Science and Tech
New drone lab allows student learning to take flight
Professor of Electrical Engineering Bahman Rezaie, Ph.D., used his 2017-2018 sabbatical to recruit Engineering seniors to his cause — creating a drone lab from the ground up and helping the students complete their senior design projects in the process.
Biology professor’s mosquito genome research lands in Nature
The world’s deadliest creature is not what you might expect. “The number of human lives taken yearly by all animals combined — including humans — still falls short of the lives taken by mosquito-borne diseases,” said Sourav Roy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences.
Engineer and former Air Force pilot sees the future in space
In Washington, D.C., within the walls of the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters, Ravi Chaudhary, D.L.S. (M.S. ’99), is tasked with a job as big as the sky.
St. Mary’s sisterhood of science
More than a decade ago, Larissa N. Riojas, D.O. (B.S. ’08), did not realize that one choice — attending St. Mary’s University — would lead her five younger sisters to follow into her footsteps. The six sisters from Weslaco have all studied at St. Mary’s University’s School of Science, Engineering and Technology.
St. Mary’s student produces hot research on supervolcano
A small team of scientists, including St. Mary’s University student Rebeca Gurrola, embarked on a journey at Yellowstone National Park in Summer 2017.
The Solar Savant
When Supratim Srinivasan (B.S. ’11) was first considering where to attend college, it didn’t occur to him that a Catholic university almost 9,000 miles away from his native India would factor into his decision — and forever brighten his future.
Goodwill grows in St. Mary’s hidden garden
People might not know that for many years Marianist brothers on the St. Mary’s University campus maintained a garden located behind the Center for Legal and Social Justice.
Industrial Engineering graduates set precedent for international students
Generally speaking, companies and organizations hesitate to hire interns if they aren’t U.S. citizens. Some won’t hire international students at all.
First Line of Defense
When graduate students Goutham Dhongadi Rukmasah and Erick Buenrostro completed their studies in December, they became the first graduates ever to leave St. Mary’s University with a master’s degree in Cybersecurity.
Virtually Unstoppable
For 20 years while in the Marine Corps, Henry Idar earned a reputation as a solid mechanic, but he has felt the draw of computers for a while.
Building a value network
Blair Labatt III, director of information technology at one of the largest food service distributors in the nation, personally visits St. Mary’s University each year to handpick Engineering students to intern at Labatt Food Service’s San Antonio headquarters.
Enchanted Rock Field Trips — A St. Mary’s Tradition
Once a semester, the Department of Physics and Environmental Science at St. Mary’s University takes students from its Introduction to Geology class to Enchanted Rock — a massive, dome-shaped pink granite batholith near Fredericksburg.
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New St. Mary’s Law professor finds her passion in teaching
After stints working in Big Law and having her own practice, Melissa Shultz, J.D., St. Mary’s University Assistant Dean for Legal Writing and Professor of Law, found her true calling in the classroom.
Recent J.D. graduate accepts prestigious federal clerkship
Berenis Ibarra López (J.D. ’24) accepted a 2026-2027 clerkship with the Hon. Irma Carrillo Ramirez, J.D., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. López is currently a law clerk for the Hon.
Rattler Den Food and Hygiene Pantry open to students
Launched in Fall 2023, the Rattler Den is a full pantry located in the Center for Life Directions, and free to all St. Mary's students.