Category: Research

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.

Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) requests a minimum of 30 business days to process letters of support or participation in research. It is WSU’s responsibility to have appropriate support from the school(s)/personnel that will be involved in the project prior to submitting a request.

Letters of support/grant proposals: WSU personnel who need a letter of support or USD 259 participation on a grant proposal, should complete the External-Request for Grant Support form and are encouraged to reach out directly to Holly Wilson at hwilson@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarification.

Research requests: WSU personnel who want to conduct research in USD 259, must download and complete the Research Request Document. Investigators are encouraged to reach out directly to Will Graves at wgraves@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarifications.

As a reminder, all proposals submitted on behalf of WSU must be reviewed by the Office of Research prior to submission. This includes proposals where WSU is a direct recipient of funds and proposals where WSU is a proposed subawardee/subcontractor. Please contact the Office of Research at proposals@wichita.edu to get started.

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for Multidisciplinary Research Project Awards (MURPA) no later than 5 p.m. Oct. The MURPA opportunity provides funding of up to $7,500 for faculty projects that involve two or more investigators from different disciplines that focus different perspectives and capabilities on complex problems that intersect established areas of study.

Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered. Email proposals@wichita.edu today to get started or visit the website for additional information.

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 3. The URCA opportunity provides funding of up to $4,500 for faculty to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available.

Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered. Email proposals@wichita.edu today to get started or visit the website for additional information.

Did you know that WSU provides funding for faculty research and creative activity projects? The Faculty Support Committee encourages you to explore this year’s URCA, MURPA and ARCS opportunities. Funding ranges from $4,000 up to $7,500 for multi-disciplinary projects.

These opportunities are perfect for faculty looking to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available. The first opportunity deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is in October, so check out the Internal Grants Opportunity webpage for more information.

McNair Scholars Program invites you to the 30th annual Research Symposium poster session from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, July 18 on the second floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Join in celebrating the incredible work of the McNair Scholars, each of whom has dedicated over 200 hours to their original research projects.

Posters will be presented as part of the Bradley Cole Poster Competition, where your vote helps decide the winner. Explore thought-provoking topics, engage with brilliant student researchers and cast your vote for your favorite poster.

Join Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub (UReCA) from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 7 in the Digital Scholars Commons of Ablah Library to meet other researchers on campus.

This event is open to all students, their faculty mentors and faculty who are interested in mentoring an undergraduate student this upcoming fall. Guests are encouraged to network, ask questions to faculty or other students and have fun. Snacks and games will be provided.

Charvi Sharma, a graduate student from Hyderabad, India, is pursuing her master’s in Exercise Science within the Department of Human Performance Studies and is set to graduate in fall 2025. With a background in physical therapy, she developed a strong interest in research during her studies in India.

At Wichita State, she’s contributed to several projects, including research on back muscle activity using electromyography and the usability of neurocognitive mobile apps in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The Parkinson’s study earned first place at GRASP 2025 and was accepted at regional and national conferences.

Sharma also conducted research on blood flow restriction and passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) on her first attempt. She says mentorship and support from faculty played a key role in her success.

A team of faculty members from the College of Engineering, in collaboration with researchers from Iowa State University and Northwestern University, has been awarded a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The four-year project aims to develop sustainable, electrified processes for manufacturing key industrial chemicals, including ethylene and ammonia, using renewable electricity and waste materials.

WSU’s involvement is led by Dr. Shuang Gu, the co-principal investigator (co-PI) on the overall project and the PI for WSU’s portion of the work. The WSU team also includes Dr. Bayram Yildirim, who is a co-PI, and Dr. Eylem Asmatulu, who serving as a senior researcher. WSU has been awarded $900,000 of the total funding. Dr. Wenzhen Li of Iowa State University (ISU) is serving as the project’s PI. Dr. Mark Mba-Wright from ISU and Dr. Ted Sargent from Northwestern University are additional co-PIs on the project.

The project focuses on advancing electro-manufacturing technologies that reduce reliance on energy-intensive chemical processes. By targeting green ammonia production from waste nitrogen and green ethylene production from waste carbon dioxide, the research seeks to significantly cut industrial carbon emissions and energy use. In addition to groundbreaking scientific work, the project will also support education and workforce training in STEM fields, aiming to build a future-ready manufacturing workforce.

Proposals are open for the 54th Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest (LASSO). Under the theme, “Borderless Language,” participants will explore multilingual and multicultural research that addresses crucial issues such as language and social justice, critical pedagogies, language in healthcare, language maintenance and revitalization, and sociolinguistics. The conference will be hosted at Wichita State University.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn and engage with leading research and be part of thought-provoking conversations that promote community engagement and work towards creating a more inclusive, equitable world through the power of language.