UTD Scholars

Meet some of the students who have been helped over the years by UT Dallas scholarships. View students helped by the Academic Bridge Program, Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship, Patti Henry Pinch Undergraduate Scholarship, Young Scholars Program, or examples of all different types of scholars.

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Contact us to learn how you can help make a difference in the lives of our students.

Subhajit Maity
Biology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I am a PhD candidate in the Joshi lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at UT Dallas, where I study the role of sympathetic nerves in mammary gland development. I am a recipient of the Betty & Gifford Johnson graduate scholarship, which helped me attend the Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference as a speaker. It was an incredible experience that allowed me to highlight the innovative work being conducted at UT Dallas. I also had the opportunity to connect with the leaders in the field and gain valuable feedback that strengthened our research. I am truly grateful for the support provided by the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship.

Ceejay Nicole Saenz
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I research the urogenital microbiome of postmenopausal women to understand drivers of recurrent urinary tract infection. The Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award supported my attendance at the 2025 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Scientists, where I strengthened my scientific presentation skills, received expert feedback, explored diverse research and built connections that will support my PhD training and future career.

Andres Servando Aguirre
Material Science Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending SISC 2025 deepened my understanding of semiconductor interface defects critical to my research on GaN HEMT [Gallium Nitride High-Electron-Mobility Transistor] reliability under radiation. Conversations with leading researchers sparked new directions I’ve since incorporated into my dissertation work.

Brenda Gabriela Vega Mora
Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

In 2025, I attended the philoSOPHIA conference at Texas A&M and just returned from the CAA conference in Chicago. Both conferences are related to my research and practice and are the spaces where want to continue attending in the future.

Traveling to these was made possible by the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Award. I have had a great experience in both settings, and l am confident that attending these will continue to develop my academic and scholarly skills. I highly recommend that all graduate students consider applying for this award; it is worthwhile.

Donald MacPhail
Psychology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending the 2025 Association for Psychological Science conference allowed me to showcase my research on a national scale and turn those presentations into manuscripts, one of which was accepted for publication in February 2026.

Sachin Giri
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I am grateful to the Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award as it allowed me to participate in and present my research at a highly competitive five-day Gordon Research Conference on Organometallic Chemistry 2025. I presented a poster titled “General Modular and Convergent Approach to Diversely Functionalized Allylic Systems” alongside faculty members and students working in closely related areas. Gordon Conferences are highly prestigious and competitive, where only selected faculty are invited to give talks while many others present their work in poster sessions.

One of the most valuable parts of the experience was spending five full days in a deeply research-focused environment designed to provoke new thoughts and perspectives that I had never considered before. My ambition to become a faculty member only grew stronger after attending this conference, as I was able to gather many new research ideas and directions through fruitful and productive discussions with experts in the field. If given the chance, I would choose to attend Gordon repeatedly, and of course my first Gordon experience became a possible dream because of the Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award that I am tremendously grateful for.

Jingyi Yan
Mechanical Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

My research focuses on wind turbine condition monitoring using machine learning. The Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award enabled me to present my work at the IEEE [Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers] Power & Energy Society General Meeting, the premier conference in the power and energy field. During the five-day conference, I engaged with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and industry, strengthening existing professional connections and establishing new ones. These interactions exposed me to cutting-edge algorithms and emerging research directions, significantly enriching my perspective and advancing my research development.

Jiawei Hu
Naveen Jindal School of Management
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I am very grateful to the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship for supporting my attendance at the European Financial Management Association Annual Meeting, where presenting my behavioral finance research and receiving feedback from international scholars meaningfully improved my work!

Abby Cole
Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

The generosity of the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship allowed me to attend the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference during the fall of my fourth and final year of my PhD program. Attendance at this time had such an impact on my research and career trajectory. My dissertation traces the history of journalism’s technocultural entanglements to propose an emerging journalism praxis. At the conference, I received productive feedback on my research presentation, and engaged in generative dialogue with other scholars, which helped shape my dissertation. Specifically, I met a senior scholar whose shared interest in advocacy journalism, a throughline in my dissertation, resulted in my increased understanding of field conversations and resources that strengthened my research. Additionally, I met with my AEJMC [Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication] mentor and attended events that supported networking and career pursuits. Overall, this was the most beneficial conference I attended in my time as a UTD student and I have continued to stay engaged with the organization and cultivate relationships with other affiliated scholars.

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Bhuvana Lakkasetter Chandrashekar
Bioengineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

The World Biomaterials Congress was one of the milestones of my academic life and has helped me be a better presenter to scientific and professional audiences. I hope I will better people’s lives through my research. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

Yanan Wu
Geography & Geospatial Science
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

My PhD research investigates transportation, hydrology, traffic accidents, and emergency dispatches. With the support of the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship, I won second place at the Southwestern Division of the Association of American Geographers conference and garnered recognition from the audience for my paper “Understanding the role of geographical environments in emergency dispatch”.

