Communities of Research Scholars

Established in the fall of 2018, CoRS was created to cultivate interdisciplinary discourse and nurture the growth of research across the UofM. Each community is comprised of faculty representing multiple disciplines, perspectives and research approaches with a shared interest in exploring a common research theme. 

Year 7 Funded CoRS:

• Towards Critically Inclusive Teacher Education and Memphis Classrooms: Research, Teaching, and Literature Fostering Critical Perspectives of Dis/ability
  • Kayla Larkin, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
• College Algebra for Engineering Students
  • Alpha Ba, Mathematical Sciences
• Researching Hispanic Issues in Our Community: Bridging the Gap in College Attendance and Engagement
  • Diana Ruggiero, World Languages and Literatures
• The Importance of Collaborative Youth Leadership Training
  • Maryam Karimi, School of Public Health
• Understanding Social Justice Through Music Performance Models in Latin America
  • Rafael Rodriguez, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
• Equitable and Respectful Maternal Care Training [ERMCT]: A Clinical Trial
  • Fatima Alzyoud, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• The Arts Connect Us: Collaborations Fostering Cultural Networks
  • Ewelina Boczkowska, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
• International Event Participation and International Student Athlete's Well-Being
  • Kibaek Kim, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management
• Doctoral Students of Color Success: A Case Study of First Year Counselor Education and Supervision Students at a Historically White University
  • Kola Brown, Counseling, Educational Psychology & Research
• Integrating Interdisciplinary Archaeology Research through a Speaker Series at the University of Memphis
  • Amanda Gaggioli, History
• AI-Driven Innovation in Software Design: Empowering Developers with Advanced Tools
  • Yafang Li, Management Information Systems
• Promoting Family Bonding through Trauma-Informed Design
  • Sarah Leat, School of Social Work
• Exploring Barriers and Supports in the Pathways to Promotion to Full Professor
  • Leigh Williams, Counseling, Educational Psychology & Research
• Digital Tools and Local History: Creating a Web-Based Research Platform for the Oldest Cemetery in Memphis
  • Donal Harris, English
• Mediating Policy, Politics, and Pedagogy: Exploring Educator Practices in Response to Censorship Efforts in Tennessee
  • Nikki Wright, Leadership and Matthew Panozzo, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
• Mental Health and Misconduct Among Incarcerated Persons in the U.S.: Analysis of 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates ICPSR Data
  • Doyun Koo, Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Beyond Human Coders: An Interdisciplinary Study of Thematic Analysis with AI Tools
  • Brenda Mathias, School of Social Work
• Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health: A stakeholder Analysis and Identifying Research Priorities in Memphis, Tennessee
  • Fanta Gutema, School of Public Health
• To Predict Dementia Risk among Old Adults Using Machine Learning and AI, Focusing on the Impact of Social Determinants and Genetic Predisposition
  • Yong Yang, School of Public Health
• Innovative Discharge Solutions: Leveraging AI for Effective Medication Use and Counseling
  • Asma Ali, School of Public Health
• Beyond the Price Tag: The Role of Tipping in Transforming Fashion Consumption and Worker Welfare
  • Punya Chatterjee, Marketing & Supply Chain Management
• Mid-South Ancient Geo-Hazards and Environments
  • Rachel Lombardi, Earth Sciences
• Exploring Medical and Psychological Help-Seeking Behaviors among Black Men in the U.S. Mid-South Region
  • Samantha Calhoun, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Broadening Multidisciplinary Adoption of AI Infrastructure by Developing Training Materials in Trustworthy AI and Data Management
  • Xiaofei Zhang, Computer Science
• Development of Integrated Platforms for AI-Assisted Asthma Prediction and Asthma Mechanistic Studies
  • Yu Jiang, School of Public Health
• Mathematical and Experimental Characterization of Utriculo-Ocular Pathway Interactions Using Air-Conducted oVEMP
  • Vipin Agarwal, Mechanical Engineering
• Customize Blockly-Jupyter for High School Data Science Education
  • Luiz Barboza, Institute for Intelligent Systems
• Developing Gen AI-Enabled Chatbot for Self-Managing Mental Health: A Proof of Concept
  • Polina Durneva, Management Information Systems
• Building the Foundation for AI-Driven Financial Literacy in Minority High School Communities
  • Alexander Pratt, Marketing & Supply Chain Management
• Expanding Collaborative Networks in Water Resources and Climate Change, and Promoting NSF IUSE-EDU Initiatives
  • Xin Su, Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESER)
• Pilot Development of Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Shelby County, TN
  • Shafi Bhuiyan, School of Public Health
• Generative AI in Game Design: Enhancing Player Experiences through Character and Narrative Creation
  • Yuan Zhang, Management Information Systems
• University Schools Wellness Center: Measuring Outcomes for Students Receiving Wellness Services in a School Setting 
  • Marissa Gray, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Protecting Coastal Hospitality Assets: Coastal Flood Risk Assessment as a Strategic Approach
  • Rui Qi, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management
• Information-Theoretic Discovery of Synergistic Interactions
  • Thomas Hagen, Mathematical Sciences
• Exploring Menstruation and Reproductive Justice: A Comparative Study of Transgender, Non-Binary, and Cisgender Female Individuals
  • Sanaz Feizi, Art and Design
• Digital Media Practices of Children from Low-income Immigrant Families
  • Huan Gao, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
• Increasing International Faculty and Staff Visibility and Participation On-Campus - International Faculty and Staff Association (IFSA)
  • Sofiya Dahman, University Libraries
• Autism Care Growth: Expanding and Elevating the University of Memphis Autism Clinic for Greater Accessibility, Community Impact, and Research Excellence
  • Thouraya Al-Nasser, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
• The Byte-Tongued Beast: AI’s Linguistic Revolution and the Fight for Global Voice Equity
  • Shiva Mainaly, English

