24 TAMIU CELEBRATES UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY At TAMIU, student research extends beyond the classroom, blending curiosity with rigor to explore questions that matter far beyond campus. To celebrate this love of curiosity, TAMIU hosted its Undergraduate Research Day (URD) last April. Some 24 student poster presentations were shared at URD. The event emulates the statewide URD at the Capitol in Austin. This year, University Honors Program and undergraduate researcher Minelly Camargo represented the University with her work, Glucose is Required for Polyamine-induced Filamentation in Candida albicans. She was guided by Dr. Ruvini U. Pathirana, assistant professor of Biology. “I think research is amazing because when you look at what really is – it’s a combination. I imagine it’s kind of like a puzzle. Everyone has a little puzzle piece. Every little puzzle piece is a new piece of research,” said Camargo. TAMIU Q.E.P. director Cihtlalli G. Pérez highlighted the importance of undergraduate research. “Engaging in research provides students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on inquiry while working directly with real-world challenges to gain skills and knowledge that go far beyond the classroom,” said Pérez. Undergraduate Research Day at TAMIU is made possible through the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan, which helps enhance student learning and transfer their knowledge outside the classroom, including toward their future careers. Learn more at go.tamiu.edu/qep. SOFTWARE ENGINEERING STUDENTS DEVELOP LPHD DIGITAL SOLUTIONS TAMIU software engineering students from TAMIU’s School of Engineering showcased bold digital solutions for critical needs identified through a remarkable partnership with the Laredo Public Health Department (LPHD). The goal of the partnership was to further improve LPHD internal processes and offer innovative solutions to advance delivery of community services. By working closely with public health professionals, software engineering students gained hands-on experience in developing impactful solutions. Among services projects addressed were a vital records database, a community resource finder, interactive health maps and a map of the LPHD complex; event management and feedback software, a volunteer scheduling system, a healthy recipe database, and an internal course management software. Dr. Mahmoud T. Khasawneh, TAMIU director of the School of Engineering, praised the partnership. “I want to express our sincere gratitude to the City of Laredo and the LPHD for their commitment to engaging with our students. I would also like to commend our Dr. Mustafa Al Lail for his outstanding mentorship of our students through the semester. “This partnership is a powerful example of how universities and communities can work together to achieve meaningful outcomes. This is clear evidence of what happens when academic excellence meets civic engagement,” Dr. Khasawneh said. Laredo Public Health assistant director Erika Martínez concurred. “This collaborative represents a significant step in bridging technology and public health, reinforcing LPHD’s commitment to innovation and service excellence,” she concluded. Learn more about the students’ projects at go.tamiu.edu/lphd25.
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