Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

November’s here, and we’re feeling grateful for the momentum across campus. Research proposals, collaborations, and creative projects are all in full bloom (even as the trees lose their leaves). 🍂

This month’s issue brings you new funding finds, campus highlights, and a look at what’s sparking innovation as we head into the holiday season.

Here’s to wrapping up the semester strong, with plenty of progress, gratitude, and maybe a slice of pie or two.

— Your friends at ORSP

The Aging Research Collaborative (ARC) at SHSU, funded through BRIDGE 2.0, is advancing healthy aging through interdisciplinary research, education, and community partnerships.

This fall, ARC hosted a vibrant Faculty Mixer that brought together 22 faculty and staff from five SHSU colleges (COSET, COM, CHSS, COHS, and COBA). The event fostered new connections among researchers interested in aging-related work, highlighting emerging cross-college collaborations, strategic partnerships, and plans to expand the ARC network and online resources.

Additionally, two upcoming opportunities for faculty and students were announced and are now open!

💡 ARC Seed Grant (Faculty)

The ARC Seed Grant 2025–26 provides $7,000 to one SHSU faculty member to support innovative, aging-related research across disciplines (from biomedical and neuroscience to social, nutritional, or environmental health).
Deadline: December 1, 2025 | Contact: kxk051@shsu.edu
Download the ARC Seed Grant fact sheet (PDF)

🎓 ARC Scholar Award (Students)

The ARC Scholar Award provides $2,000 each to one undergraduate and one graduate student conducting aging-related research under faculty mentorship.
Deadline: December 1, 2025 | Contact: sxh130@shsu.edu
Download the ARC Scholar Award fact sheet (PDF)

ARC continues to bridge science, health, and society at SHSU by building collaborations that shape the future of aging research.

Exciting updates are on the way! Beginning next semester, SHSU will launch a new IRB application process designed to make submitting research protocols easier and more efficient. The updated application template will replace the current form starting in Spring 2026. These changes reflect our commitment to streamlining the review process while maintaining strong protections for research participants. More details and training opportunities will be shared soon, so stay tuned!

Want to learn more?
Check out our new guide, Applying Equivalent Protections to Human Subjects Research, which outlines how the SHSU IRB will apply equivalent protections without voluntarily applying the Common Rule to all studies. The new guideline emphasizes burden-reducing procedures such as expedited reviews for minimal risk studies, flexible consent options, and reduced documentation requirements.

Get Ready to Train!
Faculty and students are invited to explore and train on the new application template at https://shsu.uat.cayuse.com/. Log in using your SHSU SSO credentials to access the Human Ethics module in training, just as you would in our live environment.

Level up your next proposal with Hanover Research’s “Deciphering Feedback from Grant Reviewers.”

When: Thursday, Nov 20, 10:00–11:00 a.m. CT (virtual)

Learn how to interpret panel comments, prioritize revisions, and turn critiques into a stronger resubmission strategy.

Cost: Free via SHSU’s partnership with TEES

Pro tip: Can’t attend live? Register anyway to get the recording and slides

Referral Code: TEES (enter at registration)

Ready to make reviewer feedback work for you? Register now.

Congratulations on your new grant or agreement! The Office of Research Administration (ORA) is ready to help you put your award funds to work—but before your project can go live in Banner, a few compliance steps must be completed to ensure a smooth setup.

Before We Can Set Up Your Award

 • CITI Research Security Training – Required for all award recipients.

 • IRB/IACUC Approvals – Required for any project involving human or animal subjects, clinical trials, biosafety, or hazardous materials.

Find details and links to these requirements on the ORSP Compliance webpage.

What Happens Next

Once compliance items are in place:

1. Your award moves to your Grant Accountant/Administrator, who reviews award documents and your approved budget.

2. ORA uses the budget submitted during the proposal stage, so reviewing it early helps avoid revisions later.

3. ORA sets up your budget in Banner and issues your FOP (Fund, Org, and Program code). This is your key to spending your award funds responsibly.

The ORA team is excited to support your research and help ensure your funding process runs smoothly from start to finish. Reach out if you have any questions!

At SHSU, partnerships fuel progress. Each month, we highlight the people, places, and programs working alongside our university to strengthen communities and expand opportunities.

This month: SHSU CARES, LEMIT/CMIT, and the Montgomery County Reality-Based Training (RBT) Center—all working together to advance public safety, enhance emergency preparedness, and build resilience across our region.

SHSU CARES – Cultivating a Culture of Safety and Support

The SHSU CARES (Campus Assessment, Response, and Education for Safety) initiative promotes a campus-wide culture of awareness, prevention, and early intervention. By providing education and resources on threat assessment, behavioral intervention, and mental health support, SHSU CARES empowers faculty, staff, and students to recognize concerns before they escalate. Through proactive outreach and cross-campus collaboration, the program reinforces SHSU’s commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive environment where every Bearkat can thrive.

