Prof. Kelly Nash is a Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She also serves as Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Success at UTSA. She served as the Associate Dean for Faculty Success in the UTSA College of Sciences from fro 2019-2023. As the former Director of the Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center(2018-2020), she oversaw the renovation and modernization of the center's operations, making it a premier user and training facility for advanced materials science and engineering research at UTSA. During her time as Graduate Advisor of Record for the graduate program in Physics at UTSA, she oversaw the development of the UTSA-APS Bridge Partnership which created a diverse pipeline of Physics doctoral students. Her scientific research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of materials and their physiochemical interactions with biological systems from the molecular to the cellular level. The impact of her nanomaterials research stretches from fundamental biophysical studies to biomedicine, energy, and environmental applications of materials. She was awarded the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program award in 2015 for research efforts in biophysics.  Additionally, she has numerous awards for her contributions to science and promotion of inclusiveness in STEM including the Dillard University Alumni 40–Under-40 award, UTSA COS Excellence in Community Service Award, San Antonio Business Journal 40-Under-40 Award, American Physical Society (APS) Women Physicists of the Month (July 2016) and UTSA President’s Distinguished Diversity Award. She continually advocates for the involvement of underrepresented groups in science through strategic initiatives within UTSA and abroad. She has served as UTSA-APS Bridge Program Coordinator, facilitator for APS Professional Skills Development for Women, and chair of the APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics National Organizing Committee. Read more details here.

Interesting in learning more about the research,  group, and job openings? Visit the Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory Research page.