Faculty Steering Committee

Dean's Scholars Faculty Steering Committee Members:

David Hillis, Dean's Scholars Faculty Director, Integrative Biology

Jeffrey Barrick, Molecular Biosciences

Catilyn Casey, Astronomy

Mirela Ciperiani, Mathematics

Arturo De Lozanne, Molecular Biosciences

Norma Fowler, Environmental Science

Carlos Baiz, Chemistry

Arie Israel, Mathematics

Arlen Johnson, Molecular Biosciences

Adam Kraus, Astronomy

Calvin Lin, Computer Science

Misha Matz, Integrative Biology

Lisa Neff, Human Development and Family Sciences

Tim Perutz, Mathematics

Greg Sitz, Physics

David Vanden Bout, Chemistry

Dean's Scholars Student Association 2022-2023

The Dean’s Scholars Student Association (or DS Council) is an entity of volunteer DSers who plan all of our events, including Friday Lunches, game nights, dinners, weekend trips, and our Distinguished Lecture Series. We focus on preparing our motivated students for successful careers by providing enriching intellectual opportunities and fostering a strong sense of community between members, research faculty, and a vast network of alumni dating back to 1983. Anyone and everyone in DS can join and help out!

Email: deans.scholars.council@gmail.com 

Website: http://deansscholars.org

​​Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/utdeansscholars

Instagram: http://instagram.com/deansscholars

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSHonors

Duaa Ansari

Hello! I am Duaa Ansari, a third-year chemistry major from Sugar Land, TX. My research interests are focused on the intersection of organic and inorganic chemistry. I currently work in the Que Lab where I synthesize and characterize inhibitors for various metalloenzymes! I love to try different cuisines, work on naturesque paintings and drawings, watch movies/shows (especially anything Marvel related), play tennis, and attempt to cook on occasion. I am excited to serve as the 2022-2023 DS Council Chair!

Adar Ambar

Hey! I’m Adar Ambar, a second-year chemistry major with a focus in electrochemistry/material chemistry from Calabasas, CA. I’m currently working in Aubrey Lab where I research new components for magnesium-based batteries, including synthesis of new electrolytes and electrode materials. I’m a big fan of cooking, writing music on my guitar, and playing video games. You can probably recognize me from being the loudest person in a room for no good reason.

Emma Babaian

Hey! I’m Emma, a 3rd-year Neuroscience major/Science Communication minor from Sugar Land, Texas. I work in the Fenno lab, where we bridge molecular engineering, systems neuroscience, and medicine to find new insights into and treatments for psychiatric diseases. In my free time, I love to crochet, swim, play video games, and cook. Here on council, I’m the chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and I’m also involved with council-wide efforts to facilitate mental health support within DS!

Katherine Faulkner  

Hiya! I’m Katherine Faulkner, a fourth year biology track environmental science major from Fort Worth, Texas. I’m interested in paleobiology, and I research foraminifera as a proxy for climate change in the Martindale-Lowery lab. I love reading, drawing, going to museums, and traveling! If you can’t find me, I’m probably in a field lab somewhere climbing around on rocks. I’m happy to share my three years of council wisdom!

Stephanie Kim

Hi!  I’m Stephanie Kim, a 2nd-year Biochemistry major from College Station, Texas.  I am also pursuing pre-medical and forensic science certificate track at UT Austin.  I am currently working in Torii lab, where we focus on stomata development of arabidopsis in response to environmental influences.  I am also interested in psychology, philosophy and astronomy, so I am looking forward to taking related courses in following years.  In my free time, I love to explore new restaurants and dessert places and I also cook and bake a lot.  As a council member, I am mostly involved in arranging social events.  Feel free to talk to me if you want any academic advice, or even emotional support!

Susanna Kim

Hello! My name is Susanna Kim, and I am a second-year biochemistry major from Austin, Texas (hook ‘em)! I am on a pre-dental track and I currently work as a dental assistant in a clinic. I’d love to talk to you if you are finding a dentist or pursuing a pre-dental path! I am also currently in the Supra Sensors FRI lab and a summer fellow for the program. I am researching tannin compositions in seaweed that could be used as an animal feed to decrease the methane production of the ruminants. I have a lot of hobbies: sketching, doing (but being very bad at) card tricks, photography, and solving puzzles. I would describe myself as easygoing and chill, so if you have any questions or random conversations, feel free to talk to me!

Shashwat Limbasia

Hey everyone! I’m Shashwat, a 2nd-year Neuroscience major from Irving, Texas. I am really interested in anything related to biochemistry, and that has led me to pursuing work in the Taylor lab. I am currently investigating the gene editing mechanism, CRISPR-Cas, by optimizing enzyme kinetics and producing cryo-EM structures. In my free time, I love to swim, watch new Hindi movies, go bouldering, and play video games. As council member, I am usually in charge of many of the academic/research events and aid in planning for some social events!

