MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF RESEARCH |
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Research excellence takes many forms, from groundbreaking discoveries and transformative educational innovations to industry and interdisciplinary collaborations that work to address society's most pressing challenges. This month, I am delighted to recognize UMSL faculty members who recently received honorific awards.
Michael Cosmopoulos, Hellenic Government-Karaka Family Foundation Professor in Greek Studies, named Curators' Distinguished Professor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to archaeology, Greek history, and culture. His discoveries at the Mycenaean capital of Iklaina are regarded as one of the top ten archaeologic discoveries in Greece. His work has received national and international press including in a new National Geographic documentary series, The Lost Treasures of Ancient Greek. In addition to his significant research impact which includes 19 books and over 130 scholarly papers, Cosmopoulos has made an
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Christopher D. Spilling, Ph.D. Interim Chancellor,
Vice Chancellor for Research, Economic and Community Development
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indelible impact on UMSL and the St. Louis region, through the Nicholas and Theodor Matsakis Greek Culture Center, Study-in-Greece programs, and preservation of St. Louis Green community history.
Recently retired Charles Granger named Curators' Distinguished Professor Emeritus, recognizing a remarkable 55-year career advancing STEM education and leadership through innovative K-12 STEM and summer outreach programs. Granger has developed 18 science education programs, 15 of them at UMSL including the nationally recognized Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) program. He has led multiple large-scale NSF research projects to improve science and math education and has generated $25 million in external funding. He is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing his impact in developing the next generation of STEM students, educators, leaders, and innovators while significantly advancing the field of science education practice in the U.S.
Dr. Haitao Li, Professor and Chair, Supply Chain and Analytics received the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creativity for his research that integrates AI, simulation, and optimization techniques to address food system resilience, reshoring of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and other critical supply chain challenges.
Annah Bender and Jill Delston received the 2026 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Collaborative Research and Creativity for their interdisciplinary work that examines theories of justice among survivors of intimate partner violence. Their research has the potential to inform future policy and practice while exemplifying the power of collaborative research across disciplines.
Space prevents me recognizing every honorific award, but I want to highlight a few recent faculty awards that demonstrate the national visibility and impact of UMSL’s rising stars and innovators: Jiadi Zhang, named a Literacy Research Association STAR Fellow; Christina Castellano, selected for the Midwest Nursing Research Society Leadership Academy; Sheila Grigsby, named an Ohio State University College of Nursing Innovation Fellow; Carl Bassi, who developed a patent-pending catcher’s mitt to improve pitching accuracy; and Julie DeKinder, recipient of the 2026 Thomas J. "Tommy" Pham GPLI-NKCF Keratoconus Practitioner of the Year Award.
Congratulations to all on these well-deserved honors. Your research advances knowledge, improves lives, strengthens our communities, and enhances UMSL's growing national and international research reputation.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EVENTS |
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| Join the free AI Hackathon for Student, Community, and Corporate Teams on Oct 13!
Reach out to mikeseper@umsl.edu with questions.
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A forum for researchers, faculty, students, and practitioners to share emerging research related to digital technologies, information systems, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and technology-enabled organizations.
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Meets monthly to explore various approaches to community-engaged learning and service learning.
For more information, contact Patricia Zahn at zahnp@umsl.edu.
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Webinar Q&A for NSF X-Labs, a bold, outcomes-driven initiative that will support ambitious, full-time R&D teams developing breakthrough platform technologies with the potential to accelerate scientific discovery, drive innovation, and create new economic opportunities.
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Dr. Blaine Marchant, Assistant Professor in Biology discusses his research that investigates the genes that control anther development and pollen production, essential for pollination and fruit production.
Special thanks to the investigators who participated in this series and to Derek Holtman, MarCom and Mary Nguyen, ORECD for producing these videos.
