UTRGV School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences

06/01/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Zhijun Qiao on several outstanding recent achievements!

Dr. Qiao, Professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, has received two Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Awards for his service as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics:

• Editorial Contribution Award
• Author Service Award

These honors recognize exceptional leadership, dedication to scholarly publishing, and service to the international research community.

📘 In addition, Dr. Qiao recently published a research monograph with Springer, Integrable Peakon Systems, representing a significant contribution to the fields of integrable systems and mathematical physics.

Learn more about the book:
https://link.springer.com/book/9783032177780

We congratulate Dr. Qiao on these remarkable accomplishments and thank him for bringing further recognition to SMSS and UTRGV.

05/28/2026

☀️ Registration is open for the UTRGV Center of Excellence in STEM Education Summer Camps!

The camps offer engaging STEM activities for both elementary and middle school students this summer.

📚 Middle School Camps
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• June 22 – June 26
• July 6 – July 10
Cost: $200

📚 Elementary School Camps
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• June 1 – June 5
• June 8 – June 12
Cost: $150

These camps provide students with exciting opportunities to explore STEM through hands-on learning and interactive activities. We encourage families to take advantage of this great summer experience!

05/26/2026

🎓 Please join SMSS in congratulating Dr. Jose De Jesus Galarza on the successful completion of his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at UTRGV.

In April, Dr. Galarza defended his dissertation, “Data Driven Monitoring and Control of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process,” under the supervision of Dr. Farid Ahmed, with Dr. Tamer Oraby serving as co-advisor. Last week, UTRGV officially conferred his doctoral degree.

Dr. Galarza’s academic and professional journey reflects a strong interdisciplinary background spanning engineering, applied mathematics, statistics, machine learning, and manufacturing research. His work integrates data-driven modeling, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing applications, including automated defect detection and surface roughness estimation in manufacturing systems.

Throughout his graduate studies, his research resulted in publications and presentations across mathematics, engineering, and machine learning conferences and journals, including Manufacturing Letters, Machine Learning: Science and Technology, and the Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing.

We are proud of Dr. Galarza’s accomplishments and excited to see the continued impact of his work across multiple disciplines. Congratulations, Dr. Galarza!

05/25/2026

🎓 Please join SMSS in congratulating Dr. Jena Gregory on the successful completion of her Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications at UTRGV.

In April, Dr. Gregory defended her dissertation, “Combinatorial Statistics Witnessing an Infinite Family of Congruences for a Sum of Partition Functions,” under the supervision of Dr. Brandt Kronholm. This week, UTRGV officially conferred her doctoral degree.

A non-traditional student in the SMSS doctoral program, Dr. Gregory balanced her graduate studies while teaching Pre-Calculus and Calculus to dual enrollment students at the UTRGV Mathematics and Science Academy.

We are proud of her accomplishment and grateful for her dedication to both mathematics and student success. Congratulations, Dr. Gregory!

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

🎓 SMSS recently hosted a hooding ceremony honoring students graduating with an MS in Mathematics, an MS in Applied Statistics and Data Science, and a PhD in Mathematics and Statistics with Interdisciplinary Applications.

During the ceremony, graduates were hooded by their advisors, symbolizing the successful completion of their graduate studies and their transition from students to academic colleagues.

Held prior to UTRGV Commencement, the event provided a more personal setting for graduates to celebrate this important milestone alongside their families, mentors, and peers.

Congratulations to all of our graduates on this outstanding achievement — we are proud of you and excited for what comes next!

05/20/2026

🎉 Please join SMSS in congratulating Dr. Ben Onofa on his retirement at the end of this academic year.

Over many years of dedicated service to UTRGV and its legacy institutions, Dr. Onofa made lasting contributions to our students, colleagues, and the field of statistics. His expertise in experimental design and compartmental modeling helped shape both research and teaching within SMSS.

Dr. Onofa’s scholarship included work in stochastic compartmental models and mathematical biology, along with contributions to statistics education and outreach. His commitment to students and the university community has left a meaningful impact on our school.

Thank you, Dr. Onofa, for your years of service, mentorship, and dedication to SMSS. We wish you happiness, good health, and all the best in your retirement.

05/18/2026

🎉 Please join SMSS in congratulating Dr. Tim Huber on receiving the UTRGV Faculty Impact in Service Award.

This prestigious recognition honors faculty whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on the university, the community, and their profession.

A former SMSS Director and now Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in the College of Sciences, Dr. Huber has contributed greatly to the growth and success of our school and university through years of leadership, mentorship, and service. His commitment to students, faculty, and the UTRGV community truly reflects the spirit of this award.

Congratulations, Dr. Huber, on this well-deserved honor!

05/15/2026

🎉 Please join SMSS in congratulating Dr. Jerzy Mogilski on his retirement at the end of this academic year.

Over many years of dedicated service to UTRGV and its legacy institutions, Dr. Mogilski made lasting contributions to our students, colleagues, and the mathematical community. His work in topology and infinite-dimensional topology, along with his contributions to mathematics education and active learning, helped shape the strong academic foundation of SMSS.

Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Mogilski was a valued mentor, educator, and collaborator whose impact will continue to be felt across our school.

Thank you, Dr. Mogilski, for your years of service, scholarship, and commitment to SMSS. We wish you happiness, good health, and a wonderful retirement chapter ahead.

01/28/2026

🎓 ISQGD Distinguished Lecture Announcement

Join us for the upcoming ISQGD Distinguished Lecture (DL06) featuring
Professor Patrick D. Shipman

📍 University of Arizona, USA
🗓 Friday, January 30, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM (US Central Time)
💻 Online via Zoom

This lecture is part of the International Seminar on Quantization, Geometry, and Dynamics (ISQGD) and is open to students, faculty, researchers, and collaborators worldwide.

🎥 ISQGD lectures are professionally recorded and archived, ensuring long-term global visibility and impact.

🔗 Zoom link, time zone conversion, and additional details:
https://faculty.utrgv.edu/mrinal.roychowdhury/ISQGD.html

We encourage you to attend and share this opportunity with interested colleagues and students.