Junaid Shah Shabir
School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

The scholarship facilitated my participation in presenting my research on a Kashmiri-American poet to scholars specializing in South Asian literature at the Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) conference in Boston. This platform not only enabled me to engage with fellow academics but also provided an opportunity to establish connections with key figures, including an editor from a prominent academic publishing house. Subsequently, I was extended an invitation to collaborate on a book project, demonstrating the significant impact of the scholarship on my academic trajectory.

Ruchita Kumar
Biomedical Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending conferences as a graduate student broadened my knowledge about my area of research and gave me the confidence to present my findings in the scientific community. I am eternally grateful for the Betty Gifford and Johnson award for giving me the opportunity for a poster presentation at the Biomedical Engineering Conference.

Giuseppe Peressotti
Social Data Analytics & Research
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Networking, detailed feedback, and research-oriented brainstorming are crucial for academic success, fundamentally embodying the essence of conferences: this is what graduate students actually get by attending events such as the ISA convention in San Francisco through the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship.

Hamida Khatri
Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Securing a spot among the top 12 student researchers at CHI2024 is an honor I deeply cherish. I am immensely thankful for the Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award, which has enabled me to travel to Hawaii and present my project on utilizing virtual reality therapy for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

Chango Lee
Geography & Geospatial Science
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Thanks to the award, I’ve been able to showcase my accomplishments in location problems by pinpointing ideal locations that efficiently fulfill demand and supply needs. I pledge to reciprocate by assisting future UTD students, appreciating your commitment to student support.

Maruf Rahman
Arts, Humanities & Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the invaluable support provided through the Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award, which has significantly facilitated my attendance at the 4S (Society for Social Studies of Science) conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As a second-year Ph.D. student in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication, this conference presents a unique opportunity for me to present my paper, titled “Marginalization: Inaccessible Humanitarian Technological Tools and Biometric Registration in Rohingya Refugee Camps.” The panel, “Surveillance, Privacy, and Policing: Emerging Dynamics of Digital Citizenship,” addresses critical issues in surveillance studies and disability studies, aligning with the interdisciplinary nature of my current research. The Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award has played a pivotal role in making my participation in this conference possible, allowing me to engage in lively discussions with a diverse network of STS scholars and professionals in the fields of surveillance and disability studies. This experience will undoubtedly contribute to the enrichment of my research and broaden my perspectives.

As an international student, the financial support provided by the Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award has been particularly beneficial. Navigating the challenges of attending conferences abroad can be daunting, and the scholarship has eased the burden, enabling me to focus on the academic and networking opportunities. presented at the 4S conference.

Thank you very much.

Sneha Kumari
Chemistry
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

The Betty & Gifford Johnson Travel Award gave me the opportunity to present my work at the Material Research Society Fall 2023 conference. It was surreal to give a talk in front of many luminaries from my field, whose papers I had been reading since my first year.

Yalin Yang
Geography & Geospatial Science
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending the SWAAG annual meeting in Laredo enriched my research on human-environment interactions, fostering invaluable insights and pivotal networking opportunities in geography and GI Science.

Alexandra Arteaga
Biomedical Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

My current research focuses on creating coatings that can make orthopedic implants more successful in diabetic environments. I’ve tested both the biocompatibility and fracture healing potential of my coating. In presenting my research findings at international conferences, I have been able to network with various professionals, including orthopedic surgeons, professors, and potential employers from around the world!

Arkadeep Mitra
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Getting exposed to a wide array of topics ranging from mRNA [Messenger Ribonucleic Acid] vaccines to Micromechanical Systems in Quantum Limit from the world’s leading scientists by attending a flagship conference in the field of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems was an enlightening experience.

Hanghang Wang
Chemistry
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

With the wonderful opportunity offered by the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship, I shared my research “functional polycaprolactones for drug delivery applications” in the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium during the ACS [American Chemical Society] Spring 2022 in San Diego. Thank you for this great opportunity.

Stephanie Oliver
Arts Humanities & Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending the 2022 Console-ing Passion conference allowed me to meet with other scholars with similar research interests. At the conference, these scholars provided incisive and invaluable feedback on my ongoing work on TV and feminism.

Laurence Lamont Wensel
Holocaust Studies
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I was able to attend an International Academic Conference online through the London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research. After the conference, a staff member emailed asking if I would work with an editor and contribute to an upcoming collection of academic writings. In the summer of 2021, I was notified that my article had been accepted and published in the collection: “In Lieu of Duration: Spatiotemporal Excursions in Literature, Film and Architecture.”

