In this issue
Research highlights | Innovation spotlight | New awards | Unsung heroes
Faculty kudos | Research development | Nuts & bolts | Events
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An exceptional learning community |
This is my final opportunity to contribute to KU Discoveries. I have been privileged to spend more than four years as part of this “exceptional learning community.” The university’s vision statement accurately describes what KU has been and will continue to be far into the future. As I reflect on my time as part of the Jayhawk community, I want to tell you some of what I’ve learned from you.
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I arrived shortly before we had to put research activities into hibernation as COVID-19 swept around the world. I learned that at KU, you can trust people to behave responsibly and ethically if you provide guidance and transparency about what is known. You safely returned to laboratories in summer 2020 and, more gradually, to the field and engagement with human subjects. Our research was certainly impacted by the pandemic but, thanks to this community, is now more vibrant that ever.
- I learned that at KU, those who voice complaints or concerns most often do so out of care for the university; it is wise to listen to what they say and act accordingly. I heard a lot about the need for improved post-award support from the day I arrived, and I’m grateful to those who — for the sake of their colleagues — made sure this became a top priority for the Office of Research.
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I learned about KU’s exceptional strength in fields that don’t attract the most research funding — the humanities and arts, for example — and how much faculty in these fields contribute to KU’s international reputation and the university’s capacity to engage with the most difficult and consequential challenges of our time. KU’s friends and partners have an opportunity to spread the word about the value these scholars and artists bring to the state and region.
- I learned that “the way we’ve always done things” is insufficient if we want everyone in our community to thrive and feel that they belong. We must understand where radical change is needed — in peer review, merit and promotion review, etc. — so that we can support the reality of our diversity with a KU community that truly rises to our vision of inclusion and equity for all.
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Finally, I’ve learned with gratitude that KU is exceptionally well-served by the talented, dedicated and responsive team in the Office of Research; by senior leadership in the office; by center directors and associate deans for research; and by vice provosts, other leaders and staff in their units who support research at KU. They deserve your thanks.
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I could not have asked for better colleagues during my time here. KU is a special place, and I wish you all the very best as you forge ahead, “Ever Onward.” I will always get goosebumps when I hear the chant:
Rock Chalk!
Simon Atkinson
Vice Chancellor for Research
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The three-year project is developing an online curriculum to train academic researchers how to commercialize their innovations.
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“This project gives voice to the concerns of people with disabilities,” said Jean Hall, who leads the KU Institute for Health & Disability Policy Studies at KU’s Life Span Institute.
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“These findings matter if we’re therapists or patients or clients considering which treatments to use — or agencies that have concerns about what treatments to fund,” said the study's lead author Alex Williams, program director of psychology at KU's Edwards Campus.
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| “It's clear regions with a history of fewer toxic blooms are likely to experience an increase in such occurrences due to climate change,” said Ted Harris, assistant research professor with the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
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Faculty, staff and students interested in featuring fieldwork conducted by themselves or a colleague can email Vince Munoz at vince.munoz@ku.edu, briefly explaining the research. All disciplines are welcome. Click the headline above to see past stories in the series.
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From lab to market: The role of innovation and commercialization in research |
Want to know more about how the incredible discoveries and innovations born from KU research make their way into our everyday lives?
Watch Cliff Michaels, executive director of the KU Center for Technology Commercialization, as he discusses the dynamic process of technology transfer and the role it plays in bridging the gap between academic research and real-world impact.
In this presentation, Michaels talks through the federal government’s role in academic research and innovation, as well as the basics of tech transfer and intellectual property protection. He also answers common questions about technology transfer at KU.
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KU researchers are supporting students experiencing difficulty in math, monitoring pathogens from invasive species in agriculture, combating vulnerability in 5G network security, evaluating harmful algal bloom trends in Cedar Bluff and Clinton Reservoirs, and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in September.
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Geologic repository manager serves researchers, regulators and industry partners |
Doug Louis | Manager, Kansas Geologic Sample Repository | Kansas Geological Survey
No matter where you are on Earth’s surface, millions of years of natural history stretch beneath you. Understanding that history requires collecting and preserving samples of underground materials for study.
Doug Louis, manager of the Kansas Geologic Sample Repository, helps connect researchers, regulators and industry partners to such samples.
Louis began his role at the Kansas Geological Survey in early 2021. He oversees daily operations at the KGS cuttings repository in Wichita and serves as its primary liaison for the western part of the state.
When surveying an area for fossil fuel, oil and natural gas companies often use a method called coring, which involves removing cylindrical, mostly pristine pieces of earth. Because coring is expensive, companies usually break up the rocks as they drill and flush them to the surface. The rock bits that rise are called cuttings. Louis processes, archives and distributes these cuttings when they are donated to KGS.
“Doug’s adept communication skills foster positive relationships with donors and underline the importance of such donations to the repository’s mission and research initiatives,” said Nikki Potter, librarian and manager of the KGS Core Library. “His coordination efforts ensure that these contributions are handled with care and precision, contributing to the repository’s growing collection of essential geological materials.”
