UTRGV School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences

🌱 Congratulations to our very own Dr. Tamer Oraby and the entire research team for their contributions to this important project! This collaboration highlights how mathematics, statistics, and data science can help address real-world agricultural challenges while bringing together researchers, students, and the community. We are proud to see SMSS faculty making an impact beyond the classroom.

UTRGV students, researchers and community unite to monitor emerging agricultural pest Researchers from UTRGV and Texas A&M are working with the USDA to m...

🎉 Congratulations to Ms. Adriana Quiroz on her promotion to Lecturer II!

The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences is proud to congratulate Ms. Adriana Quiroz on her promotion to Lecturer II, effective Fall 2026.

Since joining UTRGV in 2021, Ms. Quiroz has been dedicated to supporting student learning and success through her commitment to high-quality mathematics instruction. A proud Texan, she earned her Master's degree in Applied Mathematics in 2017 and has continued to make a positive impact on our students and the SMSS community.

Reflecting on this milestone, Ms. Quiroz shared:

"I am excited to share that I have been promoted to Lecturer Rank II at UTRGV. I was recognized for this rank by the Math Department, and I would like to thank my students for their effort and the people at UTRGV for their support and encouragement throughout this journey. I look forward to continuing to grow in this role and contributing to UTRGV student success and professional development."

This promotion recognizes her dedication to teaching, student achievement, and professional growth. We are grateful for her contributions to SMSS and look forward to her continued impact in the years ahead.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Adriana Quiroz on this well-deserved accomplishment!

🎉 Congratulations to Mr. Nam Nguyen on his promotion to Senior Lecturer!

The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences is proud to congratulate Mr. Nam Nguyen on his promotion to Senior Lecturer, effective Fall 2026.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Nguyen has been a dedicated educator at UTRGV and its legacy institution, inspiring thousands of students through his commitment to excellence in mathematics education. He teaches a wide range of undergraduate courses, including College Algebra, Elementary Statistics, Precalculus, and Calculus I, and is well known for creating engaging learning environments through active learning, innovative instructional technologies, and real-world applications.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Nguyen has made significant contributions to SMSS through his leadership and service. He has co-coordinated placement examinations, co-chaired the Co-Requisite and Elementary Statistics Committee, helped redesign course materials, advanced student success initiatives, and worked to reduce instructional costs for students.

In addition to his teaching and service, Mr. Nguyen has contributed to research in environmental radioactivity, co-authoring peer-reviewed publications while remaining committed to advancing mathematics education through continuous innovation and professional service.

Please join us in congratulating Senior Lecturer Nam Nguyen on this well-deserved achievement. We thank him for his many years of dedication to our students, our school, and the UTRGV community, and we wish him continued success in this new role.

Congratulations, Mr. Nguyen! 👏

🎓 Congratulations, Dr. Maria Camila Mejía García!

The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences proudly congratulates Dr. Maria Camila Mejía García on earning her Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at UTRGV!

Dr. Mejía García successfully defended her dissertation,

"Machine Learning Approaches to Model Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Effects of Human-Made Aquatic Ecosystems,"

under the supervision of Dr. Hansapani Rodrigo.

Her research combines theoretical statistics, machine learning, generative AI, and geospatial data analysis to improve the prediction of greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs, lakes, and aquaculture systems. By developing innovative AI and statistical models for data-limited environments, her work contributes to environmental monitoring, climate modeling, and sustainable resource management.

Reflecting on her doctoral journey, Dr. Mejía García shared:

"Going back a few years, I never imagined that one day I would be able to say that I finished my Ph.D. program. I always dreamed of earning a doctorate in Mathematics, and I came to UTRGV full of hopes and dreams. Today, I can say that dreams do come true—but they also require hard work and perseverance. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, my family, and everyone who supported me throughout this journey. Every lesson, every challenge, and every person I met helped shape who I am today."

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Mejía García's outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing the impact of her research on mathematics, artificial intelligence, and environmental science.