🔗 Learn more

LEMIT and CMIT – Training the Next Generation of Public Safety Leaders

The Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT), both housed at SHSU, serve as national leaders in advancing the professional development of law enforcement and corrections professionals. Through executive education, scenario-based training, and applied research, these institutes prepare public safety leaders to address today’s most pressing challenges, from crisis response to community trust-building. By partnering with local, state, and national agencies, LEMIT and CMIT continue to strengthen the skills and integrity of those who serve and protect.

🔗 Learn more

Montgomery County Reality-Based Training Center – Advancing Public Safety Preparedness

Located in the heart of Montgomery County, the Reality-Based Training (RBT) Center is a premier facility designed to enhance law enforcement, fire, and emergency response readiness through immersive, scenario-driven instruction. The Center’s state-of-the-art environments simulate real-world challenges in tactical response, crisis intervention, and community safety. By integrating advanced simulation technologies and fostering multi-agency collaboration, the RBT Center helps ensure first responders are equipped to protect and serve with confidence and coordination.

🔗 Learn more

Working Together to Build Safer Communities

From classroom to command center, these partnerships illustrate SHSU’s deep commitment to safety, preparedness, and service. Together, SHSU CARES, LEMIT/CMIT, and the RBT Center exemplify how collaboration can save lives, strengthen communities, and create a safer future for Texas and beyond.

Get Involved: To learn more about these partnerships or connect with our campus safety and training programs, reach out to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and stay tuned for future features.

This fall, Eva Zohne, a Chemistry undergraduate researcher at SHSU, presented her research project titled “Polysulfide UV-Vis Spectroscopy: Investigating Inter-Operator Variance and Hemoglobin Interactions" at the Regional American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Eva’s research explores how sulfur-based compounds called polysulfides interact with hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in blood. Using UV-Visible spectroscopy, she examines light absorption patterns to better understand these interactions and to assess how differences between researchers can affect experimental results.

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to present my own research. It was nerve-wracking at first, but I met some amazing people who inspired me to try new methods for my ongoing work.”

Eva expressed her gratitude to SHSU’s Student Travel and Professional Presentation (STAPP) program, which supported her participation. “Without the assistance of STAPP, I likely wouldn’t have been able to go. I hope that this program continues, as it benefits so many students here at Sam.”

Big ideas, bold research. These recently awarded grants highlight the creativity and impact of research happening at SHSU. Congratulations to all PIs!

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education
Award: $1,174,000
To develop and deliver professional development and coursework on American political traditions, emphasizing the Founding principles in the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

Sponsor: State of Texas Office of the Governor
Award: $1,125,500
Creating and maintaining a clearinghouse for specialty courts in Texas.

Sponsor:n Texas Department of Agriculture
Award: $63,000
Supporting small-scale farmers through applied research and outreach on micro-green production, marketing strategies, and nutritional value to enhance sustainability and profitability.

We'd like to congratulate Dr. Chi (Jorn) Yu, Professor in the Department of Forensic Science, on the granting of his U.S. patent titled “Intelligent System for Determining Hemp by Headspace Chemical Analysis” (US 12,423,964), issued in September 2025.

Dr. Yu’s patented innovation integrates headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with artificial intelligence and convolutional neural networks to rapidly distinguish hemp from non-hemp cannabis.

By converting chemical data into visual images for automated analysis, this system offers a faster, more standardized, and non-destructive approach for forensic laboratories, regulatory agencies, and the hemp industry.

This achievement reflects Dr. Yu’s leadership in forensic innovation and underscores SHSU's growing impact in applied research and technology development.

SHSU Grant Activity as of October 2025

FY26 (YTD)

55 Proposals submitted for $20,143,120

22 Proposals awarded for $8,552,704

FY25 (YTD)

35 Proposals submitted for $33,401,046

14 Proposals awarded for $3,392,367

Explore our Opportunities Spotlight—a curated database of grant opportunities to support your research and projects. Stay ahead with the latest funding calls and find the right fit for your work!

Updated weekly—because the best funding matches keep rolling in!
Find it anytime on our Find Funding page.

Explore our collection of webinars, trainings, templates, and other tools to support your research. We’re committed to continuous improvement, so feel free to share any feedback or suggestions for new resources.

Our team is always accessible, and ready to support you at any stage of your research endeavors.

If you are still in the ideation stage or looking for funding opportunities, reach out to our Research and Proposal Development team.

If you have already identified a grant and are ready to begin developing your proposal, submit a Pre-Proposal Notification (PPN) form, and our team will reach out to assist you with preparation and submission.

Do you have a project, event, or success story you'd like to share with the SHSU community? We're always looking to highlight the incredible work happening across campus. Submit a content request form and your story could be featured in our next newsletter!

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