In this issue
Research highlights | Innovation spotlight | New awards
Unsung heroes | Faculty kudos | Research development
Nuts & bolts | Upcoming events
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One of my favorite events each spring is the University Research Awards, where KU recognizes some of our most accomplished scholars. This year, Chief Research Officer Matthias Salathe and I had the privilege of introducing the honorees — and I left inspired by their curiosity, ambition and ingenuity.
I was also charmed by the humanity of the award recipients. That may sound obvious — after all, these are colleagues we see on our campuses every day. But researchers are often known by metrics: publications, funding rates, impact scores, or headline-grabbing breakthroughs. Those measures matter, but they only tell part of the story.
The University Research Awards celebrate the people behind the discoveries improving lives in Kansas and beyond. Their work spans cancer biology, public health, education, public policy, democracy and astrophysics — reaching from microscopic cells to massive galaxies. And behind each area of expertise is a deeply personal “why,” beautifully captured in short videos by KU Marketing’s talented digital media team:
- Hope for a better future
- Making the world a better place for ourselves and our children
- Asking questions we didn’t even know to ask
- Helping others grow and succeed
- Leaving things better than we found them
As we head into the busy final stretch of the spring semester, I invite you to catch your second wind by taking a moment to meet this year’s University Research Award recipients — a flock of Jayhawks pursuing, in the spirit of our state motto, “Research that reaches to the stars.”
Shelley Hooks
Vice Chancellor for Research
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Millions of Americans in need of affordable housing live in single- and double-wide mobile homes, which are disproportionately damaged or destroyed in major wind events, according to federal disaster data. KU engineer Elaina Sutley will use a hurricane simulator, dubbed the “Wall of Wind,” to make it plain to federal regulators why the nationwide building code for manufactured homes needs an update.
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“I picked poets for this album — all women — whose powerful words ... I felt like I could add something to musically and emotionally,” said Ingrid Stölzel, associate professor of music. Stölzel’s new album, “Three Silent Things,” includes a vocal chamber music setting of poetry by Kansas-born aviator Amelia Earhart.
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“Addressing this crisis is critically important because special education teachers play a central role in ensuring students with disabilities receive access to high-quality instruction, inclusive learning environments and legally mandated services,” said Lisa Dieker, Williamson Family Distinguished Professor in Special Education.
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Even dreams that are scary may serve a purpose, neuroscientists say. One prevalent theory is that fear in dreams could help people deal with fear in waking life, much like exposure therapy. KU doctoral student Garrett Baber tested this concept and recently published results in the peer-reviewed journal Sleep.
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Researchers at the University of Kansas are in the midst of a project to test whether water injection dredging can be used to clear sediment buildup in Tuttle Creek Lake, a vital reservoir that provides drinking water and flood control for more than 40 percent of Kansans.
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KU ranked among top public universities for patents |
The University of Kansas ranked No. 39 in 2025 among U.S. public universities for utility patents, according to the National Academy of Inventors — marking KU's fourth consecutive year in the Top 40.
The recognition reflects the strength of research and innovation across the university. The KU Center for Technology Commercialization supports this work by helping protect discoveries and advance them toward real-world application.
Congratulations to our researchers, inventors and partners for this continued achievement.
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KU researchers are studying how community colleges affect economic mobility in Kansas, supporting data access for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, improving adaptive functional fitness, examining single-session interventions for binge-spectrum eating disorders, and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in March.
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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 at KU.
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Persistent program coordinator prepares students for research careers |
Kathy Denning | Education Program Coordinator | Office for Advancing Success in Science
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Some undergraduate students want to become researchers but don’t know how to break into those professions. KU staff like Kathy Denning help demystify pathways for these students to begin their careers.
Denning is a program coordinator in the Office for Advancing Success in Science (OASiS). She has been in her current role for eight years and was previously a KU graduate student who earned her doctorate in ecology & evolutionary biology. Denning leads professional development training and advising for undergraduate students and postbaccalaureate researchers.
