The Baylor Research Teaching Team

Dr. Louie Elliott serves as lead scientist in the engineering wing of Baylor Research.  Dr. Elliott earned a B.S. in physics from UTC, an M.S. in physics from N.C. State, and a Ph.D. in Computational Engineering from UTC, and has done extensive R&D work in industry.

Nastassja Hagan works with students in the area of sustainability and renewable energy. Nastassja earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M as well as a LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford.  She entered the energy field where she worked for Exxon and bp.  Most recently, Nastassja served as the Vice President of Sustainability for Lightsource bp. 

Dr. Antonio Herrera has a B.S. in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in biology from New York University. He has extensive experience in teaching and overseeing research at Choate, Pace University, and Stony Brook University. Dr. Herrera's interests include developmental genetics, genomics, and evolutionary systems biology.

Dr. Ben Holt has a B.S. in biology from East Tennessee State University, where he conducted ecotoxicology research. He completed his Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee. His interests include salamanders and their microbiomes.

Baylor Reseach Scholars Course Progression

Year 1, First Semester

Foundations of Scientific Research 

Year 1, Second Semester

Research: Engineering | Biomedical | Environmental | Sustainability

Year 2

Advanced Research: Engineering | Biomedical | Environmental | Sustainability

Year 3

Thesis: Engineering | Biomedical | Environmental | Sustainability

*Students who progress through the entire research tract earning all A's & B's and who complete their thesis requirements earn the distinction of Research Scholar upon graduation.  Students may begin the tract as sophomores or complete a condensed tract beginning their junior year.

Student Expectations

• As a student in the Baylor Research program you will:
• Learn about the natural world through a scientific process, not a collection of content or a body of facts.
• Generate and confirm new knowledge.
• Describe and test patterns and generate testable explanations.
• Understand the quantitative nature of science and technology.
• Understand the connection between statistics and confidence and learn to use statistics to quantify uncertainty
• Know and embrace failure. Discovery and development is an iterative process. Failure helps identify next (or alternative) steps toward a goal.
• Have your own research critiqued and evaluated by peers.
• Learn to be critical of your own research and those of your peers using logic to evaluate research.