In this issue

Research highlights  |  Innovation spotlight  |  New awards  |  Unsung heroes
Faculty kudos  |  Recognition roundup  |  Nuts & bolts  |  Events

A new ADVANCEing FieldSafety course co-developed by Blair Schneider, associate researcher and science outreach manager at the Kansas Geological Survey, aims to reduce the likelihood of unsafe or harmful behaviors in the field. The free course is available online and open to everyone. 

A KU law professor argues that holding state police agencies responsible for constitutional rights abuses requires different legal remedies than cases against municipal agencies. Sharon Brett offers an alternative framework that lowers the “unnecessarily high” bar for plaintiffs seeking relief for past abuses and striving to prevent future violations. 

A KU-led project supported by $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation’s second Future of Semiconductor program will produce ultrathin building blocks for advanced computing that mimics how the human brain thinks, computes, makes decisions and recognizes patterns — all while training workforce for the nation’s semiconductor industry. 

Kansas has some of the highest potential for wind energy of any state in the nation, but from one county to the next, regulations vary widely. KU researchers who built the interactive Kansas Energy Transition Atlas hope it can be a useful tool for anyone interested in understanding the overall landscape for green energy in the Sunflower State.

"Like a Fitbit for counting steps, we envision [this] data can be used by teachers, coaches and early childhood programs to monitor classroom social-emotional talk and build capacity to improve social-emotional competence in young children,” said Kathy Bigelow, associate research professor at Juniper Gardens Children's Project, a KU Life Span Institute center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tiffany González, assistant professor of history, uses archival materials to understand how Latinas entered electoral politics to advance civil rights for their communities. Click the link above to watch the video and read the Q&A.

As we move into this season of gratitude, the KU Center for Technology Commercialization would like to thank the innovators who drive our mission forward. Your creativity and commitment to research continue to transform groundbreaking concepts into tangible benefits for society. We are deeply grateful for the faculty, staff and students who collaborate with us, as well as our partners who believe in the power of innovation. Your collective efforts make it possible for KU’s discoveries to reach beyond the university, impacting lives and solving real-world problems.

We wish you a joyful holiday season and new year full of fresh ideas. Start an invention disclosure to tell us about yours! 

Winter break reminder: The University of Kansas, including the KU Medical Center and KUCTC, will be closed Dec. 25 – Jan. 1 for winter break. Urgent matters may be directed to the KUCTC inbox, kuctc@ku.edu, which will be monitored daily. We will resume normal business hours on Jan. 2.

KU researchers are evaluating the economic impact of renewable energy development in Jackson County, Kansas; inventorying reservoir sedimentation to inform Kansas water conservation; developing linguistically informed interventions for Hispanic children with autism; supporting trustworthy computing applications, and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in October.  

Behind every successful award are teams of KU research support staff who help investigators identify opportunities, prepare and submit complicated proposals under strict deadlines, help manage finances and compliance for funded projects, and more. They are the unsung heroes of KU research, greasing the wheels of innovation and discovery.

In each issue of KU Discoveries, we shine a spotlight on a research support staff member deemed particularly outstanding by colleagues. Click the button below this month's story to nominate a deserving candidate from any unit on campus.

Jamie Jones | Associate Director of Project Development | Life Span Institute

Whether navigating the complex requirements of a federal grant proposal or supporting her supervisees, Jamie Jones pays attention.

Jones has served in various roles at KU’s Life Span Institute for about a decade, but she has been associate director of project development since 2022.

When a university researcher wants to conduct research that requires funding, they often turn to external sponsors such as government agencies, nonprofit foundations or industry groups for grants. Jones helps these principal investigators write and edit proposals to comply with sponsor requirements. This editing process — which requires being mindful of minute details — increases the likelihood an investigator will receive funding.

“I know of a number of situations where our PIs have gotten materials to her very close to deadline, and she has successfully worked to get materials uploaded and submitted so the investigators’ work qualifies for their grant competitions,” said John Colombo, director of the Life Span Institute and professor of psychology.

Jones also supervises and trains new grant coordinators who help PIs prepare proposals. She makes sure no questions go unanswered when onboarding staff who will serve in these complex roles. Those who report to Jones note she balances the need for exceptional work with work-life boundaries.

“I came to work for Jamie and LSI from a very different career,” said Becca Killen, a grant coordinator in LSI. “From my first day, I have always felt supported by Jamie. In training, she is patient and encouraging — providing confidence when I am unsure of myself and kindly re-answering questions I know I’ve asked before.”

Colleagues say Jones’s attention to detail is key to both her personal success and that of the proposals she helps prepare.

“Jamie is meticulous, rigorous and careful,” Colombo said. “At the same time, she is fair, caring and sympathetic. These qualities represent the perfect combination for assisting our investigators in getting their proposals together and submitted.”

As the flagship international exchange program of the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program’s mission is to foster mutual understanding and collaboration to address pressing challenges on a global scale.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers an outstanding opportunity for U.S.-citizen KU faculty and researchers to teach or conduct research abroad, build international research networks, and bring valuable international insights back to KU. Each year, the program offers more than 400 awards in 135 countries. Award duration can range from a few months to a full year. Eligibility requirements and preferred disciplines vary by country, but most countries offer an all-disciplines award in addition to more targeted opportunities such as distinguished scholar, postdoctoral or discipline-specific awards.

Applications for most opportunities are due in mid-September, so now is a great time to begin planning for the 2025 deadline. Not sure how to get started? Consider the following steps:

GENERAL

In concert with the entire Lawrence and Edwards campuses, the KU Office of Research will be closed over winter break as outlined below. In order to be proactive in meeting the research community’s needs, we have established deadlines that will help ensure we are providing necessary services while allowing staff to use the winter break leave they have earned. 

All proposal documents with deadlines between Dec. 25 and Jan. 2 must be submitted to Pre-Award Services by Tuesday, Dec. 17 to provide sufficient time for proposals to be submitted by Dec. 24. We request 2 – 3 weeks for proposal preparation and 5 days for proposal review, so please let us know if you’re aware of an early January proposal deadline. Please reach out to your Office of Research contact as soon as possible for other general questions regarding December or early January business.

Winter break hours
Closed: Wednesday, Dec. 25
Reopen: Thursday, Jan. 2

We appreciate your assistance and wish you a restful, re-energizing break!

Questions? Comments? Content suggestions?
Mindie Paget  |  Office of Research  |  mpaget@ku.edu

KU Office of Research
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Lawrence, KS 66045
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