Samantha Oviedo, a UTSA junior majoring in biochemistry, is a Barry Goldwater Scholar.
APRIL 7, 2022 — Samantha Oviedo, a UTSA junior majoring in biochemistry, has been named a Barry Goldwater Scholar. The award is the most prestigious national scholarship bestowed on undergraduate students engaging in undergraduate research in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.
At UTSA, Oviedo participates in the National Institute of General Medical Science-funded RISE Program. During her freshman and sophomore years, she was also a scholar in the first cohort of the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) program.
The National Institutes of Health-funded program, which is directed by Gail Taylor, trains first and second-year students seeking to develop as scholars and pursue a Ph.D. in STEM fields.
These programs have paved the way for Oviedo to conduct neurobiology and protein biochemistry research in Lindsey J. Macpherson’s laboratory. Working in her lab for over two years, Oviedo has developed interests to investigate protein-protein interactions linked to disease including sensory disfunction.
As a biochemistry student in the UTSA Department of Chemistry, Oviedo also took classes with Hector Aguilar, who served as one of her mentors in the ESTEEMED Program. Aguilar writes that in the past two years, Oviedo “quickly earned the reputation of being the strongest biochemistry major in our department.”
“Receiving this award would have not been possible without the guidance and support of faculty here at UTSA,” Oviedo said. “I am truly grateful to have mentors, such as Dr. Macpherson, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Aguilar, who believe in me and have guided me toward my goal of becoming a biomedical research scientist. By winning this award and furthering my career, I hope to become a great mentor like them and guide underrepresented students like myself.”
As an undergraduate, Oviedo is already participating in research programs outside of UTSA. During the summer of 2021, she participated in a research program at Vanderbilt University and this summer will be a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
At Vanderbilt, Oviedo worked in the lab of Vsevolod Gurevich, where she furthered her interests in sensory systems from new disciplines.
Next year, Oviedo plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in biochemistry, where she will conduct research investigating protein interactions linked to disease that will aid in the development of therapeutics. Oviedo’s research mentor, Macpherson, knows that she has the tenacity to succeed at the next level.
“Samantha sets high expectations for herself and relishes the challenges,” Macpherson said. “She is energized by the scientific process and will undoubtedly make great contributions to whichever field she chooses to pursue.”
Oviedo hopes to conduct this research as a principal investigator at a research university. Seeing the impact that the ESTEEMED program had on her, Oviedo plans to give back to future generations of scientists from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Along with becoming a PI, I want to partake in STEM initiatives to aid in making science accessible to underserved, underrepresented communities,” Oviedo said. “One of my greatest objectives in academia is to create a more diverse research workforce.”
Oviedo is one of four ESTEEMED students to win this award, joining fellow students Mariah Antopia, Joshua Chaj Ulloa and Tristan Pepper, who won the award as sophomores in 2021. For the ESTEEMED program, this means that four of nine students in the cohort have been named Goldwater Scholars, an impressive feat considering that institutions can only nominate five students each year for the national competition.
Each fall, Goldwater Scholars are nominated by faculty across UTSA. Students are also provided with the opportunity to self-nominate. Students must be in their second or third year and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Almost all Goldwater applicants plan to pursue a Ph.D. and enter a research career.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusThe 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.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
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.