The Texas State U-RISE Program is led by an experienced team of scholar-educators who are passionate about preparing undergraduate students for biomedical research careers.
Dr. Karen A. Lewis (Contact PD/PI) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy at the University of Texas Health – San Antonio. She is graduate faculty in the Chemistry and Biochemistry M.S. programs and has a courtesy graduate appointment in the Department of Biology. Her biochemistry and biophysics research program is supported by an NIH AREA grant (GM119096); in her lab, she has supervised the undergraduate research of over 40 students, and an additional 11 students at the terminal M.S. level. Of these students, 12 have matriculated to biomedical Ph.D. programs. She is as an active mentor in several research training and academic support programs at Texas State University, including the South Texas Doctoral Bridge Program (GM102783) and the Bridges to Biomedicine Baccalaureate Bridge Program (GM107759), the CheMIE summer REU program (NSF 1757843), and the H-LSAMP Program (NSF 1911310). Additionally, she has served as the faculty advisor for the Texas State Biochemistry Society student organization since 2016. She is a CIMER-trained Facilitator for Entering Mentoring, with an emphasis on undergraduate research, and has collaborated with Texas State colleagues to facilitate Entering Mentoring training.
Dr. Sean M. Kerwin (PD/PI) is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, with an adjunct appointment with the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a credentialed graduate faculty in the Chemistry and Biochemistry M.S. programs as well as the Material Science, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship Ph.D. program at TxState. His medicinal chemistry research program is supported by NSF (1955432), with prior support from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) (RP160852), and the Owens Foundation. He has extensive administrative experience directing training programs, having served at UT Austin as director of the Honors Programs and PharmD/PhD programs for 13 years, as well as the PI and director of the Pharmacy Student Research Training Program. Dr. Kerwin has chaired or served as member on over 25 PhD dissertation committees. In addition, Dr. Kerwin served on admissions committees for PhD programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology. Dr. Kerwin is also a CIMER-trained Facilitator for Entering Mentoring, and has collaboratively facilitated Entering Mentoring training at Texas State.
Dr. Robert J.C. McLean (PD/PI) is a Regents’ Professor in the Department of Biology. During his 30 years as an independent PI, Dr. McLean’s microbiology research program has been supported by NSF and NASA. He has mentored over 70 undergraduate students in his lab, as well as supervised >30 M.S. students and one Ph.D. student. He has extensive experience with expectations of Ph.D. programs, as he has served on Ph.D. committees of students at Rice University, University of Texas, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Queen’s University in Canada. His excellent preparation of trainees has enabled several alumni to successfully complete PhD degrees in highly competitive programs, and three alumni currently hold Carnegie R1 faculty positions. Dr. McLean has been Senior Personnel on two federally-funded institutional training programs at Texas State, both of which supported the STEM development and success of UR students: the NSF-funded NanoTRA for nanomaterials bioengineering (NSF 1242087) and two NIH-funded Bridges to Biomedicine Program (GM058375 and GM107759).
Dr. Carolyn Chang (Program Coordinator) is non-tenure line Program Faculty in the College of Science and Engineering. She currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the NIH-funded (R25) South Texas Doctoral Bridge Program. From this experience, Dr. Chang will play a critical role in facilitating the professional development of trainees, as well as providing guidance to ensure the successfully enter top-tier PhD programs upon graduation through formal and informal training. She will be the instructor of record for the U-RISE section of University Seminar (US1100), and will continue to be the instructor for the M.S.-level Fundamentals of Research (CHEM5395), a core class for Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry master’s students that includes NIH-approved Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) curriculum. Dr. Chang is a CIMER-certified Facilitator for the Entering Research and Entering Mentoring programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. In collaboration with the PD/PIs, Dr. Chang will provide RCR training to U-RISE Scholars through a sophomore-year RCR Bootcamp and weekly development seminars.
Dr. Wendi David (Academic Advisor) is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Undergraduate Academic Advisor for Chemistry & Biochemistry. Dr. David will serve as academic advisor for appointed U-RISE Scholars. With over 15 years of experience at Texas State, including service on the University Curriculum Committee and mentoring of undergraduate researchers, she has extensive knowledge of degree plans, coursework, and co-curricular opportunities that will support U-RISE Scholars in their academic planning. Dr. David is also the faculty advisor for the Pre-Pharmacy student organization. Her role in U-RISE will augment the academic advising that each scholar receives from their home college/department. Dr. David will ensure that U-RISE Scholars achieve academic success in preparation for doctoral studies in biomedical sciences, and will provide counsel as they balance the demands of coursework and undergraduate research.