Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor
The McDermott Professorships were established in August 2017, funded by an anonymous gift, with the goal of providing early career support and recognition to faculty members who have established extraordinary records of research productivity, teaching excellence, and university service, and who show promise of being leaders of the UT Dallas faculty in the future.
Dr. Michael Burton
- Associate Professor of Neuroscience
“The objective of our studies is to understand the impact of lifestyle choices, advanced aging and inflammation on pain development, reproduction and metabolic function. The mechanisms that underlie these maladaptive processes are highly sought after because current therapeutics fail to offer relief to a large percentage of patients. I am honored to receive this support to help my lab’s translational research goals and to continue my efforts in building diversity in science.”
Dr. Majid Minary
- Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
“I appreciate the vision of our administration in recognizing my contribution in bringing recognition to UT Dallas through prestigious and highly competitive YIP awards from the Department of Defense, as well as graduating three PhD students in five years at UT Dallas. With the resources provided by this endowed professorship, I commit to bring more recognition to UT Dallas and continue graduating doctoral students that carry the UTD name and quality in their careers.”
Dr. Adrianna Shembel
- Assistant Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing
“My passion has been understanding laryngeal biology and physiology as it relates to voice use, vocal health and voice disorders. At The University of Texas at Dallas, I’m fortunate to work alongside brilliant colleagues and mentor students who are just as driven to explore these questions. My career has spanned clinical voice care, basic science and translational research — each step fueled by the desire to improve outcomes for individuals with voice disorders. UTD provides a unique environment that bridges innovation and collaboration, and I’m proud to be part of a community that values both.”