Three undergraduate researchers at Texas State University's NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (CIMA) — Mahesh Ghimire, Ashok Paudel and Arriana Salazar — have received Undergraduate Research Fellowships to support projects exploring potential applications in nerve regeneration, cancer treatment, and quantum technologies.
Each of the three students received $1,000 to help support their research projects. In general, Texas State University awards approximately 10 to 12 fellowships each semester, with funding available for research equipment, materials and other project expenses.
The three students conduct research under the mentorship of Tania Betancourt, chemistry and biochemistry professor at Texas State and PREM CIMA PI and Director. Paudel is also mentored by Yoichi Miyahara, PI is the physics department at Texas State.
Ghimire is investigating electrically conductive polymer-coated nanofibers for potential applications in nerve regeneration, while Paudel is exploring the assembly of DNA-linked nanoparticles for potential use in quantum computing. Salazar is studying the combined use of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy, using drug-loaded conductive polymer nanoparticles, for potential applications in cancer treatment.
The fellowships will support the students' ongoing research, with recipients expected to complete their projects and present their findings to the university community.