Geological data is used by countless researchers across many different sectors. Industry groups, regulators and academics all rely on cuttings and core samples, which means KGS staff — including Louis — must be capable of serving a diverse range of needs. He conducts outreach in classrooms, at fairs and at conferences to help Kansans understand the repository’s work.
“Doug’s ability to collaborate with both external stakeholders and internal personnel makes him a valuable source for answering inquiries and fostering positive relationships,” Potter said.
Colleagues note that Louis’s patience and willingness to help others make him invaluable to KGS.
“Doug is a personable and approachable individual, known for his friendly demeanor and ever-present smile,” Potter said. “He possesses the remarkable quality of never making anyone feel like they’re burdening him with their questions.”
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Bruce Lieberman, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and senior curator at the Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, received a 2023 David Shulenburger Award for Innovation & Advocacy in Scholarly Communication from KU Libraries.
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Andrew McKenzie, associate professor of linguistics and affiliate faculty in Indigenous studies, received the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Writing in the Published Short-form Nonfiction category for the paper “Language Change During Interstellar Travel,” published in the European Space Agency’s Acta Futura.
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Bozenna Pasik-Duncan, professor of mathematics, had a humanitarian mentoring award named after her by the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers.
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Cameron Piercy, associate professor of communication studies and founding director of the Human-Machine Communication Lab, received a 2023 David Shulenburger Award for Innovation & Advocacy in Scholarly Communication.
- Jennifer Raff, associate professor of anthropology, received the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science for her book “Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas.”
- Benjamin Rosenthal, associate professor of visual art, received the $20,000 Juried Prize for Digital Art in the 2023 ArtPrize competition.
- Ward Thompson, professor of chemistry, received the August 2023 Sutton Family Research Impact Award from KU’s Department of Chemistry.
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Racial Equity Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity Awards |
These awards support members of our research and creative community as they apply their expertise to profound and persistent challenges related to attaining the goal of racial equity. Eligibility is open to Lawrence and Edwards campus faculty and academic staff (whether or not tenure-track), without regard for field or discipline. Questions?
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Amount: Up to $20K | Deadline: Nov. 15
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Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards |
These awards recognize individuals for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative activity in the fields of humanities and social sciences, basic sciences, biomedical sciences, and applied sciences. Faculty from any Kansas Regents institution are eligible.
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Amount: $10K | Deadline: Nov. 1
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Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award |
This award honors an outstanding unclassified academic staff researcher on the KU-Lawrence campus who has had significant influence in their field and/or a productive record of important research that has expanded intellectual or societal insights.
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Amount: $10K | Deadline: Nov. 1
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KU Research Staff & Postdoctoral Achievement Awards |
The Staff Achievement Award and the Postdoctoral Achievement Award are intended to recognize the numerous contributions of unclassified professional staff and postdoctoral researchers to the research mission of KU, honoring outstanding individuals who have had a tangible impact on the research labs and projects in which they work.
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Amount: $5K | Deadline: Nov. 1
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Exploring funding from the Army Research Institute |
Join us for an in-person presentation by the leadership from the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral & Social Sciences. ARI officials from Fort Leavenworth will present information on funding opportunities outlined in the current Broad Agency Announcement for Basic, Applied & and Advance Scientific Research.
Exploring Funding from the Army Research Institute
Monday, Nov. 6 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Kansas Union, Floors 5 + 6 (rooms TBD)
Funding opportunities expected to be covered include basic research in the areas of:
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- Science of measurement of individuals and collectives
- Understanding multilevel and organizational dynamics
- Context of behavior in military environments
- Formal and informal learning and development
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In addition, it is expected that applied research opportunities will be covered in areas such as:
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- Improving talent management through advanced analytics
- Leader competencies for complexity and uncertainty
- Team assignment and performance
- Assessing and developing technological fluency for the future force
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ARI officials will make formal presentations, and small groups with similar interests will have time to ask questions and receive strategic advice in breakout sessions.
Questions? Contact Carol Burdsal at carol.burdsal@ku.edu.
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Plan ahead for KU Research winter break hours |
In concert with the entire Lawrence and Edwards campuses, the KU Office of Research will be closed over the 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. 23 and Jan. 3 must be to Pre-Award by Monday, Dec. 18 to provide sufficient time for proposals to be submitted by Dec. 22. 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: Tuesday, Dec. 26
Reopen: Tuesday, Jan. 2
We appreciate your assistance and wish you a restful, re-energizing break!
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ResFS upgrade to impact outage for hardware upgrade |
The Office of Research, Center for Research Computing and KU IT project to replace the university’s Research File Storage (ResFS) remains on schedule.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, all access, connections and processes that involve data stored on ResFS and the research cluster will be temporarily suspended; any open sessions will be terminated while this upgrade is performed. We anticipate that the upgrade will take approximately 72 hours, but we will confirm via email when the cutover is complete and full network access is restored.
Please consult the to-do list at the link below for action steps and reminders.
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Questions? Comments? Content suggestions?
Mindie Paget | Office of Research | mpaget@ku.edu
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KU Office of Research
2385 Irving Hill Road
Lawrence, KS 66045
KU is an EO/AA institution.
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