Syeda Nadia Hasan
School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Attending the 78^th SMLA [South-Central Modern Language Associate] annual conference was an exciting opportunity for me to share ideas about the area I feel most passionate about. I presented a paper that explores the connection between new materialism and literary criticism. This paper forms a significant part of my doctoral work which investigates what it means to be human in today’s world.

Lee, Yeuh-Jung
Arts, Technology & Emerging Communications
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

As an international student at UTD, the Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship offers me opportunities to pitch my ideas worldwide. My research in smart tech is pushed forward into all academic communities.

Mohammed Rashid
Arts, Technology & Emerging Communications
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Since Fall 2018, I have presented my scholarly and artistic works in at least 15 national and international conferences including SCMS [Society For Cinema and Media Studies] , NAMLE [National Association for Media Literacy Education] , and HASTAC [Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory] , some of the best conferences in their disciplines. Proactive participation in critical conversations that emanate from these sites of knowledge production and interplay is absolutely crucial for an emerging scholar.

Chukwuemeka Ikebude
Arts, Technology & Emerging Communications
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I used my scholarship to attend the Community Standards for 3D Data Preservation conference at Washington University in St. Louis, where I was a panelist. I appreciate your promotion of scholarship.

Esha Gauba
Molecular & Cell Biology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

As a new scientist in this field, this scholarship allowed me to present my latest research on mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease at a conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

Junpeng Hou
Physics
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I really appreciate the donors’ kindness. It means a lot for a starting Ph.D. student like me to present my work, discuss it with others and make connections.

During discussions with my collaborators, we got some ideas toward a class of novel devices which would significantly enhance our control on quantum circuits and spintronics.

Kerry Goldman
History of Ideas
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

One of the best things about the graduate programs at UT Dallas is the amount of opportunity for students who are preparing to enter the world of professional academia.

Mingwen Yang
Management Science
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I presented a paper at the Big XII+ MIS [Management Information Systems] Research Symposium and the feedback I got brought my research into better focus and helped to make it much more practical.

Stephen Mallory
Arts, Technology & Emerging Communications
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

What I like best about being a graduate student at UT Dallas is the eclectic, passionate and unique culture in the University.

Kwang Soo Kim
Economic, Political & Policy Sciences
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I really appreciate your contribution for this scholarship. Thanks to you, I could focus on my research and preparation for my presentation at a conference in Seoul, South Korea.

Yulia Vorotyntseva
Management
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Johnson family for establishing this scholarship. It helped me to promote my research by attending the Decision Sciences Institute annual conference at Washington, DC.

Wenwen Huo
Microbiology / Computational Biology
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I attended the American Society of Microbiology annual meeting, one of the most popular conferences in our field. I was selected to give a presentation, which allowed me to share my research and ideas with thousands of colleagues on how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. This scholarship covered the cost of registration and transportation to Boston, where, one day, I hope to obtain an academic position.

Sarah Valente
Holocaust Studies
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I’m grateful, honored and humbled for being the recipient of funds that have been life-changing. I went to Lessons and Legacies, a prestigious Holocaust conference in California. Leading scholars gathered to discuss “Holocaust in the 21^st Century: Relevance and Challenges in the Digital Age,” where I presented my paper, “New Approaches to Holocaust Education in Brazil,” received feedback on my research and made important contacts for my future.

Michael Schraeder
Theatre & Performance Arts
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship helped me present a paper I’d written at the Film and History Association’s conference in Milwaukee. I am very appreciative for the assistance and honored to be selected. It allowed me the opportunity to reacquaint myself with colleagues and network and exchange ideas with others in my field of study.

Michael Neugent
Biological Sciences
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I am incredibly fortunate and thankful to have received these funds. The award has allowed me to attend and present at the Keystone Symposia on Tumor Metabolism in Whistler B.C., Canada. I met with colleagues and attended lectures on new and exciting developments in the field. We are focused on targeting and disrupting the metabolic needs of lung cancers.

Chenxi Liao
Marketing
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

I really appreciate your kindness and generosity. You helped me get the precious opportunity of presenting my paper at the 38^th annual ISMS [Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences - Society for Marketing Science] Marketing Science Conference and networking with academic leaders in our field. It greatly benefits my research and motivates me to do more.

Joseph Beshay
Computer Science
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship allowed me to present my research paper at an engineering conference and network with academic and industry leaders in my field. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and investing in my future.

Ashley Ellsworth
Chemistry
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Thanks to this scholarship I was able to travel to a scientific conference to receive feedback on my current research findings, gain insight into new ideas that will help facilitate my research efforts, network with various companies and establish potential career opportunities. The experience was incredibly valuable.

Jun Hyeon Yoo
Materials Science & Engineering
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship helped me present my research paper at one of the most premier and competitive conferences in miniaturized systems for life sciences. Traveling to South Korea to meet prominent researchers and exchange scholarly ideas was an amazing experience.