Year 6 Funded CoRS: 

Year 5 Funded CoRS:

• Aerogel-Based Acoustic Tumor-on-a-Chip Model for Cancer Metastasis Research
  • Yuan Gao, Mechanical Engineering
• An Interdisciplinary Research to Incorporate Machine Learning Techniques in Mechanical and Fatigue Life Predictions of Additive Manufactured Materials
  •  Reza Molaei, Mechanical Engineering
• Campus Dating Violence Collaborative
  • Bernadette Ombayo, School of Social Work
• Creating a Culturally Adapted Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum: DBT STEPS-A with Black/African American Adolescents
  • Amanda Hasselle, Psychology
• Designing A Culturally Tailored Diet Management Application for Type 2 Diabetic Patients
  •  Yafang Li, Business Information Technology
• Environmental Health, Climate, Environmental, and Energy Justice Research (CEEJR)
  
  • Chunrong Jia, School of Public Health
• Establishing an Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration in the Fields of Machine Learning and Additive Manufacturing 
  
  • Amir Hadadzadeh, Mechanical Engineering
• Exploring Synergies in Astrophysical and Engineering Simulation 
  
  • Benjamin Keller, Physics and Materials Science
• Exploring the role of social determinants of health on sepsis 90-day sepsis readmissions
  
  • Reba Umberger, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Identifying Opportunities for Renewables and Energy Storage in the Mid-South
  
  •  Alexander Headley, Mechanical Engineering
• Identifying the Potential Determinants of Death among Hypertension Patients while Staying at the Hospital using Publicly Available Clinical Datasets 
  
  • Faruk Ahmed, Engineering Technology
• Investigation of a multiplexed wearable sensor to identify Engineering undergraduate students at risk in their major by means of artificial intelligence
  
  • Ana Doblas, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Metadata-aware Imbalance Modeling for Clinical Outcome Assessment 
  
