namasis-utrgv
Dr. Fahmida Alam
Dr. Fahmida Alam is an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where she is also affiliated with the Ph.D. Program in Materials Science and Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Florida International University and her B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh. Her research focuses on bio-sensing, bio-detection, and self-powered wearable sensor arrays for non-invasive human health monitoring, particularly through sweat-based detection of biomarkers such as lactate, glucose, and cortisol. Dr. Alam’s work aims to develop accurate, reliable, biocompatible, reusable, and environmentally friendly sensing platforms for point-of-care diagnostics, diabetes monitoring, telemedicine, and cancer biomarker detection. With more than 25 publications and conference proceedings, she has contributed significantly to nanomaterial-based biosensors and wearable healthcare technologies. Through her research and student-centered mentoring, Dr. Alam supports applied nanotechnology, accessible healthcare innovation, and STEM education at UTRGV.
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What is Lorem Ipsum?
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Alumni
GM Mehedi
G M Mehedi Hossain completed his M.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Fall 2023–Summer 2025) where he served as a Graduate Research Assistant (Presidential Research Fellow). He holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Bangladesh. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Tiham Fayaz
Tiham Fayaz is currently completing his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). He completed his undergraduate studies at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) in 2022. Tiham has a strong passion for electrochemical biosensors, and his academic journey has been marked by his active participation in the field, having attended six conferences during his time at UTRGV. His dedication to research and growth has led him to pursue a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, where he aims to further explore and contribute to the field of biosensors and related technologies.
Ariana Alvarez
Ariana Alvarez completed her undergraduate studies in Computer Science and worked as an undergraduate research assistant at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in Fall 2023. Currently, she is employed at AMD, where she continues to build on her knowledge and expertise in the field of computer science.
Jazmin Garza
Jazmin Garza is an engineering professional currently pursuing her academic and research interests at Harvard University, where she is building on a strong foundation in science and engineering. Previously, she has gained valuable experience in the engineering sector, including working with American Electric Power, demonstrating her capability to balance both academic rigor and real-world applications. She has worked at Dr. Alam’s lab from October 2023 to May 2024.
PHD
Md Iftekhar Amin
Md Iftekhar Amin completed his undergraduate studies in Materials Science and Engineering at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) in 2022. He then pursued a master’s degree in Applied Statistics at Minnesota State University, where he i graduated in 2025. Currently, Md Iftekhar Amin is pursuing his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), with a focus on nanomaterials synthesis. His research interests lie in the synthesis and applications of advanced nanomaterials, with the goal of making impactful contributions to the field.
Master's
Esteban Padilla
Esteban Padilla is a master’s student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas State University in San Marcos, where he also studied computer engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics. His interests include embedded systems, electronics, and hardware design. Through research and collaborative projects, Esteban has developed experience in electrochemical bio sensing, system design, programming, and technical leadership while pursuing innovative solutions to real-world engineering challenges.
Giovanny Pesina
Giovanny Pesina is an Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate student at UTRGV, pursuing his M.S. with a 4.00 GPA, graduating Spring 2027. As a Graduate Research Assistant, he works on wearable biosensing technology, combining embedded systems, signal acquisition, and hardware integration. His background spans firmware development, PCB design, and machine learning, including prior research in image segmentation and motor control systems. He earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering from UTRGV in 2025
STEM conference 2026
Awards
Outstanding Thesis Award 2025 (Electrical Engineering) STEM Research Conference, April 24, 2026, UTRGV
IMECE 2025 MEMS Division Best Student Paper Award (ASME Int. Mech. Eng. Congr. Expo, Memphis, TN, USA, Nov. 16–20, 2025)
248th ECS Sensor Division Biannual Meeting Travel Grant (Chicago, IL, USA, Oct. 12–16, 2025)
ECE Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Fall 2025
Best Graduate Poster Award (Electrical Engineering), STEM Conference 2025, UTRGV
245th ECS Biannual Meeting Travel Grant (May 26-May 30, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
Presidential Research Fellowship of UTRGV (Sept 2023-Aug 2025)