Congratulations, Dr. Maria Camila Mejía García! 🎉

🎓 Congratulations, Dr. Kristen Hallas!

The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences proudly congratulates Dr. Kristen Hallas on earning her Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at UTRGV!

Dr. Hallas successfully defended her dissertation,

"From Equations to Discovery: AI-Driven Parameter Space Navigation in Materials Science and Process Engineering."

Her research presents a four-step framework to help scientists and engineers integrate artificial intelligence into scientific discovery. The framework was demonstrated through three interconnected case studies, including two with direct impact on research efforts at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, showcasing how AI can accelerate innovation in materials science and process engineering.

Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Hallas shared her gratitude to the mentors and colleagues who supported her journey:

"I could not have reached this milestone without mentors who believed in my potential and encouraged me to never surrender my dreams. I am deeply grateful to my committee at UTRGV, my mentors at national laboratories, and the programs that opened doors for me to work on real-world problems in STEM. Likewise, thank you to my family, friends, and God, for walking alongside me throughout this journey. I hope this work, and everything I do from here, honors those who invested in me. Onwards and upwards!"

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Hallas' remarkable achievement and look forward to the continued impact of her work at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, and engineering.

Congratulations, Dr. Kristen Hallas! 🎉

🎓 Congratulations, Dr. Roberto Arias!

The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences proudly congratulates Dr. Roberto Arias on earning his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at UTRGV!

Dr. Arias successfully completed his dissertation,

"Development and Evaluation of Multiscale Signal and Complexity Measures from ABPM Data for Health Risk Prediction,"

under the supervision of Dr. Kristina Vatcheva.

His research developed innovative methods for analyzing 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data using advanced signal processing techniques. The work demonstrates that these new multiscale measures can reveal clinically meaningful information beyond traditional blood pressure metrics and may improve the prediction of health risks such as hypertension, diabetes, and cognitive impairment.

Dr. Arias' work exemplifies the interdisciplinary research taking place within SMSS, where mathematics, statistics, and data science are advancing solutions to important challenges in healthcare.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Roberto Arias on this outstanding achievement and wishing him continued success in his career!

Hey MSA! Don't forget, the first day of school is August 26! Are you ready? Check out the school supply list below to make sure you're prepared!

📢 Join us for the NSF REU AMCADS 2026 Poster Research Presentations!

Come meet our REU students and learn about the exciting research projects they have developed this summer through the NSF-funded REU AMCADS 2026 program.

🗓 Wednesday, July 15
📍 UTRGV STEM Center

This is a great opportunity to explore undergraduate research in mathematics, statistics, and data science, interact with our student researchers, and celebrate the impact of the REU program.

Learn more about the REU AMCADS program:
https://www.utrgv.edu/smss-nsf-reu/index.htm

We hope to see you there!

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 SMSS Student Award recipients!

On May 7, the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences celebrated the accomplishments of our outstanding students during the 2026 SMSS Student Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony recognized excellence across our undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs in areas including:
• Outstanding Course Performance
• Community Engagement
• Outstanding Research
• Outstanding Overall Student
• Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar

These awards recognize students who have distinguished themselves through academic excellence, research, leadership, service, and their contributions to the SMSS community.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients! We are proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future.

📣 Calling all undergraduate and graduate students!

The International Society in Quantization, Geometry, and Dynamics (ISQGD) invites students from around the world to participate in the International Undergraduate and Graduate Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Research, and Project Conference, taking place online on August 8–9, 2026.

This conference provides an opportunity for students to present:
• Research projects
• Honors theses
• Capstone projects
• Independent studies
• Interdisciplinary research

Students from mathematics, statistics, data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, physics, engineering, economics, mathematics education, and related fields are encouraged to participate.

Presentation spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration and conference information:
https://www.isqgd.org

We encourage SMSS students interested in research and graduate studies to take advantage of this international opportunity.