Researchers & UT Community
AMBASSADORS
The Discovery to Impact Ambassador program empowers faculty to serve as champions of innovation within their academic units. Ambassadors connect campus innovators to resources, support student entrepreneurship, and inspire peers to pursue pathways that bring research to market. Selected in the fall and spring, ambassadors serve two-year terms.
SPRING 2026
Jessica Ciarla
Associate Professor of Instruction
College of Natural Sciences
Jonathan Chen
Professor
College of Natural Sciences
Ying Ding
Bill & Lewis Suit Professor
School of Information
Benjamin Umlauf
Assistant Professor
Dell Medical School
“Ambassadors will serve as a peer-to-peer resource for advancing research innovations and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit embedded deep within our colleges and schools.”
Mark Arnold, Associate Vice President of Discovery to Impact
FALL
2025
Farshid Alambeigi
Associate Professor
Cockrell School of Engineering
Alex Hanson
Associate Professor
Cockrell School of Engineering
Javad Mohammadi
Assistant Professor
Cockrell School of Engineering
Chris Rylander
Associate Professor
Cockrell School of Engineering
“By activating trusted faculty liaisons in every school and college, we aim to accelerate translation of research into real-world impact”
Fernanda Leite, Interim Vice President for Research
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Learn more about the Discovery to Impact Ambassador program and the inaugural Ambassador group here.
Reach out to our team with any questions and for more information about becoming an Ambassador.
