Denver Brown studies how physical activity may protect individuals at genetic risk for depression

The University of Kansas Office of Research seeks nominations for the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards. Late Distinguished Professor Takeru Higuchi and his wife, Aya, partnered with KU Endowment to create four awards that recognize individuals for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Faculty from any Kansas Regents institution are eligible, and your assistance in identifying outstanding candidates is critical. Winners receive $10,000 in support of research activities.

Awards include:

The deadline to nominate a colleague is December 15.

STEM K-12
The National Science Foundation’s STEM K-12 program encourages innovative, multidisciplinary, and potentially transformative projects that build theory, generate new knowledge, and inform education practices in a rapidly evolving technological landscape with advances in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI). It supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that enhances STEM teaching and learning and across the human lifespan and in a range of formal and informal learning settings.

Grid Supply Chain Alternatives to Lead Energy Dominance
The Department of Energy, Office of Electricity’s Grid Supply Chain Alternatives to Lead Energy Dominance (SCALED) targets the manufacture of distribution and power transformers, their associated components and materials, and other essential electric grid equipment. It will deploy a dual-pronged approach to address critical needs facing the nation as the grid is being upgraded and expanded to meet new loads.

The Office of Research Development is hosting an information session on the Fulbright U.S Scholars Program on November 17 at 3:30 pm via zoom. This Fulbright program offers nearly 400 teaching, research, or combination teaching/research awards for U.S. faculty in more than 135 countries. The session will open with a brief overview of this program's submission requirements and introduction to the Fulbright Scholars website. This overview will be followed by presentations from two recent K-State Fulbright Scholar awardees. They will talk about their Fulbright experience, including the logistics of setting up an extended stay in another country, finances, and tips for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar submission. Attendees will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

If you are interested in the Fulbright U.S. Scholarship program, this is a session you should attend. Please register prior to 12 p.m. on November 16, 2026. If you have any questions, contact Mary Lou Marino (mlmarino@ksu.edu). 

Students interested in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program should contact Beth Powers (bethpowers@ksu.edu). 

Note this information session is part of the Office of International Programs’ International Education Week occurring November 8-20. To find out more about the other activities during this week, please visit: K-State International Education Week 2026.

3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 5
Ice Conference Room, 1139 Engineering Hall

Join Mollie Robbins-Wint, Melanie Derby and Paul Lowe to learn about the AI Stewardship Committee's work, the process for submitting AI tools for approval, and current AI-related initiatives. 

This session will also serve as a faculty listening session, providing researchers an opportunity to share their AI-related needs, opportunities, challenges and concerns. Feedback gathered will be brought back to the AI Stewardship Committee to help inform future discussions, priorities and decision-making.

2-4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Cornerstone Cafe, Hale Library

The Office of Research Development is hosting in-person office hours to assist and connect with K-State researchers. 

During ORD office hours, researchers can meet with members of the ORD team to discover funding opportunities, discuss specific funders and programs, review white papers or engage in casual conversation about research activity. If you are interested in discussing your white paper, please send a copy of the paper to ord@k-state.edu at least three days in advance.

Additional office hours will be hosted at the Cornerstone Cafe from 2-4 p.m. on December 3 and 17.

The Chapman Center Interdisciplinary Research Grant pre-proposal due date has been extended to Dec. 4th, 2026. This $15,000 internal grant supports interdisciplinary research and creative activity that engages with the Great Plains. Teams must include at least one faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences and include opportunities for undergraduates to be eligible.

Send the completed Pre-proposal by email to chapmancenter@ksu.edu by December 4th or email the center with questions.

NSF webinars & office hours:

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Outreach & Recruitment Team is excited to offer Fall into Fulbright, six pre-recorded virtual information sessions covering the basics of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program this Fall. Developed using feedback and questions from recent webinars and office hours, each session will be approximately 15 minutes and available to watch in our Webinar Archive beginning in November. We will also host live premieres of each recording on Zoom, followed by approximately 15 minutes of live Q&A. Registration is only required for those who wish to join a live viewing. 
Starting in early November, anyone can watch the recordings at any time by 
visiting the Webinar Archive.

View the full announcement for more information on dates and discussion topics.

We know the grants process takes time, effort, and resources for you, your organization, and for NIH. We have been undertaking many efforts to identify and minimize associated burdens, while not inadvertently harming the integrity of the supported research (see also this Nexus article). 

From consolidating the number and location of funding opportunities, aligning requirements and forms (including for clinical trials), aligning receipt dates, modernizing web resources, and others, we take this issue seriously. Now you can share your suggestions to further reduce administrative burdens associated with NIH grants. Comments are welcome electronically to our Request for Information by December 8, 2026.

More information about this opportunity and feedback topics can be viewed in the full announcement.