In this issue
Research highlights | Innovation spotlight | New awards
Unsung heroes | Faculty kudos | Research development
Nuts & bolts | Upcoming events
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“We love a good Sunflower Showdown,” said Shelley Hooks, vice chancellor for research at KU. “But outside of stadiums and arenas, KU and K‑State have been on the same side for years — collaborating on research that protects Kansans’ health, strengthens our infrastructure, supports our farmers and so much more.”
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“AAAS Fellows are among the world’s top scientists, and to have three more University of Kansas researchers named fellows demonstrates KU’s strength as one of the nation’s leading research institutions,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “I congratulate Professor Beard, Professor Qiu and Professor Wolfe on this honor that recognizes their hard work.”
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"Without national data, it is challenging to make informed decisions and implement policies that lead to meaningful change" to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the supports and services necessary for quality-of-life outcomes, said Shea Tanis, associate research professor at the KU Center on Disabilities.
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New research from the University of Kansas has found that people with strong connections to a character or story were more likely to spot Easter eggs — a subtle reference to another movie or story. And when they did, it not only heightened their enjoyment, but they were more likely to engage in fan behavior, such as posting about the experience online or rewatching.
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The documentary film “Reclaiming Home: Remembering the Topeka Bottoms” tells the stories of senior citizens — mostly African Americans and Mexican Americans — who were children in the late 1950s when urban renewal took their neighborhood for an interstate highway and city and corporate landlords. The full, unedited 80 hours of interviews will eventually be made available to researchers through various historical archives.
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Corporate charitable donations, known as corporate giving, are motivated by a number of factors. Jun Ho Lee, assistant professor of business, aims to better understand this behavior, especially in the context of family-owned Korean companies. He traveled to South Korea to conduct in-depth interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders associated with these firms to determine these factors.
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The KU Center for Technology Commercialization is pleased to congratulate Lisa Stehno-Bittel and Elizabeth “Lisa” Friis for their recognition as 2026 Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors.
The NAI Senior Member designation recognizes academic inventors who have demonstrated notable success in patents, licensing and commercialization, while also contributing to the advancement of innovation within their institutions. Both researchers were nominated by KUCTC and exemplify the strength of KU’s research and innovation enterprise.
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KU researchers are evaluating construction inspection workforce needs in Kansas, stabilizing soil with mycorrhizal fungi, examining state variability in pediatric hospitalizations, training the next generation of scientists and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in February.
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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 or tap the button below this month's story to nominate a deserving candidate from any unit on campus.
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Recently retired administrator helped faculty manage funding for decades |
Anita Abel | Associate Director of Post-Award Services | Office of Research
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A recently retired research administrator contributed more than 50 years of service to the University of Kansas. Much of that time was spent ensuring that faculty and staff could access research funding necessary for them to make discoveries that bettered Kansas and the world.
Anita Abel began her KU career in 1975 as a receptionist in the Division of Continuing Education. She also held positions in the first University Placement Office (now called University Career Services) and KU Libraries before starting as an accounts payable clerk in 1985 at the KU Center for Research Inc. (referred to as CRINC at the time).
“Anita used her incredible institutional knowledge to resolve issues across the sponsored project lifespan, with a focus on award finance and compliance,” said Alicia Reed, assistant vice chancellor for research.
“Her role was multifaceted, assisting with award management issue management, sponsor interaction, award setup and award accounts receivable.”
She was promoted to a number of positions in the Office of Research, including as accounts payable coordinator, assistant manager of business services, and interim manager for Post-Award Services, before moving to the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies (later renamed the Life Span Institute), where she gained hands-on research administration experience working directly for researchers and their support staff. In 2013, the Office of Research hired Anita as assistant director for Post-Award Services. She retired as associate director.
“Anita was a diligent and dedicated co-worker, always willing to go the extra mile to ensure an issue was addressed and that stakeholders were aware of how to resolve and avoid similar issues in the future,” Reed said. “She was a dependable colleague and friend in the workplace — someone you could always count on.”
Abel retired in January 2026, but colleagues wouldn’t be surprised if you still see her on campus from time to time.
“She is a die-hard KU basketball fan, with season tickets to men’s games,” Reed said. “She truly cared about KU and was always looking for ways to support KU and KU researchers.”
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- Sarah Cullinan Herring, assistant professor of classics, was chosen to participate in the 2026 Select Summer Residency Program of the National Humanities Center in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, where she will spend June working on a book with support from the center’s research librarians.
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Meredith Hartley, assistant professor of chemistry, received the January 2026 Sutton Family Research Impact Award from KU’s Department of Chemistry.
- Megan Kaminski's most recent book of poetry, “Gentlewomen,” was included on the Community of Literary Magazines & Presses Reading List for Women’s History Month 2026. Kaminski is professor of environmental studies.
- Dionyssis Mantzavinos, Bischoff-Stouffer Associate Professor of Mathematics, received the 2025 Nikolaos K. Artemiadis Award for Outstanding Research in Mathematical Analysis from the Academy of Athens, which is the highest intellectual establishment in Greece.
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University Scholarly Achievement Awards |
Four mid-career faculty members received 2026 University Scholarly Achievement Awards:
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- Katie Batza, associate professor of women, gender & sexuality studies (Arts & Humanities category)
- Anthony Fehr, associate professor of molecular biosciences (Science, Technology & Mathematics category)
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Bret Freudenthal, professor of biochemistry & molecular biology (Medicine & Clinical Science category)
- David Slusky, professor of economics and speech-language-hearing (Social Sciences & Professional Programs category)
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The four winners — along with recipients of the university’s other top annual research awards — will be honored April 14 at the University Research Awards ceremony at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. All faculty and staff are invited to attend. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance to assist with planning.
