Student Highlight: Conacyt Fellowships
Andres Aguirre and Regino Santos Fernandez, two materials science and engineering research assistants, have recently been awarded Conacyt fellowships. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología or Conacyt is Mexico’s national agency responsible for scientific and technological advancement. They offer a fellowship for students to pursue a graduate degree in science and engineering abroad. Having the support of Conacyt allows students to access the best education in the world.
Aguirre and Santos Fernandez are both part of Department Head Manuel Quevedo’s research group. Quevedo was also awarded a Conacyt fellowship while in graduate school. Santos Fernandez says Conacyt helps him by contributing to his tuition and fees as well as providing a monthly stipend. This has enabled him to dedicate more time to his research and classes, which he spent on grading or teaching assistant duties in the past.
Santos Fernandez’s research is focused on the obtaining of single-crystal perovskite materials. His goal is to engineer devices that use these materials he is growing as active mediums to detect different types of radiation like X-ray, gamma-ray, neutrons, etc. When asked what inspired him to pursue this topic for research, he said, “I felt connected and inspired each time I was in the lab experimenting, the opportunity to know how things work and why was what made me decide to pursue my graduate studies.”
In his first year at UT Dallas, Aguirre is developing radiation detectors which first sparked his interest “During my bachelor’s in engineering physics, I learned about the fundamental nature of the universe that surrounds us and how we can reach unique solutions to real-world problems using an engineering framework,” Aguirre said. “Pursuing a graduate degree in materials science and engineering was the best way to continue and deepen my understanding of how the world around us works and apply physics to create new and innovating technology.”
Aguirre chose UT Dallas MSE because the program is “recognized for developing high-level students who are well versed in the scientific and technological aspects of development, implementation, and control of new and improved materials for various application areas. The world-class faculty has a great spirit of working with enthusiasm to explore ideas that positively impact our daily lives.”
Santos Fernandez continued saying that “UT Dallas MSE is a program with a large multicultural environment where professors, staff and fellow students are willing to help with the professional and personal development of the students. Here, the ideas and different ways of thought are welcomed, which results in a richer environment for science and discovery.”
Part of the reason Aguirre fell in love with materials science and engineering was seeing the passion his father, Dr. Francisco Servando Aguirre, had for his research. Francisco Aguirre was a postdoc here under Dr. Robert Wallace from 2004-2006. “Cultivating that curiosity in me, and always giving me the means and tools to keep learning about whatever it was that I found interesting is what brought me to where I am now: studying at the same university my dad did some of his most inspired work,” Aguirre said. His father is currently working in Cimav-Unidad Monterrey on single crystal and thin-film hybrid perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications.