Kyra Kaiser ’23, ’25 Named Summer 2025 Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Science

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Kyra Kaiser ’23, ’25 began her Islander journey long before college. As a student at Flour Bluff High School, she took part in the university’s dual-credit program — stepping onto campus early and laying the groundwork for an academic path that would ultimately earn her recognition as the Summer 2025 Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Science.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences in 2023, Kaiser immediately entered the Master of Science in Chemistry program at TAMU-CC. She began her graduate studies in one of the most challenging periods of her life. Her mother had been diagnosed with Stage 1 HER2+ breast cancer in late 2022, and the family was still managing the emotional and financial impact of treatment. As her mother, a teacher, continued working through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to support the household, Kaiser took on extra shifts as a part-time medical scribe in a local emergency room to help cover expenses and pay her tuition.

“This period of our lives taught me to find positivity and resilience in difficult circumstances,” Kaiser said.

Balancing rigorous graduate studies with work and caregiving was exhausting, and it quickly became clear that her job was limiting the time she could dedicate to the research she loved. Recognizing the strain, her graduate advisor stepped in and helped secure a research assistantship. That support, combined with a summer scholarship from the College of Science, gave Kaiser the stability she needed to complete her thesis, stay active in the lab, and mentor undergraduate students to give back to the research group.

“In my experience as a research student, I have mentored four undergraduates and trained five other students in instrumentation and essential research skills,” Kaiser said. “Through our research group, we were able to volunteer at many community events where young students and other attendees had access to STEM demonstrations, lab tours, and presentations where they could gain an interest in pursuing science.”

Kaiser’s educational success can be directly traced to the mentorship of Dr. Ioana Emilia Pavel, Professor of Chemistry, whose influence extended far beyond the laboratory. Under Pavel’s guidance, Kaiser’s initial interest in acquiring lab experience for medical school evolved into a genuine passion for chemistry and public health.

“Through her mentorship, I became a true scientist,” Kaiser said. “The time I spent learning from her was the most influential on my growth and outcomes, both personally and professionally.”

Under Pavel’s mentorship, Kaiser became lead or co-author on four peer-reviewed publications, including an Editor’s Choice article in “Antibiotics,” which garnered thousands of views and 40+ citations. She has presented her work at more than 10 academic conferences, both nationally and internationally, including invited presentations at the American Chemical Society Meeting and the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium at Rice University. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous campus-based awards, including second place in Graduate Oral Presentation and Best Overall Chemistry Oral Presentation at the 2025 Symposium for Student Innovation, Research, and Creative Activities.

“Kyra has proven herself as an independent research scientist and caring, successful mentor,” Pavel said. “Her ability to excel academically while leading impactful research and supporting others through mentorship and personal adversity proves her dedication as a well-rounded student.”

For Kaiser, tuition support laid the foundation for her dreams. She received various scholarships, including the Institutional Presidential Scholarship, the Dr. Janice Freeman and Dr. Joyce Freeman Endowed Scholarship in Biology, the John W. Boatwright Memorial Scholarship Endowment, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Annual Scholarship. With this support, Kaiser was able to carry out experiments backed by grants from the Welch Foundation and prize money from student research competitions.

“None of this would have been possible without financial aid,” Kaiser said. “It gave me time to grow, to focus, and to believe in the future I was working toward.”

Kaiser earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from TAMU-CC with a perfect 4.0 GPA. This fall, she will be headed to Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine to study medicine, with plans to practice in Corpus Christi or a similar medically underserved community.

“My time here has been full of changes and developments over the past six years,” Kaiser said. “However, one of the most important changes was a shift in how I handle and overcome challenges and failures, which has shaped me to become a more effective health care provider.”