25 academic year. The fellowship is awarded to full-time graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences at any UT institution, and recognizes contributions and potential future accomplishments with a $15,000 award. 

Westmore is Ph.D. student in the School of Social Work and also a licensed master social worker. Her research seeks to understand how sexual scripts are developed within the social network of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This work aims to understand how these networks can help support prevention strategies that reduce the risk of sexual violence and promote healthy relationships.

Doctoral advisor Poco Kernsmith said Westmore has developed a deep understanding of the issues associated with the risk and protective factors for sexual violence prevention broadly, as well as those that are unique to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them foster healthy romantic and sexual relationships.

UTA offers a flexible work environment for our employees. Some areas work a hybrid or fully remote schedule, while others are in the office full time. UT Arlington policy and anticipated UT System policy require that employees working any type of remote schedule have an active remote work agreement (RWA) on file. All RWAs must be signed by the manager and the appropriate vice president or dean. All fully remote, out-of-state, or international RWAs require approval from the vice President of TCE, the provost, and/or the president of UTA.  

Staff Remote Work Agreement | Policy

Faculty Remote Work Agreement | Policy

Congratulations to Lisa Thompson, director of TRiO Programs, for her induction into the Elite News Women of Wisdom - Class of 2024. Thompson is recognized as a change agent for the impact her professional journey and her community engagement have made throughout the region. Elite News is the oldest Black newspaper in the region and is seen as the voice and conscience of the community. Thompson will be inducted alongside Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, on Oct. 19.

Julian Rodriguez, a broadcast journalism specialist, is making waves in the journalism world. He and his colleagues at Catholic University of Colombia and The Weather Channel en Español have been nominated for a prestigious Emmy Award!

The team has been recognized for its outstanding work in the category of Outstanding Investigative News Coverage in Spanish for a piece entitled Decisiones: Datos y Cambio Climático. This is a remarkable achievement that highlights the importance of their research and the impact it has on the community.

Rodriguez’s collaboration with The Weather Channel en Español on an hour-long special is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships and the value of transnational research. His work sheds light on the pressing issue of climate change and its global impact.

Rodriguez said this was a culmination of six years of research, development, and production. The Emmy Awards event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in New York City.

We are thrilled to announce the 25th anniversary of the UTA Honors College. While the program's roots trace back to the late 1970s, it officially became a college in 1999. In the past quarter-century, the Honors College has cultivated a strong tradition of academic excellence. Our alumni have made significant contributions to their communities and the world, while current students continue to impress with their research and leadership.

Honors College students have consistently demonstrated their research prowess on a national level. Several of our students will be presenting research at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference this October. In previous years, students have won the Sloane Prize for Undergraduate Research and the Britt Poster Award, a testament to the dedication of our students and the support of our faculty and staff.

We have planned a series of events throughout the year, including alumni reunions, guest speakers, and festive gatherings. Stay tuned for more details about these exciting celebrations.

The suggested monthly read for August is from the Chronicle of Higher Education. Please take a moment to read the Which Colleges Have Produced the Most Individual Olympic Medals in Paris?

Do you have an upcoming event that Provost Brown should attend or speak at? If so, send us the details!  Submit a request to the Office of the Provost via the speaker form on our website and we'll let you know if she's available.

The Provost continues to host monthly office hours!  The next office hours will be Aug. 29 from 9-10:30 a.m. Faculty, staff, and students can drop by UAB 321 or sign up via email at provost@uta.edu.

Have a story idea?

Have something that you want us to highlight in one of our future newsletters? If so, submit your idea to provost@uta.edu.

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