Clustered & Connected Program

AI systems are transforming all sectors of society with their explosive development and have potential for substantial economic growth and innovation. AI-powered communities bring new challenges and opportunities. A few of the vexing grand challenges in advancing AI systems are: an ability to generate human-aware solutions that are inclusive, deployment on untethered platforms for dynamic and rapid decision making, robust learning from new behaviors throughout their lifetime, and solutions that are consumable by all humans. These challenges are further amplified by disciplinary specific approaches to AI development, deployment, and research methods that lack convergent science. AI challenges span all areas of engineering and computing, as well as cognitive science, psychology, biology, ethics, and mathematics to name a few.  

With the MATRIX Consortium’s commitment to nurturing transdisciplinary research and a broader national agency to develop science without walls, we are at a critical juncture to build AI capacity at UTSA. By recruiting strategically in the four core thrusts in MATRIX, each addressing a grand challenge, we provide a fertile ground where scientific endeavors can thrive without disciplinary silos, propelling us towards groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.

Individuals advancing the program:

• Dhireesha Kudithipudi, Robert F.McDermott Chair in Engineering, electrical and computer engineering
• Paul Rad, associate professor, computer science

Colleges: Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College of Sciences, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

UTSA aims to hire 5 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the Artificial Intelligence Cluster

This cluster is a combination of Brain Health and Trauma Research that responds to the key cross-cutting priority areas that promote brain health across the life span. This cluster hire seeks to capitalize on the existing strengths of faculty within the four colleges while expanding key faculty positions to fill critical gaps that will propel scientific knowledge.

Individuals advancing the program:

• Jenny Hsieh, The Semmes Foundation Endowed Distinguished Chair in Cell Biology, neuroscience, developmental and regenerative biology
• Nancy Cheak-Zamora, professor, public health

Colleges: College of Sciences, College for Health, Community and Policy, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College of Education and Human Development

UTSA aims to hire 5 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the Brain Health Cluster

The human microbiome is the microbial community that lives on and in the human body, composed dominantly of bacteria, but it also includes fungi, protozoa, archaea, and viruses. Recent research has made it clear that the microbiome plays a role in many disease conditions that previously were somewhat mysterious, including neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorder, and cancers such as colorectal cancer. Understanding exactly how the microbiome contributes to neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and the antibiotic resistance crisis is a grand challenge that requires transdisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, immunologists, neurobiologists, biochemists, computer scientists working with Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and exercise physiologists (Kinesiology) who work with distinct populations.

Individuals advancing the program:

• Karl E. Klose, Robert J. Klebert, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg College of Sciences Endowed Professor, molecular microbiology and immunology

Colleges: College of Sciences, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College for Health, Community and Policy

UTSA aims to hire 3 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the Microbiome and Human Health Cluster

Now is the time for UTSA to deepen its investment in space sciences and technology and establish itself as a key leader in South Texas and beyond. On March 26, 2024, Governor Abbott challenged academic institutions in Texas to create a space degree to help prepare the workforce in Texas. We’re proposing a Space Science & Technology, and Human Performance Cluster to address national needs and Gov. Abbott’s call to "strengthen Texas’ proven leadership in civil, commercial, and military aerospace activity and enhance the state's position in aeronautics R&D, astronautics, space commercialization, and space flight infrastructure."

Individuals advancing the program:

• Christopher S. Combs, Dee Howard Memorial Endowed Faculty Fellow in Mechanical Engineering
• David Silva, professor, physics and astronomy
• Sandor Dorgo, professor, kinesiology

Colleges: Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College of Sciences, College for Health, Community and Policy

UTSA aims to hire 5 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the Space Cluster

UTSA requires educational excellence in STEM fields (e.g., climate change, artificial intelligence, advances materials, biomedicine, and data science among others), this cluster hire proposes to optimize graduate programs in interdisciplinary STEM education to ensure STEM success in higher education.

Individuals advancing the program:

• Alex Mejia, associate professor, biomedical and chemical engineering and bicultural-bilingual studies
• Erika Tatiana Camacho, Manuel P. Berriozábal, Ph.D. and María Antonietta Berriozábal Endowed Chair, professor, mathematics

Colleges: Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College of Sciences, College of Education and Human Development

UTSA aims to hire 3 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the STEM Education Cluster

UTSA continues to grow its reputation as a Tier 1 Research Institution. Assessing aspirational peers, a strategic imperative for growth and with high potential for success is in the area of Materials Science and Engineering. Recognizing this need, there is a team of faculty across COS and KCEID aiming to make transformative progress by establishing connections in Materials Science and Engineering. This initiative signifies a critical step towards standalone Ph.D., M.S. and bachelor’s degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering at UTSA. The spirit of the cluster is to bring faculty members to UTSA who research cross-disciplinary materials and materials phenomena. The new faculty hired on this cluster will complement existing Materials Science and Engineering efforts at UTSA and bolster UTSA’s capabilities and readiness to develop interdisciplinary degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering.

Individuals advancing the program:

• Elizabeth Sooby, associate professor, physics and astronomy and mechanical engineering
• Shrihari Sankarasubramanian, assistant professor, biological and chemical engineering
• Ruyan Guo, Robert E. Clarke Endowed Professor, electrical and computer engineering

Colleges: Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, College of Sciences

UTSA aims to hire 5 associate or full professors in this cluster.

View the job posting for the Transdisciplinary Materials Research Cluster