Category: Research

The 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will take place Friday, April 12 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

The purpose of the important event is to enable WSU’s undergraduate student researchers to present research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students who have conducted research in 2023-24 are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Winners in each category of applied sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities will receive a $250 prize, and second place finishers will receive $100. All participants will be provided lunch at the Rhatigan Student Center and will gain valuable experience exhibiting their research.

Abstract submissions are due by March 29. Early submissions are encouraged.

Information about the event can be found on the URCAF webpage. For questions, contact John Hammond at john.hammond@wichita.edu.

The United States is the foremost producer of shale gas, but new National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research (NSF grants #1661733 and #1911289; Usha Haley, sole principal investigator) from Wichita State suggests that China’s substantial investments in U.S. shale gas producers, refiners and distributors has hindered and disrupted American innovation in the field.

The researchers gathered and analyzed data covering two decades. They found that despite more environmental regulation, Chinese-funded operations shifted away from environmentally-friendly production and led to greater methane pollution, while innovation from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plummeted.

More on the research is available to read online, with a PDF available to download as well.

A second round of funding is now available. Award for Research/Creative Projects in Summer (ARCS) proposals are due to the Office of Research no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 12.

The ARCS opportunity provides funding of up to $4,000 to enable faculty to pursue research or creative projects during the summer. 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. Contact proposals@wichita.edu ideally by Friday, March 29 to get started and 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. Friday, April 5.

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. Contact proposals@wichita.edu to get started or visit the website for additional information.

The 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will take place Friday, April 12 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

The purpose of the important event is to enable WSU’s undergraduate student researchers to present research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students who have conducted research in 2023-24 are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Winners in each category of applied sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities will receive a $250 prize, and second place finishers will receive $100. All participants will be provided lunch at the Rhatigan Student Center and will gain valuable experience exhibiting their research.

Abstract submissions are due by March 29. Early submissions are encouraged.

Information about the event can be found on the URCAF webpage. For questions, contact John Hammond at john.hammond@wichita.edu.

Wednesday, Jan. 31 is the last day for graduate students who would like to present their research in Topeka March 21 at the Capital Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) to submit their research abstracts.

CGRS provides an opportunity for selected graduate students to expose state government, education officials and the public to the quality of graduate research performed in the state of Kansas. CGRS winners receive a certificate and a $500 monetary award.

Proposals are due for Multidisciplinary Research Project Awards (MURPA) and University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects to the Office of Research no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.

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.

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. Contact proposals@wichita.edu to get started or visit the Office of Research website for additional information.

The Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium is looking for graduate student submissions for its 19th annual GRASP Symposium to be held on April 14.

This university-wide graduate research symposium gives students and faculty the opportunity to spread awareness about state-of-the-art projects being conducted on campus, showcase graduate student work, recognize the mentoring of faculty advisors and provide a forum for graduate students to practice their research presentation skills.

Information about submissions and preparation can be found on the GRASP Participant Information page. Submissions close on Feb. 10.

It’s a new year and a new opportunity to share research and scholarship at the 10th annual Gender & Sexuality conference on March 10 in the Rhatigan Student Center. Submissions are now being accepted.

Students, staff and faculty are invited to submit work in all disciplines for either a traditional oral presentation or a short workshop format.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 10.

If you have any questions, contact Dr. Jodie Hertzog at jodie.hertzog@wichita.edu or Dr. Jenny Pearson at jennifer.pearson@wichita.edu in the Department of Sociology at Wichita State.

A common first step in establishing an NSF research center is to demonstrate success with a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site in the field of interest. REU Sites are also helpful in recruiting graduate students. NSF REU proposals are typically due in August or September. Vice Provost Coleen Pugh and any interested teams will coordinate and work on their proposals for submission in 2023 to separate divisions according to the following approximate schedule:

• January: Planning meeting and discussion of budgets and target students
• February: Complete the section on WSU institutional support of undergraduate research.
• March: Complete the section on the departmental, unit, or topical area of undergraduate research experiences and history.
• April: Complete list of undergraduate researchers who have been mentored by site faculty, and PI history of mentoring undergraduate researchers.
• May: Complete the section with proposed undergraduate research projects by site faculty.
• June: Complete the section on training activities, including research- or field-specific activities, professional development activities, and industry and research field trips.
• July: Complete the section on coordinated social activities and housing for all WSU REU sites.
• August: Complete any remaining sections and polish proposals.

Email funding@wichita.edu to register for this NSF REU workshop series.