The ORSP Update
March 2026
Our monthly newsletter highlights opportunities, awards, and events through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
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Topic List
Announcements
Addition to ORSP
We would like to welcome back Charles Graham to the ORSP team! Charles will be specifically supporting CSM faculty in his role as Post-Award Grants Manager.
Day of Giving
Support student research with your donation! Our goal is to provide every interested student with an opportunity to engage in research at West Chester University. Help us reach this goal and donate to the Day of Giving initiative.
Grant Life Cycle
Curious about the GRANT LIFE CYCLE process? Check it out here.
Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn
Want to stay engaged with WCU’s research community, events, and opportunities? Click here and follow ORSP on Instagram! Connect with us on our LinkedIn page here!
ORSP Faculty Forum Podcast
Listen to the latest episode of The Faculty Forum podcast, part of ODLI On Air, featuring Drs. Melissa Reed and Heather Leaman regarding Demystifying the IRB process, listen here on Spotify!
Reminders
Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI)
Our Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) application is now live! Consider supporting an undergraduate student in conducting their own research or creative activity project as a Faculty Mentor. Students will receive a $2500 stipend to engage in full-time work (37.5 hrs/week) from May 26th – June 26th, 2026. Encourage your students to Apply here. Applications are due March 5th, 2026.Research and Creative Activities Day (RCAD)
Research and Creative Activities Day (RCAD) application is now live! Please join us on April 16th 2026 in Sykes Student Union to celebrate research and creative activities across campus! Poster sessions will be capped at 50 and our 5-minute lightening talks will hold 25 student slots and 12 faculty slots. Applications are due March 16th, 2026. Apply here.
Sustainability Grant Opportunity
Faculty Research Spotlights
Dr. Johnna Capitano
Johnna Capitano (Management), Vipanchi Mishra (Psychology), and Grace Liu (Library) had a manuscript accepted by Management Review Quarterly, titled Organizational Socialization as a Process: A Methodological Review and Guidelines for Future Research. Johnna supervised 8 graduate students to code the 274 articles in the review: MS HRM student Bianka Feher; MBA students Kara Robbins, Susan Thamavong, and Cindy Nguyen; MS I/O Psychology students Valentina Bracho, Jenna Schreiber, Joseph DiLibero, and Margaret (Maggie) Prezuhey.
Dr. Melissa Reed
Dr. Melissa Reed has been appointed to the position of executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC) of the American College of Sports Medicine. In this role she will oversee the day-to-day activities of the chapter, facilitate the needs and direction of MARC’s executive board as well as managing the planning and execution of the annual chapter meeting.
Want your research to be highlighted? Submit your research story here!
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Recently Awarded Grants
Dr. Jayme Trogus, PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Wellness Promotion - $15,000*
Dr. Jaeyong Choi, Center for Rural PA : Regional Police Partnerships in Rural Pennsylvania: Case Studies and Impacts - $50,000*
Dr. Scott Heinerichs, Main Line Hospitals, Inc : Agreement for Community Health Worker Training Services - $19,967
Dr. Angela Guerriero, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: VSA Program Site Proposal 2025 - $4,983*
Dr. Francis Atuahene, Uwchlan Township: Quality of Life, Public Policy and Administration - $11,000
*In the process of being negotiated
Upcoming External Funding Opportunities
Arts & Humanities
4/30/2026: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Research Award
7/15/2026: NSF NSF Linguistics
Continuous due date: Creative Catalyst Grant Program
Business & Public Management
7/9/2026: NSF Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS)
8/7/2026: NSF Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program (HEGS)
Continuous due date: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation - General Grant Program
Education & Social Work
4/15/2026: Research Grants on Education: Small
Continuous due date: NSF STEM K-12 (STEM K-12)
Health Sciences
Continuous due date: The Voice Foundation
3 due dates/year: NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions
Science & Mathematics
Rolling due date: The Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Continuous due date: NSF Ecosystem Science
Continuous due date: NSF-Lemelson Initiative on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Engineering Education
Continuous due date: NSF Education Programs in Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
7/22/2026: NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
Upcoming Student Opportunities
Ram Research Directory
Are you interested in research but do not yet have a faculty mentor? Click here to use the RAM Research Directory to find one!
Student Research and Creative Activity Awards (SRCA)
Proposals are due on February 19th, 2026. This award is to recognize both Undergraduate and Graduate students who have completed original research or a creative project with support from a faculty mentor. Apply here.Research & Creative Activity Day (RCAD)
The RCAD Application is now live! Please join us on April 16th 2026 in Sykes Student Union to celebrate research and creative activities across campus! Poster sessions will be capped at 50 and our 5-minute lightening talks will hold 25 student slots and 12 faculty slots. Applications are due March 16th, 2026. Apply here.
Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI)
Our SURI application is now live! Students will receive a $2500 stipend to engage in full-time work (37.5 hrs/week) from May 26th – June 26th, 2026. Applications are due March 5th, 2026. Apply here.
Click image below to learn more about SURI.
ORSP Roadmap
Click image below to learn how to navigate student research experiences.
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