myUTSAUTSA TodayVisitDirectorySearch
myUTSAUTSA TodayVisitDirectorySearch

Biomedical Engineering

  • Programs
    • Program Overview
    • Undergraduate Program
      • Undergraduate Research
    • Joint Graduate Program
  • Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Research
  • Advisory Board
  • News & Announcements
    • Seminars
  • Contact
    • Department Information
UTSA CEID
 July 6, 2022

Graduating senior Alisa Isaac is an NSF Fellowship Recipient

Graduating senior Alisa Isaac is an NSF Fellowship Recipient

by utsaengineer / Monday, 15 May 2017 / Published in Biomedical Engineering

Meet Alisa Isaac. She is one of the two UTSA College of Engineering students who received a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. According to the NSF, this fellowship program nurtures innovation and leadership in the United States by recruiting and supporting outstanding students with high potential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“Not many undergraduate students are aware that the NSF Fellowship application is available before they are admitted into graduate school,” said Isaac. “My sister Kameel (a Ph.D student at The University of Texas – Austin) told me to take advantage of this great opportunity and I am so glad I did.”

Isaac’s parents helped her with her personal essay for the fellowship, and they were extremely proud of her once they heard the news that she was one of the winners.

“I didn’t think I was going to receive the fellowship because my GPA is not highly competitive,” said Isaac. “But my family and co-workers at the Institute of Surgical Research (ISR) encouraged me to apply. I believe it’s extremely important to apply to every scholarship that you qualify for, because you never really know what the committees may be looking for.”

Isaac, a senior biomedical engineering student, was born and raised in Tokyo but moved quite a bit due to her father working for the Air Force. She has been living in San Antonio for 10 years and now calls it home.

Isaac was inspired to apply for the fellowship because the award could open many doors for her and help finance her research in biomaterials, applications in tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. She hopes to make new discoveries in the biomedical field in her graduate work that will be supported by the fellowship that provides three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period consisting of a $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the graduate institution.

Isaac enjoys her time at UTSA and is appreciative of the opportunities that come from being a student in the College of Engineering. She said that she notices many students take time off between their undergraduate and graduate degrees, but what keeps her going is the thought of completing her education.

“I don’t want to be in a position where I regret not continuing my education, I’d rather push on through,” she said.

Besides studying, Isaac also enjoys dancing (especially hip hop and jazz), traveling, and cooking. Isaac is involved with many organizations at UTSA: she is the president of Tau Beta Pi an engineering honor society, a UTSA Ambassador, and a member of Texas Angels which is a group of young women focused on empowerment, networking, and service. Additionally, Isaac is currently conducting research at an internship at the Institute of Surgical Research.

“I enjoy being able to be creative and analyze problems in the research environment,” she said. “Being an intern at ISR, I walk through the hospital to reach the research center and along the way I see the injured soldiers for whom I conduct research for. That helps me get through my long days!”

Isaac says that her mentor, Christine Kowalczewski, aspires her every day with her positivity, especially in the lab. Kowalczewski helped prepare her for graduate school by teaching her lab techniques and how to create experiments to address medical problems, and she also helped proof read and hone her proposal for the fellowship.

Isaac said winning National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship will make it much easier for her to follow her research interests after she completes her bachelor’s degree at UTSA and she hopes that fellowship will open new doors that will make her stand out a little bit more from the other Ph.D. students when applying for future jobs.

“I appreciate that the NSF committee took the time to look through my essays and see the potential that I have.” Isaac said. “They thoroughly read my essays and provided feedback, rather than having a GPA cut-off requirement. I am so thankful for this opportunity.”

by Raul Tutiven/College of Engineering

Categories

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Civil and Environmental
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • COE Announcements
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • General
  • News
  • UTSA COE

Recent Posts

  • Engineering Alumnus Secures $25,000 Investment

    Alt-Bionics, founded by UTSA alumnus Ryan Saave...
  • Save the Date: UTSA Tech Symposium 2021, Virtual Showcase on Friday, April 30

    Join UTSA’s College of Engineering this Friday,...
  • Roadrunners You Should Know: Student demonstrating leadership during first year at UTSA

    JUNE 11, 2020 — First-year Top Scholar and Hono...
  • Five Roadrunner scholars honored with NSF fellowships

    MAY 27, 2020 – Two current UTSA students and th...
  • Two Honors College juniors receive prestigious Goldwater scholarship

    APRIL 6, 2020 — UTSA students Naomi Alyafe...

Archives

  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • March 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Applied Engineering Building (AET)
Room 1.102 One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249

Phone: 210-458-7084
Fax: 210-458-7007

Contact COE Webmaster: coe@utsa.edu

BME Mission
The Department of Biomedical Engineering is committed to providing a learning environment that encourages discovery and advancement for the betterment of its students and the community. Through its biomedical engineering educational programs, externally funded research and public service, the Department seeks to serve the professional training needs of San Antonio, south central Texas, and beyond. It is committed to developing well-rounded, competitive biomedical engineering professionals to support the University's mission.

UTSA Mission
The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development–for Texas, the nation and the world.

© 2021 The University of Texas at San Antonio | One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249 | Information 210-458-4011
Campus Alerts | Jobs | Required Links | Policies | UT System | Report Fraud
Produced by University Communications and Marketing

TOP