August 26, 2024

Congressman Castro Announces Six-Figure NSF Grant to Support Undergraduate STEM Programs at St. Mary’s University

SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that St. Mary’s University in San Antonio will receive a $132,938 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand laboratory and research opportunities for students in the Environmental Science, Forensic Science, and Biology programs. The grant was provided through NSF’s Improving Undergraduate Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions program, which supports the academic success of STEM majors from underrepresented backgrounds.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to vote for new investments in STEM education that help San Antonio students prepare for high-tech careers. This grant will expand hands-on research opportunities at St. Mary’s University and allow our students to deepen the technical and analytical skills they need in the workforce. San Antonio’s colleges and universities lead the nation in STEM programs for underrepresented students and I’m glad to support their vital work,” said Congressman Castro.

"This grant will allow St. Mary’s University to acquire one of the most-used instruments in the biological community, a MiSeq next-generation DNA sequencer, which will provide unparalleled laboratory and research opportunities for our students in our Environmental Science, Forensic Science and Biology programs. This advanced instrumentation is rarely available at primarily undergraduate institutions like St. Mary’s and I am honored to be able to bring this level of analytical power to our campus through this NSF grant," said Melissa Karlin, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at St. Mary’s University.

To learn more about this grant award, click here.

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