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One KU Collaborative Research Awards |
The One KU Collaborative Research Awards provide seed funding to launch or strengthen innovative, interdisciplinary research partnerships between KU Lawrence/Edwards and KU Medical Center. Proposed projects must have at least one investigator from each campus.
Amount: $25K – $100K | Deadline: April 20 (extended)
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One KU Research Pivot Awards |
The One KU Research Pivot Awards are designed to help KU researchers explore and align novel ideas with new opportunities and build internal capacity to maintain research momentum when their usual sources of external funding in a given topic area have become unavailable.
Amount: $25K – $100K | Deadline: April 20 (extended)
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Join a Collaborative Research Luncheon on rural health |
Please join us for a Collaborative Research Luncheon focused on rural health. From rural Kansas to sub-Saharan Africa, KU researchers are transforming the possibilities of rural health care. Leveraging big data, telemedicine and demography, KU scholars are working across a range of populations on issues as diverse as mental health, reproductive justice, obesity, aging, HIV and safe drinking water. Come learn how to get involved.
The luncheon will feature a panel of experts, table-based conversations, and opportunities for networking.
Collaborative Research Luncheon No. 8: Rural Health
Tuesday, April 14 | 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Malott Room, Kansas Union
Register today
Visit the Collaborative Research Luncheon webpage to preview topics and save dates for future sessions.
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New electronic travel policy, procedures in effect |
International travel with electronic devices can expose KU to risks, including export control violations, data loss and unauthorized access to university systems. To help mitigate these risks, KU’s Office of Global Risk & Security has launched the Loaner Laptop/Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) program, which enables employees to securely access KU resources, research storage, specialized software and high‑performance computing through a U.S.-based virtual environment.
The Electronic Device Travel Policy and Loaner Laptop/Azure Virtual Desktop Procedure have been added to the KU Policy Library as One KU items covering all campuses.
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New supplier registration process now active |
KU's updated supplier registration process announced earlier this month is active. All new supplier registrations and supplier updates must now be submitted using the streamlined Finance Service Portal form. Confidential information (e.g., W-9/W-8BEN/W-8BEN-E, IRS forms, social security cards, banking information, etc.) should no longer be submitted with supplier maintenance requests. New suppliers will receive an email with a registration link to submit required documents directly and securely.
Please let suppliers know to expect an email from supplier@ku.edu with instructions on how to register. To see an example of the email and an overview of the registration form sent to suppliers, please visit the attachments section of the Finance Service Portal. More information on the new process is available in the March 11 announcement. Please contact the Supplier Management Team at supplier@ku.edu with questions.
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New web resource aims to strengthen training grant proposals |
Training awards bolster the KU research enterprise by expanding the university's research workforce and supporting trainees who contribute directly to innovation and discovery. On a new Training Awards webpage, the Office of Research has consolidated resources for developing and submitting institutional and individual research training awards.
Explore the page to connect with KU and external resources, including funding databases, active funding opportunities, mentoring networks, evaluation services and more.
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NIH sheds light on how funding decisions are made |
Directors of National Institutes of Health institutes and centers recently shared how they are putting the new NIH Unified Funding Strategy into practice. Beginning in 2026, all NIH institutes are using the same set of principles to guide funding decisions, including scientific merit, alignment with NIH’s mission, balance across research areas, investigator career stage, geographic distribution and available funds. Applications will still undergo peer review, but funding decisions are not based on a single score threshold. Instead, institutes consider scores alongside these broader factors to support the most impactful research.
NIH continues to emphasize investigator‑initiated proposals, strong support for early‑career investigators, and early conversations with NIH program staff to discuss fit and priorities. To improve transparency, NIH centralized institute‑specific funding strategies on its Grants & Funding site, making it easier to understand how funding decisions are made across the agency.
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Make a perfect pair with NIH Matchmaker |
The NIH Matchmaker tool in RePORTER can help you determine which institute or center may be interested in your idea, which NIH program official you may want to contact, and which study section you might suggest for application review.
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Final Friday Ethics series continues spring programming |
The Human Research Protection Program's Final Friday Ethics series continues through April. Please register on Zoom and make plans to join these one-hour virtual sessions that begin at 11:30 a.m. on the dates below:
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- April 24 | Funding & IRB Approval: When Do I Submit?
Do you apply for IRB after receiving funding? Or does your funding source require confirmation of IRB approval? This session will review best practices for ensuring that you have IRB approval at the time of receiving your award.
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Adapting Through Changes in the Research Landscape |
Are you curious about how to forge more research collaborations and wanting to learn what’s new in the world of research funding for all disciplines? Register for Day 1 of Faculty Development Academies Week!
Faculty Development Academies Week Day 1 | Evolving Scholarship: Adapting Through Changes in the Research Landscape
Monday, May 18 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Malott Room, Kansas Union
Register online
The KU Office of Research plays a pivotal role on campus providing the collaborative space necessary to transform ambitious ideas into funded initiatives — and to access the strategic tools needed to build research programs at all levels. This year’s Research & Discovery Academies Day aims to bring together faculty for collaborative networking designed to spark innovative, cross-disciplinary partnerships. The day will also provide a forum for discussing emerging trends and updates within the KU research landscape, supporting faculty in remaining at the forefront of discovery.
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Questions? Comments? Content suggestions?
Mindie Paget | Office of Research | mpaget@ku.edu
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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.
© The University of Kansas. 2026.
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