Scenes of students, staff, faculty and graduates on campus
The Lens
2025 Digital Issue
Stories
From the Dean
Designed to Discover
Welcome to the latest edition of The Lens, where we celebrate the remarkable achievements and innovative spirit within the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at The University of Texas at Dallas.
UT DALLAS PRESIDENT
Welcome, Dr. Moghe
Dr. Prabhas V. Moghe arrived on campus last summer with a focus on solidifying The University’s value to the region and industry partners. Moghe is a champion for academic excellence, undergraduate and graduate success, and for strengthened faculty recruitment and advancement.
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
New Master’s Degree Boosts AI Skills in Biomedical Sciences
UT Dallas established a new Master of Science degree in artificial intelligence for biomedical sciences and a related certificate program to help meet workforce demands in the rapidly growing, data-driven sectors of health and medical fields.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved NSM’s degree program, which launched in the fall of 2025.
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Artificial Muscles Spring into Action
Researchers have invented a new, inexpensive method for fabricating artificial muscles for potential use in robots, in comfort-adjusting jackets that become more thermally insulating as the air becomes colder, and as mechanical energy harvesters.
CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY
RIP Forever Chemicals? Reducing PFAS’ Lifespans
Dr. Mario Wriedt is investigating the use of metal-organic frameworks to physically bind to and remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated sites, including water resources.
COSMOLOGY & RELATIVITY
Our Evolving Universe
A new analysis of data collected over three years by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration provides strong evidence that dark energy, long thought to be a “cosmological constant,” might be evolving over time in unexpected ways.
ALUMNI RELATIONS
Honoring Aziz Sancar
UT Dallas honored one of its most distinguished alumni, Aziz Sancar, MD, PhD’77, for his enduring impact on science and society by marking the tenth anniversary of his Nobel Prize in chemistry.
PHYSICS
The Physics of ABC Stacking
Dr. Fan Zhang and his team are investigating how structures made from several layers of graphene stack up in terms of their fundamental physics and their potential as reconfigurable semiconductors for advanced electronics.
INDUSTRY STARTUP
Alum Brings Access to Period Care
What began as a frustrating inconvenience sparked an idea that would eventually lead Kelly Cody BS ’18, MS ’19 to launch Periodic Vending Solutions (Periodic), a company reshaping how menstrual products are dispensed in public spaces.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Exploring Evolution: Galápagos
Led by Dr. Faruck Morcos, the trip focused on the evolutionary history, biodiversity and geophysics of the islands, offering students a rare opportunity to connect classroom learning with real world exploration.
CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY
A Formula for Foam
Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have fused chemistry with technology to create a 3D-printed foam that is more durable and more recyclable than the polymer foam found in many everyday products.
SUSTAINABLE EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCES