openings for graduate students

The MAO group has two openings for motivated graduate students. Please contact Prof. Mao for details.

new journal publication

A new article:
Facile Molten Salt Synthesis of Double Perovskite La2BMnO6 Nanoparticles,
RSC Adv., 2012, 2 (33), 12675 - 12678

Postdoc postion for DARPA project

A Postdoctoral research position is currently available for a DARPA project. The research will focus on the development of scalable, alternate synthetic pathways, e.g. supercritical crystal growth, templated growth, and hydrothermal synthesis, for extended phases of CO2 amenable at ambient conditions, and the investigation of their novel properties.

Please respond with a CV and three names of reference to Professor Mao, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539. E-mail address: maoy at utpa dot edu.

DARPA project

Congrats! The MAO group and two other PIs have teamed up for an over $3M DARPA project to develop novel high energy density forms of extended low-Z solids, amenable to scale-up synthesis and stabilization at ambient conditions.

Welcome, new students: 1 graduate and 3 UGs!

One graduate student, two freshmen and one junior joined the MAO group and started to get their hands wet on fascinating research projects!

GRC-Solid State Chemistry

In late July, Dr. Mao attended the Gordon Research Conference-Solid State Chemistry held at Colby-Sawyer College.

Welcome and congrats, Dorothy!

Dorothy joined the group as a member of the UTPA'S CE-STEM research program this October. The Center of Excellence in STEM Education (CE-STEM) is funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense through the Army Research Office and managed by the Office of Naval Research and supported by The University of Texas-Pan American.

Prof. L. Sun's visit

Dr. Luyi Sun from Texas State University-San Marcos visited the MAO group on Sep. 24 and gave a seminar on "Valuable Materials Derived from Rice Husk Biomass".

AFOSR project

Big congrats! The Mao research group is working on a new hydrogen storage project funded by AFOSR starting from September 2012.

Best Chemistry Graduate poster!

Congrats, Xing, for winning the Best Chemistry Graduate poster award!

PREM TAB Meeting 2012

While many students from the MAO research group presented posters for the 2012 HESTEC week held on the UTPA campus, Dr. Mao gave a presentation titled "Heterogeneous Nanomaterials for Energy Storage Applications" as a co-PI for the Technical Advisory Broad meeting of the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program, funded by the NSF.

Welcome, Jinbo!

The first postdoctoral fellow joined the MAO group at mid-September.

ACS South Texas Local Section meeting

On Sep. 7th, Dr. Mao gave a talk on "Nanochemistry at UTPA" during the dinner for the Local Section meeting held at UT-Bronwsville.

244th ACS National Meeting

Dr. Mao and Edna attended the meeting in Philadephia, PA. Dr. Mao gave an oral presentation titled "Functional Complex Oxide Nanomaterials" on August 19th, 2012. As a Sophomore, Edna presented a poster on Aug. 21.

Group BBQ + Farewell to Aleksey and Andrix

Aleksey and Andrix, good job at PanAm and best wishes to your future endeavors!

At Edinburg Municipal Park, July 13, 2012.

An HS student supported by HHMI

Welcome, Kathryn, a student of Edinburg North High School, to participate into our research work, as part of the 2012 High School Summer Internship Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) at UTPA.  Thanks alos to Suresh for guiding her on research.

Two MUSE high school students

We are glad to have 2 HS students supported by the Migrant University Summer Experience (MUSE) spent some time in our research lab. Thanks to Qiang and Xing for guiding them on research.

Outreach at Jefferson Elementary School

On May 8th, Dr. Mao gave a 45-minute science demonstration to more than 40 fourth graders at the Jefferson Elementary School, Edinburg, TX.

Visit of Shandong University

On June 14th, Dr. Mao visited Shandong University and gave an invited seminar: http://www.ygb.sdu.edu.cn/html/xssk/sxjt/201206/15-7668.html.

Visit by Prof. Z. Guo

On May 28th, Professor John Zhanhu Guo, from the Integrated Composites Laboratory (ICL), Chemical Engineering Department, Lamar University, visited Prof. Mao, Multifunctional Applications of Oxides (MAO) lab, Dr. Lozano and Dr. Whelan at UTPA. Prof. Guo gave an invited talk on "Magnetic Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation”.

Farewell party for Michelle!

Held on April 27th by Michelle.

Congrats, Yesenia!

For being accepted as part of the NSF-LSAMP Undergraduate Research Program.

Visit of Lamar University

On May 14th, Dr. Mao gave an invited talk at Lamar University: http://dept.lamar.edu/zhanhu/icl/news.htm.

Congrats to our grats!

Congrats to Alekesy, Andrix and Michelle, for your successful admission to Rice Uni. (Graduate School), TAMU-Kingsville (Phamacy School) and UT Health Science Center (Medical School)! Well done!

Postdoc position available

With the continuous support of DTRA of DoD, another Postdoctoral position for research on the wet chemistry synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles and investigation of their luminescent properties.

Please respond with a CV and three names of reference to Professor Mao, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539. E-mail address: maoy at utpa dot edu.

new research grant

Congrats! Another two-year grant from DTRA of DoD has been procured!

Visit of TAMU

On Feb. 8th, Dr. Mao gave an invited talk on 'Metal Oxide Nanomaterials' at the Texas A&M University: http://events.chem.tamu.edu/node/1587.

New publication about ITO!

A paper entitled "Large-scale synthesis of tin-doped indium oxide nanofibers using water as solvent" has been accepted for publication in the journal of Functional Materials Letters (FML). The co-authors are A. Altecor (undergraduate student), Y. Mao and K. Lozano (Professor of Mechanical Engineering)

Congrats, Edna!

Congratulations, Edna, for being accepted into the UTPA Center for Excellence in STEM Student Research Program:
http://portal.utpa.edu/utpa_main/daa_home/coecs_home/stemgrant_home/center_activities/student_research.
Keep up the good work!

Group BBQ!

New semester just started, spring is here, so go BBQ in southern Texas (Jan. 21, 2012)!

Judge at Local Science & Engineering Fair

At the Weslaco ISD Secondary District Science and Engineering Fair: Saturday, January 21 from 8:00 am - 12 noon, Central Middle School in Weslaco.

Christmas dinner!

After one-year hard work, we enjoyed our potluck-style Christmas dinner and took a short break.

Wei and Joel missed the dinner, though.