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Engineering Better Outcomes for Orthopedic Patients |
Helping people regain mobility and maintain their quality of life is at the heart of Dr. Hamid Sanei’s research. As an associate professor in Mechanical Engineering at UMSL’s new School of Engineering, Sanei leads the Orthopedic Biomaterials and Mechanics (OBM) Lab, where he develops innovative orthopedic technologies, including fracture-fixation devices, 3D-bioprinted tissue scaffolds, and
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computational models that improve understanding of how bones and soft tissues respond to injury and treatment. His work brings together engineers, clinicians, nursing faculty, and students to move promising ideas closer to patient care.
One of his most exciting projects is engineering replacement meniscus tissue using stem cells and 3D bioprinting. By combining specialized biomaterials, mechanical stimulation, and biofabrication techniques, the team is working toward new solutions that could help patients preserve their joints and avoid or delay joint replacement.
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Inspired by both a career-changing collaboration with an orthopedic surgeon and personal experiences seeing the impact of arthritis on loved ones, Sanei remains focused on developing technologies that help people move, function, and live better. Outside the lab, he enjoys gardening, biking, camping, and spending time outdoors with his wife and two young sons.
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Congratulations to all grant recipients!
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Conference funding to help early career faculty advance research and creative activities.
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The Center for Excellence in Financial Counseling invites applications for projects that advance financial well-being through engaged education, community partnerships, and evidence-informed financial counseling practices.
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Up to $1,500 in funding for local community engagement initiatives with a global focus.
For more information, contact Patricia Zahn at zahnp@umsl.edu.
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Supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The Office of Research Development provides planning and review services for GRFP and other competitive fellowship applications. Contact Cynthia Jobe at jobec@umsl.edu
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Supports communities’ collective power to shape how AI is built, governed, and used in areas of Education, Labor and Economy, and Humanity, Arts & Culture; must advance community leadership and action.
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FUNDING AGENCY & ORECD ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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| Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosures Due Nov 9, 2026
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The annual submission of a disclosure is required, even if an employee has no outside interests to disclose or no updates to their disclosure. Conflict of Interest disclosures should be submitted in eCompliance. More information and submission guides can be found on the Conflict of Interest website.
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UMSL is partnering with Command Strategies to grow Department of War funding at UMSL. Stay tuned for announcements on workshops to help you better understand the defense funding environment and compete for funding.
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100% Effort Verification Report (EVR) Completion Rate!
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A huge shoutout to everyone involved in helping us reach 100% completion of our biannual EVRs! Sponsored Programs Administration staff appreciate the support and collaboration of principal investigators, fiscal and departmental staff in helping ensure compliance. Thank you all for your outstanding efforts!
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Friendly Reminder Regarding Financial Documents
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All proposal budgets, revisions, financial reports, invoices, and other financial documents must be reviewed and approved by SPA before being submitted to a sponsor. This ensures compliance with sponsor guidelines, federal regulations, and university policies, and ensures accuracy of salary, fringe benefits, and indirect cost rates. We also need to verify financial reporting matches for auditing purposes. Thank you for your help in preventing errors, reducing delays, and ensuring accurate reporting to sponsors.
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National open-data infrastructure that links 43 interconnected knowledge graphs and tens of billions of connected facts across health, the environment, justice, manufacturing, and national security. The network is live and open to the public at okn.us.
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Below are time-tested resources for framing your research for funders.
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Developed by former DARPA director, George Heilmeier, the catechism is a set of eight questions to help reviewers evaluate research proposals. The questions get at the heart of what a competitive proposal should address.
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Tools for planning, managing, communicating, and evaluating programs or interventions.
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A conceptual model for thinking through and documenting how a program or intervention is supposed to work, why it will work, who will benefit, and conditions required for success.
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How to master the impossible balance between depth and impact using proven grant proposal templates.
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A Guide to the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research: Fourth Edition
Designed to help graduate students and early career researchers navigate the complex and evolving research landscape, while providing a framework for responsible research practices for the entire scientific community.
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