  • Xiaolei Huang, Computer Science
• Passport to Teach and Learn: UofM Interdisciplinary Training for Graduate Teaching Assistants and New Non-Tenured Faculty
  
  • Crystal White, Counseling, Educational Psychology & Research
• Research on Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative
  
  •  Sarah Leat, School of Social Work
• Regional Strategy for Regenerative Agriculture and Innovation
  
  • Leah Windsore, Institute of Intelligent Systems
• Supporting Data Collection Process,  Evaluating Communication Strategies to Reduce Distracted Driving Among Adolescents
  • Maria Jaramillo and Subhash Jha, Marketing and Supply Chain Management
• The Annual Memphis Neuroscience Symposium
  
  • Nicholas Simon and Miriam van Mersbergen, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• The Language of Science: Implications for Teaching and Learning
  
  • Alistar Windsor, Institute for Intelligent Systems
• The Tiger Blueprint: Building Extended Learning Programs through the Cypher Code Collective
  
  • William Hunter, Special Education
• Virtual Reality Working Group
  
  • Marika Snider, Architecture

Year 4 Funded CoRS:

• Convening minds to address youth justice and youth violence in Memphis, TN
  • Jennifer Turchi, School of Public Health
• Convening minds to address youth justice and youth violence in Memphis, TN
  • Leah Windsor, English / Institute for Intelligent Systems
• Developing a multidimensional and data-driven understanding of sexual positioning identity among cisgender men who have sex with men
  • Meredith Ray, School of Public Health
• Development of collaborative hypersonic research at the intersection of aerothermodynamics and materials science
  • Daniel Foti, Mechanical Engineering
• Disaster Studies Consortium
  • Davia Downey, Public and NonProfit Administration
• Establishing a data pipeline to decipher the neural basis of risky decision-making
  • Nicholas Simon, Psychology
• Examine the influence of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak to health behaviors and mental health
  • Yong Yang, School of Public Health
• Exploring potential mediating/moderating effects of negative emotionality on outcomes with hearing aids for older adults
  • Jani Johnson, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Exploring the role of social determinants of health on sepsis readmissions among survivors of sepsis within the national readmission dataset
  • Reba Umberger, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Grandparents’ Views on Grandparent Caregiving
  • Gloria Carr, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Hiring a Third-Party to Do a Needs Assessment Survey of Faculty, Staff and Students in the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and write a Report to be Used for Future Grant Proposals
  • Lily Afshar, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
• Identifying Opportunities for Renewables and Energy Storage in the Mid-South
  • Alexander Headley, Mechanical Engineering
• Memphis Women+’s Mentorship Network
  • Leigh Harrell-Williams, Counseling, Education Psychology & Research
• Moral Foundations and Vaccine Hesitancy of Traditional Communities in the Southern US
  • Xiaolei Huang, Computer Science
• Name, Image, and Likeness in Tennessee: A Historic Policy Change for College Athletics
  • Brennan Berg, Sport Commerce
• Nursing Workforce Diversity: An Exploration of Minority Nurses Intent to Pursue Doctoral Studies
  • Deundra Hearne, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• Our team is breaking through invisible barriers to literacy
  • Deborah Moncrieff, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Research on Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative
  • Sarah Leat, School of Social Work
• Socioecological Determinants of Cardiometabolic Health in Memphis: Establishment of a Database
  
  • Abu Mohammed Naser Titu, School of Public Health
• The University of Memphis/MVP3 Studios Master Class Series
  • Marty Lang, Communication and Film
• University Schools Engaged Scholarship & Research Consortium (USES+RC): Grant Writing Awards
  • Carolyn Kaldon, Center for Research in Educational Policy
• Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion
  • Simranjit Khalsa, Sociology

Year 3 Funded CoRS:

