Texas State University’s Aniruddha Bora wins Popular Choice Award at Nucleate Texas Final

TXST’s inaugural Nucleate Texas Activator teams shined statewide, with Aniruddha Bora’s Noema-Laser winning the Popular Choice Award and boosting the university’s biotech innovation momentum.

Texas State University innovator Aniruddha Bora, Ph.D., and his team won the Popular Choice Award at the statewide Nucleate Texas Demo Day Final on May 29.  

Competing as one of just eight finalists selected from accelerator chapters across Texas, the team’s achievement supports TXST’s position in the region’s promising biotech innovation and research ecosystem. Along with Bora, an assistant professor in the TXST Department of Computer Science, his team, dubbed Noema-Laser, was made up of undergraduate students Arjun Gyawali and Pawan Pradhan, alongside Hope Fiadjoe and Simar Singh.

Bora’s achievement capped off TXST’s inaugural participation in the Nucleate Texas Activator program—an equity-free startup accelerator designed to help academic trainees and early-stage faculty bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercialization. Prior to the state final, TXST was also represented by Bocheng Wu, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, who delivered a standout pitch performance at the regional semifinals in San Antonio, showcasing healthcare and STEM innovation currently occurring at the university. 

“This new partnership with the Nucleate Activator program highlights Texas State’s drive to turn lab discoveries into real‑world solutions that improve lives,” said Shreek Mandayam, Ph.D., vice president for Research at TXST. “As first‑time participants, we’re excited to give our researchers a chance to explore new ideas, build meaningful connections, and translate their work beyond the lab, while supporting our mission to turn discoveries into solutions that benefit communities across Texas and beyond.”

Carolyn T. Chang, Ph.D., director of the Bioscience Education and Training Research (BETR) Programs at TXST’s Translational Health Research Center (THRC), played a key role in bringing the Nucleate accelerator to the university. Serving as the primary anchor and recruiter for the initiative, Chang leads programs that align curriculum innovation, experiential learning, and professional development with emerging talent and labor market needs across Texas.  

As part of this effort, TXST organized a “Bobcat Bus” to transport students to the final event, giving many their first opportunity to experience one of Texas' premier biotech gatherings. There, students connected directly with investors, scientists, and founders, gaining firsthand insight into the life sciences industry while building valuable relationships and exploring future career pathways.

Crucial to executing this vision on campus and preparing TXST’s innovators was the parallel launch of the BobCatalyst, led by Matt Sorenson, Ph.D., director of venture development with the Office of Innovation, Commercialization & Engagement. The new university-wide initiative provided essential infrastructure and “pre-flight” training that prepared TXST contestants for the rigorous Nucleate curriculum. By focusing on customer discovery and market validation, the BobCatalyst Innovation Accelerator Program helps researchers refine their value propositions and bridge the gap between campus breakthroughs and global health impact.

Visit the Translational Health Research Center website for details on the BETR Programs, or explore the BobCatalyst website for more information on TXST’s broader innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

To learn more about TXST’s growing research ecosystem, watch the Nucleate partnership video.