Author: c923e646@wichita.edu

Learn about the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub goals, values and who makes up UReCA at a virtual informational session from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 online via Microsoft Teams. There will also be a discussion on how to reach out to faculty, what research programs are at WSU and key information to know when getting involved in research.

Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub at its online open house from 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2 to learn more about undergraduate research opportunities, services and how faculty can get involved.

Bring questions on how to get involved in research, how the Connect Database works and how to apply for the URCA Hub Grant. This open house is open to all undergraduate students and faculty members.

The URCA Hub research grants can be used for travel in direct support of the research project (e.g., books, field sites, museums, historic sites), as well as most materials and equipment. All materials and equipment must stay at WSU once the project is complete. Grants may be used as participant incentives with proof of appropriate IRB approval.

Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:

• Must be a sophomore, junior or senior (by credit hour)
• Must have at least two semesters remaining at WSU, including the semester in which they apply for the grant (i.e., a senior graduating spring 2027 would be eligible to apply in fall 2026).
• Must have a faculty research mentor who is willing to submit a statement in support of the project
• Has not received funds from this program in the past
• Must present this project at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Forum, held annually in the spring

Note: Preference is given to students whose projects are not currently receiving funding from another source (e.g., faculty mentor grants).

More information:

• Application deadline: March 9 for grants to begin in the fall
• The grant amount is up to $1,500 per application

Learn more about the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Grant Program.

The event has been rescheduled to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2.

Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub at its online open house from 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2 to learn more about undergraduate research opportunities, services and how faculty can get involved.

Bring questions on how to get involved in research, how the Connect Database works and how to apply for the URCA Hub Grant. This open house is open to all undergraduate students and faculty members.

Interested in completing undergraduate research? The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub, a unit of the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College, provides the Connect Database, which connects undergraduate students and faculty members for mentored research opportunities.

Interested in learning more about the Connect Database? Learn more on the UReCa website or email undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu if you have any questions.

UReCA is located in the Ablah Library on the first floor and is open to all WSU undergraduate students, from freshmen to seniors, for all programs and majors.

Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UReCA) Hub at a research social from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the Ablah Library Digital Scholars Commons Area. This social event creates a welcoming and engaging space that builds community among everyone involved or interested in research — faculty, students, staff and community members.

These gatherings also help raise awareness of ongoing research projects. Light snacks and games will be provided.

UReCA’s Connect Database service will be closed for the winter break starting Dec. 8. Responses will still be accepted, but UReCA will not make connections between faculty and students until Jan. 20, 2026.

For more information on Connect Database, review UReCA’s website.

The Kansas National Science Foundation’s Established Program for Stimulating Competitive Research is now accepting applications from undergraduate students. This opportunity offers a fully funded summer research experience, complete with hands-on involvement and a generous stipend. Share this information with your undergraduate students, especially those in related fields.

About the program: finding pathways to community disaster resilience

In this program, students will engage in cutting-edge research, develop valuable skills and contribute to important societal challenges like:

• Historical and current social inequities in infrastructure
• Disaster planning and preparation
• Rural and urban infrastructure challenges and solutions
• Resilience of water, energy, and transportation systems

Students will gain:

• A stipend of $7,000
• Valuable research experience
• Summer housing and meal plan
• Professional skills, science communication data analysis and much more

Eligibility:

• Must be undergraduates who have completed their first year of college
• Must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply

Students can apply at nsfepscor.ku.edu/reu/. The due date is Jan. 20, 2026.

For questions, reach out to Alej Martinez, program coordinator for education and community engagement, Kansas NSF EPSCoR, at 785-864-9041 or alej@ku.edu.

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Hub is excited to announce that three undergraduate-led research projects have each been awarded $1,500 this fall.

Robustness analysis of direct position determination for radio emitter localization

• URCA grant award recipients: Brody Bazzelle, Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan and Dr. Yanwu Ding

Angle-specific muscle activation on a multi-modal exercise system: a 10-,uscle EMG study.

• URCA grant award recipients: Rida Azmi, Sydnie Strong, Samantha Scraper, Cierra Milledge, Dr. Stacy Johnson and Dr. Heidi Bell

Being wrong feels right: predictive responses of expected and unexpected variations during active music listening using multi-modal-fNIRS-EEG analysis.

• URCA grant award recipients: Garett Knight, Dr. Savina Jahnke and Dr. Erin O’Bryan

Looking ahead, spring 2026 URCA Grant applications are due March 9, 2026. To learn more about the grant, eligibility or how to apply, visit the URCA website. For any questions, contact undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu.

Undergraduate student researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to submit their application for the annual Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol poster symposium. Participants must:

• Be undergraduates during the 2025-26 academic year
• Have completed research under the guidance of a faculty mentor at a Kansas four-year public institution
• Follow the appropriate methodology of their academic discipline
• Have research of sufficient quality to be presented at a professional academic meeting
• Produce a professional academic poster
• Rehearse their presentations prior to the Capitol event

Applications are due at midnight Jan. 26, 2026.