“Kathy is incredibly empathetic, and the students trust and respect her,” said Paulyn Cartwright, director of OASiS and professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. “She is also highly organized, efficient and hardworking, which makes the jobs of the training program PIs a lot easier.”
Denning’s role has evolved over time. She previously coordinated the National Institutes of Health-funded PREP program, which supports postbaccalaureate scholars, but she recently transitioned to facilitating the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program that serves undergraduate students. Denning recruits scholars and advises them throughout their time in the program. She also teaches group workshops on scientific writing, statistical analysis and the graduate school application process.
“During monthly PREP meetings, Kathy always asked me how I was doing in my courses. I didn’t fall behind,” said a student that Denning mentored. “I was concerned once about an exam, but Kathy helped me through that. Kathy always had plenty of time to talk to me anytime I needed support.”
In addition to supporting learners, Denning works to expand training programs to serve more students than is currently possible. She works closely with faculty and other academic staff to identify and apply for new grant opportunities, collects data to report to other university offices and helps write progress reports to comply with funder requirements. As changes to federal grant programs created uncertainty last year, colleagues say Denning served as a continuous source of inspiration.
“When staff morale was down due to the sudden termination of many of our training programs, Kathy never lost motivation,” Cartwright said. “She announced that she was going to keep moving forward or go down with the ship because our objectives were too important not to keep trying.
“Her fortitude boosted the morale of staff and scholars and helped us all through a difficult time.”
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Brian Laird, professor of chemistry, received the February 2026 Sutton Family Research Impact Award from KU’s Department of Chemistry.
- Silvia Park, assistant professor of English, won the LA Times Book Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction for her novel “Luminous” (Simon & Schuster, 2025).
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Robert Warrior, Hall Distinguished Professor of American Literature & Culture, is one of 25 judges who will select the nation’s top works as part of the National Book Foundation’s 77th National Book Awards. Warrior, who has a dual appointment in the departments of English and American Studies, will chair the nonfiction panel.
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Claire Willey-Sthapit, assistant professor of social welfare, received the KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award.
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Program managers to share DARPA research priorities
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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is hosting Mission Connect: Michigan, a one‑day opportunity on May 7 to engage directly with DARPA program managers and learn where they are seeking new performers. Faculty will hear firsthand about current research priorities and future directions tied to industrial transformation, advanced manufacturing and rapid delivery of capabilities at national scale.
This is an especially valuable event for researchers interested in high‑risk, high‑impact work aligned with national security and large‑scale federal challenges. In‑person attendees will have opportunities for direct interaction, technical panels and networking; a virtual option is also available.
Registration is required, and space is limited.
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New look for InfoReady landing page |
Join a Collaborative Research Luncheon on multi-omics |
Please join us for a Collaborative Research Luncheon focused on multi-omics research.
Multi-omics research strategies enable deeper insights into biological systems by incorporating a variety of “omics” data types derived from research areas such as genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics. By leveraging data from a range of methods and perspectives — combining DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry — multi-omics research opens enormous possibilities to uncover detailed biological information of human diseases, biodiversity, conservation, and environmental and ecological systems.
The luncheon will feature a panel of experts, table-based conversations, and opportunities for networking.
Collaborative Research Luncheon No. 9
Multi-omics Research: Toward a Holistic View of Biological Processes
Tuesday, May 12 | 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Forum B, Burge Union
Register today
Visit the Collaborative Research Luncheon webpage to learn more about previous topics.
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Be mindful of allowable expenses during graduation season |
A quick reminder for our campus community: Gifts, including graduation and appreciation gifts, are not an allowable expense on KUCR funding or procurement cards. We understand that recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of others is important, and we encourage you to explore allowable alternatives. The KU Research Fiscal Affairs team is always here to help guide you; feel free to contact us with any questions.
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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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