Doung plans to become a professor of microbiology
Four former Arlington ISD students are making big moves in higher education as part of the University of Texas at Arlington’s McNair Scholars Program – a prestigious research and academic initiative that prepares students for graduate-level study and beyond.
McNair Scholars Hinh Duong, Rukayat Azeez, Oswaldo Mendoza, and Daniel Salazar, all proud Arlington ISD alumni, are gaining hands-on access to internationally recognized researchers while sharpening the skills needed to succeed in their career paths.
For Duong, a graduate of Arlington College and Career High School, the program is a pivotal step toward his dream of becoming a professor of microbiology.
“I’m honored to be a distinguished scholar as a part of the Robert E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program,” Duong said. “I feel a lot of pressure to perform at my very best during the McNair Scholars experience, but I know that being accepted for this opportunity will help me achieve my goals.”
Through the program, McNair Scholars are matched with faculty mentors and given the opportunity to conduct original research across a wide range of fields. Alongside this academic work, they also receive intensive support in analytical thinking, academic writing, scientific communication, and graduate school preparation.
“The end goal for me is to be a professor of microbiology,” Duong said. “The idea that microbes occupy every single surface of the world and dictate many biological and environmental processes has always deeply fascinated me.”
The opportunity to present research at conferences and symposiums is a highlight of the experience – and one Duong is especially excited about.
“As an aspiring professor, I strive to improve my scientific communication skills,” he said. “Sharing research in public spaces is a critical part of that journey.”
Duong credits Arlington ISD – and especially his time at ACCHS – with helping him build the foundation he’s standing on now.
“At ACCHS, I was able to take ‘Pathways to Success’ under Constance Cooper for four consecutive years,” he said. “This class helped prepare me for the rigorous coursework I was completing in high school, and all the lessons that class taught me are still helping me in my undergraduate career to this day. ACCHS gave me the unique opportunity to adjust to the heavy workload associated with college life before I went to college, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that Arlington ISD presented to me.”