Meet a Roadrunner: Gail Taylor is key in helping undergrads go on to earn doctorates

Gail Taylor

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specialist

(June 18, 2014) -- Meet Gail Taylor. The associate director of STEM initiatives in the Center for Research and Training in the Sciences has worked at UTSA since 1996. Her primary focus has been to help students gain research experience in training programs and to encourage them to pursue advanced degrees in the sciences, psychology and biomedical engineering fields.

Taylor manages or directs the government-funded Minority Basic Research Support (MBRS) Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE), the Minority Access to Research Careers - Undergraduate Student Training for Academic Research (MARC U*STAR) program and the financial-aid funded Work Study Research Training program. All three provide financial support to work in a laboratory, mentoring and other training that enables students to develop as scientists.

Over the last three decades, 71 MBRS-RISE and 57 MARC-U*STAR participants have either earned their doctoral degrees or are currently enrolled in doctoral programs.

"I believe one of my main purposes in life is to help people get to where they need to go," said Taylor. "I often meet students I think would make fantastic scientists, but they have no idea how to pursue a research career or concept of the talent they possess or potential they have to earn a Ph.D. I help them open the door to those dreams."

Taylor says her drive remains strong to assist students to try out their skills in a research lab, particularly those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Her door is open to any student who wants to learn how to enter a research lab or pursue graduate education in the sciences.

She also teaches Research Careers and Professional Skills Development, an upper division biology elective that counts toward an Honors College elective credit.

Taylor received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and completed engineering coursework at Cal State Northridge. Her master's degree in biomedical engineering and doctoral degree in neuroscience are from Tulane University in New Orleans.

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Events

April 15-19, various times

Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase

The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.

Various Locations

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

Asian Fanfair

Asian Fanfair is an event that highlights our APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) identities on campus. The event will feature performances from our AAPI interest Student Organizations, a tabling fair, and some cultural cuisine.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

UTSA Veteran Resource Fair

Join us for a day dedicated to supporting and empowering our UTSA veterans! We're excited to announce our upcoming resource fair, designed specifically to ensure that our veteran students have access to the resources and networking opportunities they need to thrive in their academic and post-military lives.

Student Union Lawn, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 p.m.

Text Analysis Using Python

This workshop will introduce participants to the basics of text analysis using Python and Jupyter Notebook on the Constellate Lab platform. We will create datasets in Constellate to analyze patterns, trends, and relationships of contents and more.

John Peace Library (JPL 3.02.32), Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 5:30 p.m.

Phi Kappa Phi Hosts Last Lecture with esteemed professor Diane Abdo

What would award-winning writing professor Diane Abdo say if it were her last lecture? Join us for our annual Last Lecture series on Wednesday April 17.

Multipurpose Room (BSE 2.102), Main Campus

Friday, April 19, 11:00 a.m.

Día en la Sombrilla

Día en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.

Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main Campus

April 20-21

Fiesta Arts Fair

Fiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.

UTSA Southwest Campus

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The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

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The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.