Get to Know Lizette
As a Tier One research institution with a large population of first-generation students just like her, UT San Antonio was the perfect university for Lizette Rodriguez to pursue her budding interest in physics and the world of innovative research. The Bold Promise program, which provides qualifying students with four academic years of fully-covered tuition and mandatory fees, allowed Lizette to dedicate more time to her studies and research opportunities.
Becoming a Researcher
Lizette participated in several research opportunities at UT San Antonio. She served as a lab assistant on a research project focused on groups of stars called open clusters. With the guidance of David Silva, PhD, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Center for Space Technology and Operation Research, she developed a new method to map some of these open clusters, which was featured in a presentation at a Southwest Research Institute conference. She also gained access to the Gaia Database, a European Space Agency satellite launched in 2023, to aid her research efforts. These experiences adequately prepared her for her future career as a physics researcher. After graduation, Lizette plans to pursue a doctorate in physics.
“The mix of unique research opportunities and approachable faculty [at UT San Antonio]...creates space for students like me to really pursue our interests.”