Meet a Roadrunner: Doctoral student Jossina Gonzalez has passion for neuroscience
Jossina Gonzalez
Jossina Gonzalez
Share this Story(May 9, 2013) -- Meet Jossina Gonzalez. She's a young woman with a passion for neuroscience, and she graduates this month.
In 2004, Gonzalez was accepted into the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to prepare for training as a physician. However, when the university learned she was unable to walk and generally weakened due to a debilitating neurological condition, the health science center revoked her admission, causing an uproar that landed in the laps of the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Office of Civil Rights in Washington, D.C.
The crux of the issue was whether she could complete the physical training of medical school, residency and the day-to-day of physicians. Ultimately, Gonzalez lost her fight. Disheartened, she began pursuing other avenues.
"I had Jossina in my undergraduate neuroscience classes, and almost every time we took an exam, her grades were much, much higher than the rest of the class," recalls Brian Derrick, a professor in the UTSA Department of Biology. "I suggested she ought to become a scientist. She was just so smart. She needed to put that talent to work as a researcher."
Energized by Derrick's encouragement, Gonzalez applied and was admitted to the UTSA neurobiology doctoral program in 2007, five years after receiving her bachelor's degree in biology. Since that time, she has been studying the biological basis of hippocampal mnemonic function in the hopes that her research will provide new insights about how memories are encoded and recalled. She plans to pursue post-doctoral training to become an academic research neuroscientist.
Do you know an amazing UTSA student who has beat the odds to accomplish their dreams? Email social@utsa.edu, and we will consider your submission for the next installment of Meet a Roadrunner.
Events
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome
