The ORSP Update
December 2025
Our monthly newsletter highlights opportunities, awards, and events through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
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Topic List
Announcements
Spring 2026 SURF Awardees
Congratulations to our 45 SURF awardees for Spring 2026!!! This is our largest group, yet. We would also like to thank the faculty mentors that are supporting students for this experience and Deans Bacon, Heinerichs, and OShaughnessy for contributing to the ORSP fund so even more students could be awarded!
Research and Creative Activities Day (RCAD)
Research and Creative Activities Day 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 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.IRB Review
The IRB is still reviewing applications through winter term with the exception of dates when the university is closed. For any questions about the IRB process, please see our website.
Highlight Your Research
Want your research to be highlighted? Submit your research story here!
Follow us on Instagram
Want to stay engaged with WCU’s research community, events, and opportunities? Click here and follow ORSP on Instagram!
Listen to our Latest Podcast Episode!
Drs. Eryn Travis, Jaeyong Choi, and Linh Ngo joined us on ORSP’s The Faculty Forum, now under WCU's ODLI on Air! On this episode we discuss the topic of "Leveraging AI to Enhance Research Feedback for Faculty and Students Without Replacing Critical Thinking." Listen here on Spotify!
Faculty Research Spotlights
Dr. Elizabeth Foster
ORSP is delighted to put the research spotlight on Dr. Elizabeth Foster’s (Associate
Professor in Adapted Physical Activity/Education) project:
"Walking Gait Parameters of Individuals with CHARGE Syndrome without Support:
Individuals with CHARGE syndrome, which is the leading cause of identifiable deaf-blindness
in children, were asked to conduct some walking trials across a large black strip
of paper with chalk on their feet. Within those walking trials, I was able to determine
the participants' step width, step length, and foot progressive angle. This was the
first research ever done looking at the walking gait of individuals with CHARGE syndrome.
Dr. Frank Fish
Dr. Frank Fish, Biology, was featured in the New York Times (November 10, 2025) in an article “How inventors find inspiration in evolution” by Carl Zimmer for his work on the biomimetic application of tubercles of the of the humpback whale. View the video below!
Want your research to be highlighted? Submit your research story here!
Follow us on Instagram to support our office and stay involved with WCU’s research community. Click here to view our Instagram!
Recently Awarded Grants
Dr. Rita Patel Eng, Center for Community Engagement & Social Impact: Swipe Out Hunger Award - $3,000
Upcoming External Funding Opportunities
Arts & Humanities
2/15/2026: American Historical Association LGBTQ History Research Grant
3/1/2026: Arthur H. Cole Grant Economic History Association
3/2/2026: American Philosophical Society Phillips Fund for Native American Research
4/30/2026: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Research Award
Business & Public Management
03/02/2026: Center for Rural PA: Student Microgrant Program
7/9/2026: NSF Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS)
8/7/2026: NSF Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program (HEGS)
Education & Social Work
01/21/2026: NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU)
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)
02/05/2026: NSF Computing Education Research
7/22/2026: NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
Upcoming Student Opportunities
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.
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 Opportunities
Explore upcoming student research events. Click image below for a full listing of activities and resources.
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