Grants from Texas Global Awarded Across Nine Colleges and Schools

Texas Global supports faculty at The University of Texas at Austin by providing funding for international research, teaching, publishing, and event collaborations that advance the university’s mission of global engagement. During the Spring 2025 funding cycle, Texas Global awarded $81,500 to 14 faculty members across nine colleges and schools. 

To date, faculty across 17 colleges and schools have received a total of more than $1.8 million in awards for global engagement initiatives. The Texas Global Funding Opportunities page provides a complete overview of the various grants and forms of financial support available to UT Austin faculty.   

Faculty Research Seed Grant 

Texas Global’s Faculty Research Seed Grant provides funding across all disciplines to UT Austin faculty and their global research collaborators to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

The grant helps develop new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships between UT Austin and higher education institutions and organizations around the world. Texas Global awards Faculty Research Seed Grants on a semiannual basis, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester. 

Spring 2025 recipients:

Tom Devitt 

Assistant Professor of Practice, Freshman Research Initiative, College of Natural Sciences 
“Species Discovery of Amphibians and Reptiles in Northern and Central Mexico: Identifying Key Biodiversity Areas for Conservation” 
In partnership with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Zaragoza, Mexico 

Hanlin Li 

Assistant Professor, School of Information 
“Fostering Sustainable and Equitable Worker-AI Collaboration Through Algorithmic Collective Action” 
In partnership with the University of Waterloo, Canada 

Wei Li 

Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering 
“Microfluidic-assisted Synthesis of Bio-based Nanogels for Photodynamic Therapy” 
In partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico 

Ashley Moran 

Research Scientist and Lecturer, Government, College of Liberal Arts 
“Improving Constitutional Consultations in Polarized Contexts” 
In partnership with Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile 

Sandro Sessarego 

Professor, Spanish & Portuguese, College of Liberal Arts 
“Documenting Afro-Guatemalan Language Varieties and Cultures” 
In partnership with Universidad Dr. Mariano Gálvez de Guatemala, Guatemala  

Michael Webber 

John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, and Sid Richardson Chair, LBJ School of Public Affairs 
“Rethinking Wastewater Treatment Plants within the Water-Energy Nexus: A Life Cycle Approach for Energy Self-Sufficiency and Policy Decision-Making” 
In partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico 

Global Virtual Exchange 

The Global Virtual Exchange (GVE) initiative contributes to the University’s mission of integrating global perspectives and innovative teaching practices into the curriculum. GVE funds support faculty in co-creating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses with peers at universities around the world. The courses foster meaningful, sustainable, and accessible international experiences for UT Austin students and those at partnering institutions, deepening students’ understanding of subject matter and expanding their global perspectives while they engage in project-based learning.  

Spring 2025 recipients:

Christina Fragale 

Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Special Education, College of Education 
“Exploring Culture and Disability in Singapore and U.S.” 
In partnership with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

Adrien Smith 

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Germanic Studies, College of Liberal Arts 
“Yiddish Storytelling in Austin and Melbourne: A Global Virtual Exchange Proposal” 
In partnership with Monash University, Australia  

Faculty Travel Planning Grant 

Texas Global’s Faculty Travel Planning Grants can benefit UT Austin faculty members working to establish connections abroad to satisfy eligibility requirements for Texas Global funding opportunities. These grants afford faculty the unique opportunity to explore possibilities, develop connections and seek potential initiatives within their international networks in order to produce other high-quality Texas Global funding proposals.  

Spring 2025 recipients:

Kate Catterall  

Associate Professor, Design, College of Fine Arts 
“Exploring Design and Culture in Mexico City” 
In partnership with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 

Stephanie Holmsten 

Associate Professor, Government/International Relations and Global Studies, College of Liberal Arts 
“UT in Panama City: Foundations in International Relations and Global Studies” 
In partnership with City of Knowledge, Panama 

Jung Kwak 

Associate Professor, School of Nursing 
“Advancing Person-Centered Dementia Care in Super-Ageing Societies: Cross-National Collaboration Between UT Austin and University of Hyogo”   
In partnership with University of Hyogo, Japan 

Daniel Levine 

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Geography and the Environment, College of Liberal Arts 
“Urban Sustainability in Bergen and Oslo, Norway”   
In partnership with University of Bergen, Norway 

Keila Pérez Quiñones 

Lecturer, Design, College of Fine Arts 
“Exploring Design and Culture in Mexico City” 
In partnership with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 

Maarten Rotman 

Assistant Dean of Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Dell Medical School 
“Global Bioinnovation: Building an Academic Partnership with Nile University”   
In partnership with Nile University, Egypt