• Airbnb and Public Safety Risks
  • Rui Qi, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
• Building Grantsmanship and Community Engagement within the College of Communication and Fine Arts
  • Melissa Janoske McLean, Journalism and Strategic Media, CCFA Dean’s Fellow for Research
• Capacity Building for Broader Impacts
  • Fedoria Rugless, College of Health Sciences
• Covid-19 screening using pool testing in Memphis
  • Xichen Mou, School of Public Health
• Differences of Opinion and Stock Price Crash Risk
  • Konstantin Sokolov, Finance
• Effect of Koru Mindfulness Training on Professional Orchestral Musicians’ Music Performance Anxiety
  • Ryan Fisher, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
• Examine the influence of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak to health behaviors and mental health
  • Yong Yang, School of Public Health
• Exploring video game playing in the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison between competitive gamers and recreational gamers
  • Jin Yang, Journalism and Strategic Media
• Health Spaces & Technology Research Community (HSTRC)
  • Irma Singarella, Health Sciences Library
• Impact of Virtual health educational program and horticultural therapy in self management skills and quality of life among people with cardiovascular risk factors: Type II Diabetic Mellitus and Hypertension
  • Annapoorna Mary, Loewenberg College of Nursing
• It takes a team to break through invisible barriers to literacy
  • Deborah Moncrieff, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Memphis Women+’s Mentorship Network
  • Leah C. Windsor, Institute for Intelligent Systems
• Part art, part social science: Creating a Mentorship Program for CCFA students
  • Kate Roberts, Art
• Social Action to Impact Homelessness and Medical Recuperation
  • Sachiko Terui and Joy V. Goldsmith, Communication and Film
• Undergraduate Training in Cellular Metabolism
  • Brandt D. Pence, College of Health Sciences
• University of Memphis Interdisciplinary Center for Public Health & Race
  • Katharine Traylor Schaffzin, School of Law
• University School Research Consortium (USRC CORS FY 2021)
  • Carolyn Ransford Kaldon, Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP)
• Water Smart City (Phase-1)
  • Farhad Jazaei, Civil Engineering

Year 2 Funded CoRS:

• Airbnb & Smoking-Related Safety Risks
  • Rui Qi, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management
• Arts Entrepreneurship (AE)
  • Josef Hanson, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
• Community-based & Culturally-sensitive mental health
  • Jerry Watson, School of SocialWork
• Health for Artists
  • Mirian van Mersbergen, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Health, Wellness, Immigration & Community Engagement
  • Diana Ruggiero, World Languages & Literatures
• Mobile VR game & psychological well being
  • Ruoxu Wang and Jin Yang, Marketing & Supply Chain Management
• Renewable, Sustainable Clean Energy
  • Firouzeh Sabri, Physics and Material Science
• Social Determinants of Health
  • Brook Harmon, School of Public Health
• Systematic Risk
  • Konstantin Sokolov, Finance
• Water Smart City
  • Farhad Jazaei, Civil Engineering

Year 1 Funded CoRS:

• Aging and Health in Memphis
  • Yong Yang, School of Public Health
• Digital Humanities Methods
  • Melanie Conroy, World Languages and Literatures
• Environmental Health
  • Chunrong Jia, School of Public Health
• Health Spaces and Technology
  • Seok Won Jin, School of Social Work
• HIV Disparities
  • Robin Lennon-Dearing, School of Social Work
• Midsouth LGBTQ+ Archive
  • Craig Stewart, Communication and Film
• Poverty
  • Elena Delavega, School of Social Work
• Social Justice and Healing
  • Idia Thurston, Psychology
• Synthesis of Research and Teaching Practices with the University of Memphis High Performance Computer
  • Nate DeYonker, Chemistry
• Team-Based Healthcare
  • Naomi Eichorn, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• The Memphis Film and Music Collective
  • Michael Harris and Joel Roberts, University Libraries
• University Middle
  • Remy Debbs, Philosophy
• University School Research Consortium (USRC)
  • Carolyn Caldon, College of Education (CREP)
• Water Safety
  • Maryam Salehi, Civil Engineering