Joanna Liu

Hi everyone! I’m Joanna, a 3rd year Biochemistry major from Corpus Christi, Texas. I’m interested in anything cancer and/or epigenetic related research. I currently mentor for Gene Networks, a FRI stream that focuses on ribonucleoprotein complexes. I’m also a transfer student in DS (applied to Dean’s after my first semester at UT), so if you have any questions please let me know! In my free time, I love to draw, paint, and try new food places in Austin! Within the Council, I help out with basically anything that needs helpers. Connect with me if you have any questions or just want to talk :)

Akhil Mandalapu

Yo! I’m Akhil Mandalapu, a third year public health major from Houston, Texas. I’m interested in researching how urban design shapes public health and how we can design smarter more efficient cities in the Urban Information Lab. I am currently exploring new interests in gardening, web design and falling back in love with reading. I mostly help out on council with initiatives like the website redesign, taking photos at events, the alumni mentorship program and leading a few events here and there. I’m glad to talk about anything regarding UT, research, Dean’s Scholars or Council!

Emily May

Hi, there! My name is Emily, and I am a fourth year Neuroscience major, Philosophy minor from San Antonio and Austin. DS events/Council have been some of, if not the best parts of my college experience. As our previous Council Chair for 2021-2022, I will largely be connecting with our alumni this year and would love to have you be a part of our outreach!

I am passionate about research in neuroendocrine influence on the brain and women’s health and have been looking at neuroimaging research on ovarian hormones and oral contraceptive influence on the brain from a feminist theory lense at University of Northern British Columbia. With the timing of educating ourselves around Roe and its impacts, if you have any questions about contraceptives or women’s health would love to chat or point you in the direction of some resources :). At UT, I work in the Freeman lab comparing MRI processing tools for measures of brain atrophy in patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Phelps lab taking a more molecular neuroscience approach using immunohistochemistry to label two experiences in the prairie vole brain to identify neurons and areas involved in the memory of pair bonding.

As for hobbies, I love to hike (although I’m learning that my hiking is more walking pace and stopping to look around in nature compared to the hiking in Canada) and try new foodie places around Austin- and then cook them.

Sandy Nguyen

Hi friends! I’m Sandy, second-year biology major from Cypress, Texas. I’m poking around in synthetic biology research, which currently entails engineering polymerases in the Ellington lab and caffeine-addicted E. coli in the Microbe Hackers FRI stream. In my nonexistent spare time, I enjoy playing the clarinet, hugging furry animals, baking, and wandering around green spaces.

Abby Roland 

Hi! I'm Abby and I'm a third year biology major from Austin (but don't take that to mean I know how to navigate to a single place). I love epigenetics and I do research in the Kim Lab on stem cell differentiation. My hobbies include: reading, theater, trying to convince my friends to watch Survivor, going on 3am adventures to insomnia cookies, playing dnd, and baking. If you have any questions about DS, DS council, or DS council social cookie-brownies I'd be happy to answer them!

Aileen Vela

Hello! I’m Aileen, a 2nd year Neuroscience major/Turkish minor from San Antonio, Texas. I am interested in research related to neurodegenerative disease, spinal injury, and drug discovery. I am a part of the Virtual Cures FRI stream, which focuses on infectious disease drug discovery. Currently, I am a CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholar (CUPS) conducting a community health needs assessment on infant mortality in Washtenaw County for Michigan Medicine. In my free time, I take photos, crochet, and paint. In Council, I help with outreach for Friday Lunch and take photos of events. If you need a friend or a self-declared coffee connoisseur, please feel free to reach out!

Nikhil Vinod

Hello there! My name Nikhil and I am a sophomore biochemistry major on the premed track and am also pursuing a business minor. I am currently part of the Functional Genomics FRI lab where we  focus on analyzing the phenotypic effects of human histone genes in yeast. My hobbies include drawing, reading manga/watching anime, playing basketball, and a myriad of random hobbies I phase in and out of. I am from Houston, specifically the actual Houston part of Houston. I am always up to help out with anything so feel free to let me know, including the most random idea you might want to do something with.

Admission Selection

The Dean’s Scholars program is highly selective, admitting forty-five to fifty freshmen each year, as well as a small number of upper-class students. Dean’s Scholars seek the intellectual challenge and stimulation of an interdisciplinary program emphasizing scientific research.  Factors in the admission decision are the student’s high school and/or college grades, class rank, the rigor of the courses the student has taken, the quality of the required application essays, a strong recommendation from a math or science instructor, and the student’s interest in math and/or scientific research as demonstrated by extracurricular activities. As Dean’s Scholars, students are oriented toward research and encouraged through their work to perceive the world as presenting questions that can be answered through experimentation.

Program Requirements

Dean’s Scholars is a four-year honors degree program for highly motivated and talented students with a demonstrated interest in math and/or scientific research. Students earn a Bachelor of Science Honors degree, available in most of the majors offered by the College of Natural Sciences.

To remain in good standing in Dean’s Scholars, students are expected to maintain at least a 3.50 grade point average. Students who do not may be dismissed from the program by the faculty director.

Degree Plans

2020-2022 CATALOG

• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Environmental Science
• Human Development and Family Sciences
• Mathematics
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition
• Physics
• Public Health

2018-2020 CATALOG

• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Environmental Science
• Human Development and Family Sciences
• Mathematics
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition
• Public Health
• Physics  

Thesis

General information about thesis expectations can be found here. Forms and department-specific information can be found in the document here. 

Honor Code

The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

The code above was created by University of Texas at Austin students, staff, and faculty and was adopted by the university in 2004.