RIED Quarterly Newsletter
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We’re so excited to welcome new and returning faculty and students back to campus. As the new semester begins, our research community is already building momentum. From new grant opportunities and ongoing collaborations to recent publications, this newsletter highlights some of the impactful work driving innovation across Tarleton State.
We look forward to another semester of discovery, progress, and shared success.
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| Vice President for
Research, Innovation and Economic Development
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Navigating the Research Journey |
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The Division of Research, Innovation & Economic Development (RIED) recently brought research to life with an interactive event, RIED Research Academy: Tools for Success, guiding faculty and staff through the proposal development and funding journey. On April 30 at the Research and Economic Development Building attendees explored themed stations, uncovered new funding tools, and gained insider tips from seasoned principal investigators, all while sparking new cross-campus collaboration. Stay tuned to our webpage — each semester, the RIED Research Academy events will explore a new topic to support and strengthen faculty research efforts.
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On April 30 the Division of Research, alongside the Innovation and Entrepreneurship University Center, Ensemble Coworking, and SparkYard — hosted the Stephenville Build Your Business Workshop. Seventeen local entrepreneurs and a panel of three aspiring business owners gathered for a hands-on session focused on refining brand messaging and sharpening presentation skills.
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From Intern to Impact: Tarleton State Student Madison Claridy Joins GLO-CDR Full-Time |
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Tarleton State’s commitment to hands-on learning continues to pay off. Graduate student Madison Claridy, one of six students selected for a prestigious internship with Texas General Land Office-Community Development Revitalization (GLO-CDR), has accepted a full-time role as a Grant Specialist I with GLO-CDR. The internship, part of a partnership between Tarleton State’s Division of Research and GLO-CDR, has now led to full-time offers for two Tarleton State interns.
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Tarleton State's First EDA-Funded University Center in North Central Texas |
Tarleton State’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship University Center is the first EDA-funded center to serve North Central Texas communities. Led by Executive Director Dr. Rupa Iyer, the center supports innovation-driven economic development across a rapidly growing 24-county region.
With the regional population projected to surpass 10 million residents by 2030, the center plays a vital role in fostering entrepreneurship, advancing research and building strategic partnerships to meet future economic demands. The University Center collaborates with the Institute for Rural Economic Development and Research to use available demographic, economic and survey data to generate distillable need-gap analysis reports. Learn more by checking out our dashboards, digital reports, and bi-monthly newsletters on our webpage!
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Evaluating Equine Feed Preferences: A Collaborative Study on Palatability and Student Engagement |
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Tarleton State’s Dr. Jessica Leatherwood recently completed a groundbreaking study in partnership with Cargill, Inc., exploring the palatability and preference of a proprietary ingredient blend in pelleted equine feed. Utilizing Tarleton State’s advanced research facilities and equine teaching herd, the study incorporated videography to track feeding behavior, intake and pellet preference.
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Tarleton State Professor Awarded Grants to Elevate Regional History and Student Learning |
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Dr. Eliel Hinojosa Jr., Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University, has been awarded two Humanities Texas grants to support local history initiatives. A $3,264 Mini-Grant brought the Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy exhibit to Tarleton State’s Dick Smith Library this spring, celebrating the cultural legacy of the original Mexican cowboy. Additionally, a $2,500 Rural Grant will launch Voices of Service: Erath County Veterans Legacy Project, engaging pre-service teachers in preserving veterans’ stories through oral histories and public archives. Both projects exemplify Tarleton State’s commitment to hands-on learning and community engagement.
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Research Conducted to Remove Microplastics from Water with Plant Based Extracts |
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Microplastics have become a cause for concern, as they can create significant harm to the environment. Natural polymers are looking promising compared to the synthetic polymers that have been used in the past. Tarleton State’s Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and her colleagues discovered that microplastics stick to polymers from okra, fenugreek and tamarind. Okra and fenugreek extracts are reported to have the ability to attract and remove up to 90% of microplastics in waters. Ocean water had the best results with okra being 80% effective. Fenugreek works best with groundwater being 80-90% effective. “Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances,” says Srinivasan.
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Introducing New Faces at RIED |
It’s been a few months since Vamshi Appareddygudam joined us as our Research Compliance Coordinator, and he’s already been diving into protocols. Vamshi is your go-to for all things research compliance. If you haven’t reached out, now’s a great time. He’s here to help you keep your research smooth, compliant and stress-free!
Email: researchcompliance@tarleton.edu
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Ready to supercharge your research? The Texan Research Program is your one-stop tool for finding faculty expertise and research equipment within Tarleton State. Built to fuel collaboration and innovation, it’s helping us drive toward R1 status — one search at a time.
This platform is continually evolving, with plans to integrate more institutions and expand its reach.
Disclaimer: All information in the Texan Research Program comes directly from Tarleton State faculty and staff contributions.
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| Coming Soon: Cayuse IRB, IBC and IACUC Faculty Training
We will soon be launching training sessions to support faculty in submitting IRB,IBC and IACUC applications via the new Cayuse software platform. Stay tuned for more details!
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IRB (Human Subjects) Highlight: Need assistance for submitting new projects, amendments, or continuing review/closure reports? Visit the webpage below.
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Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: The Office of Research Compliance is building study binders for each new project involving animals and will have the binders available for pickup by the PI. This process will ensure that the required study information and personnel trainings will be available during inspections.
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Institutional Biosafety Committee: All permit requests are now submitted through Qualtrics, making it easier for investigators to submit projects for approval.
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CITI Training: Tarleton State University uses the CITI Program for their research ethics and compliance training needs, fostering integrity and professional advancement of their learners. Register for courses required under your approved protocols and permits by clicking the CITI training link below.
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RIED Professional Development Opportunities for Faculty |
Registration for the following bulleted events is now closed. If you registered, event details have been sent to you. For any questions, please contact Ms. Dulce Vidal at dvidal@tarleton.edu.
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- Aug. 12, 2025 | 9-11:30 a.m. | Texas A&M Transportation Institute Meeting
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Aug. 13, 2025 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Humanities & Social Sciences Grant-Writing Workshop
- Aug. 14, 2025 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | STEM & Economics Grant-Writing Workshop
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Open Registration for the following upcoming RIED workshops: |
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Sept. 10, 2025 | 3-4 p.m. | Pre-Award Processes
Location: Research & Economic Development Building, Room 112
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Sept. 18, 2025 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | From Idea to Impact: Unlocking Research Funding Opportunities
Location: Research & Economic Development Building, Room 112
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- Research@tarleton.edu
- 1225 N. US Hwy 281, Stephenville, TX 76401
- (254) 459-5448
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For support with your grant proposal projects, our team is available for face-to-face or virtual meetings to provide support that fits your needs.
Got news? Share with us! Send in brief information on your ongoing research activities so we can share on our webpage! We love to hear about it! Send info to Ms. Dulce Vidal (dvidal@tarleton.edu).
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