ConTex cultivates research leaders on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border

The UT System's decision to house ConTex at UTSA leverages the strong ties that the university and San Antonio have with Mexico, according to Guadalupe Carmona, executive director of ConTex.

"San Antonio plays a crucial role in the cultural, historical and economic exchanges taking place between Texas and Mexico," she said.

ConTex has also been key to UTSA's efforts to advance its profile as a premiere public research university - one that is preparing students to be the next generation of global leaders.

"We are forging global partnerships," Carmona said. "We are creating a new generation of scientific diplomats between Mexico and U.S. institutions."

The program enables students to focus on their studies, as ConTex handles all the administrative and financial matters.

"Whether the students are at UTSA or another UT System institution, our ConTex team is supporting them from the beginning," said Olivia Mogollón, academic program coordinator for ConTex. We help them navigate through the program," she said.

So far, 38 ConTex students have earned their doctoral degrees. Many of these graduates remain in academia, serving as researchers and teaching at various Mexican institutions, Mogollón added.

Zamora-Romero, for example, plans to take what he has learned in both countries to continue his research and consult on work to create earthquake-resistant buildings in Mexico.

"This type of research is important because it can improve seismic-resistant design practices, an issue that is especially relevant in Mexico, where seismic activity is latent and recurrent," he said. "This experience has enriched my perspective and enhanced my professional skills. I believe that upon my return to Mexico, I will be able to put my knowledge into practice by selecting the best of both nations."

The award amounts can vary from year to year, but in total ConTex doctoral awardees receive support for up to five years, including in-state tuition rates, a monthly stipend, and support for health insurance.

This funding can make all the difference for Mexican students who want to pursue doctoral studies in the U.S.

The program "offers essential financial support for doctoral students, allowing us to focus fully on our research without the burden of funding concerns," said Carlos Alberto Marquez Ibarra, a doctoral candidate in the UTSA Department of Physics. "Additionally, the program supported my research through a project grant, enabling me to collaborate with both Tecnológico de Monterrey and Universidad Iberoamericana. This collaboration strengthens ties between institutions in Mexico and the United States, allowing me to contribute to joint research efforts across all involved institutions."

While ConTex makes its home at UTSA, the benefits of its programs reach all UT System institutions. For example, Vania Ledesma-Espino, a resident of Hermosillo, Sonora, is working toward her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at the University of Texas at Austin.

"Without this support, it would be almost impossible to continue my studies and be a single mother," she said.

Ledesma-Espino's research focuses on the linguistic dynamics of transnational children and adolescents among migrant families who return to Mexico from the U.S.

Her research is already tearing down some assumptions about transnational children.

"Many people assume that children and adolescents of Mexican origin who have gone to school mainly in the United States, but who also speak Spanish, know how to read perfectly well in Spanish. This is not common," explained Ledesma-Espino, adding that children in families who have returned to Mexico can face difficulties in school because there is expectation that "just because of their origin, the children know how to read and write in Spanish."

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