For David Reynoso, the path to national security research didn't begin in a federal laboratory—it began in Oak Cliff.
Now, The University of Texas at Arlington aerospace engineering doctoral student is headed to Washington, D.C., after being selected for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program. There, he will help oversee research that supports the nation's nuclear security mission.
Reynoso, a Ph.D. candidate expected to graduate in December 2026, will join an NNSA office that oversees research funding for national nuclear security initiatives. The fellowship provides a pathway into careers supporting the nation's security and scientific infrastructure.
"This program isn't just about gaining experience," Reynoso said. "It's meant to be a pipeline into national nuclear security careers. Being selected gives me confidence that I'm where I'm supposed to be and that I can continue pursuing research at the national level."
The opportunity builds on several years of federal research experience. Reynoso previously interned at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and is completing a part-time virtual extension before transitioning to Washington, D.C., in June.
Earlier in his academic career, he completed multiple engineering internships with The Aerospace Corporation through the nationally competitive GEM Fellowship program, contributing to structural modeling, manufacturing analysis and spacecraft component design across facilities in California and Alabama.
He has also earned numerous national honors, including the NNSA PATH scholarship, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship and the Texas Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship.
Research supporting national security
Reynoso studies structural health monitoring—specifically, using laser-based ultrasound to detect microscopic damage in metal components, a technique similar to echolocation.
"Bats send out ultrasonic signals and listen for the echoes to understand their surroundings," Reynoso said. "I do essentially the same thing, but I'm listening to echoes inside a material to identifyfatigue and damage."
His research focuses on aluminum alloys commonly used in naval applications. By identifying when and how materials weaken, the work helps improve reliability and safety in high-performance systems.
Through the fellowship, Reynoso will gain experience reviewing and managing research proposals—the other side of the scientific process he now approaches as a researcher.
"I'll get to see how research funding decisions are made and how projects are evaluated," he said. "That's a critical part of being a scientist that you don't learn in a classroom."
Community and mentorship at UTA
An Oak Cliff native, Reynoso earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rochester before pursuing graduate studies at UTA, where he later transitioned from a master's program into the Ph.D. track.
At UTA, he founded the Latinx Graduate Student Association to create community among Hispanic graduate students.
"There were thousands of Latino graduate students but no dedicated space to connect socially or academically," Reynoso said. "Building that community helped me—and others—push through the challenges of graduate school."
He also serves as a graduate representative on the national board of directors of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Looking ahead
Reynoso hopes the fellowship will lead to a career at a national laboratory focusing on publicly funded research.
"I want to work somewhere where the research benefits the country and the world," he said. "Science should move knowledge forward for everyone."
In the long term, he plans to use his experience to mentor future engineers, especially students from backgrounds similar to his own.
"I want to build my credibility so I can come back and help others pursue these opportunities," he said.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
