Research Awards

This page highlights recent research awards received by faculty and staff across the University of Memphis, showcasing the scope, scale, and impact of their work. These awards support innovative research, creative activity, and community-engaged projects spanning transportation, public safety, health, education, the arts, and workforce development.

Collectively, they reflect strong partnerships with federal, state, industry, and nonprofit funders and underscore the University’s commitment to advancing knowledge, addressing real-world challenges, and creating lasting impact locally and beyond.

Dr. Santosh Kumar, Lillian and Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence and Professor of Computer Science, received $1,716,816 from the National Institutes of Health for his project “mHealth Center for Discovery, Optimization & Translation of Temporally-Precise Interventions (mDOT).”

 

Dr. Rebecca Adams, Professor of English, received $531,337 from the US Department of Education for her project “Ensuring Success for English Language Learners.”

 

Dr. Debra Burns, Interim Dean of the Loewenberg College of Nursing, received $468,877 from the National Institutes of Health for her project “Music mechanisms and technologies network: Integrative models to address pain through music.”

 

Dr. Sabyasachee Mishra, Professor of Civil Engineering, received $450,000 from the National Science Foundation for his project “Center: IUCRC Phase I The University of Memphis: Center for Electrified and Automated Trucking (CEAT),” and $258,953 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for his project “PATH-TN: Partnership for AI-driven Multimodal Transportation Services Integration in Tennessee Cities.”

 

Dr. Yong Yang, Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, received $389,999 from the National Institutes of Health for his project “Transport disadvantage and Dementia: A Longitudinal Study of Trajectories, Impacts, and Interventions.”

 

Rodrigo Villalpando-Vizcaino, Research Assistant Professor in CAESAR, received $342,680 from the City of Germantown for his project “Germantown wellhead protection efforts.”

 

Dr. Eric Bailey, Senior Associate Dean of Student Academic Success, received $309,504 from the US Department of Education for his project “University of Memphis Upward Bound.”

 

Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, Executive Vice President of Research and Innovation, received $300,000 from Launch Tennessee for his project “TTAC Grant FY26 for Tech Transfer Office.”

 

Dr. William Thompson, Associate Professor of World Languages and Literatures, received $245,000 from the Tennessee Department of Education for his project “Governor's School for International Studies.”

 

Dr. Sarah Warren, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, received $164,560 from the National Institutes of Health for her project “Identifying Factors in Hearing Healthcare Access: The Memphis SOUND Project.”

Dr. Latrice Pichon, Professor of Social Behavioral Sciences, received $127,381 from the National Institutes of Health for her project “A Multimethod Assessment of the Clinical, Economic & Social Impact of the Rejection of Federal HIV Prevention Funds in Tennessee,” and $28,563 from the National Institutes of Health for her project “The Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (TN-CFAR).”

 

Dr. Ross Smith, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in the College of Health and Human Sciences, received $116,681 from Results Group LLC for his project “Influence of a Novel Military Boot Design on Ankle Mechanics and Walking Economy in Female Service Members.”

 

Dr. Shawn Brown, Associate Professor of Biology, received $90,300 from the US Department of Agriculture for his project “Genetic diversity and potential for aflatoxin mitigation by the Mississippi Delta Aspergillus flavus community.”

 

Mary Tucker, Chief Policy and Compliance Officer for University Schools, received $78,060 from the Tennessee Department of Education for her project “FY2027 TN Tutoring Grant;” received $43,700 from the U.S. Department of Education for her project “FY2027 CTE Perkins Reserve;” and received $15,000 from the U.S. Department of Education for her project “FY27 CTE Perkins.”

 

Dr. Vipin Agarwal, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, received $77,212 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for his project “Polycatenated Architected Materials (PAM) for Origami-Inspired Space Docking Ports.”

 

Dr. Matthew Smetlzer, Professor of Epidemiology, received $71,114 from Vanderbilt University Medical Center for his project “Using Real-World Data to Evaluate Modern Pharmacotherapy Treatment Regimens and Prophylaxis for Reducing Infections in Sickle Cell Disease.”

 

Dr. Thomas Goebel, Associate Professor in the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, received $55,750 from the US Geological Survey for his project “Assessing relative differences in intraplate stress states through machine-learning empowered dynamic triggering analysis.”

 

Dr. J. Elliott Casal, Associate Professor of English and Assistant Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems, received $53,944 from the US Department of State for his project “2026 English for STEM Professionals MOOC Development.”

 

Dr. Xichen Mou, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, received $51,393 from First 8 Memphis LLC for his project “First 8 Memphis Pre-K Performance-Based Project.”

Kathryn Ramsey, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, received $50,000 from The Urban Child Institute for her project “MSCS Special Education Needs Assessment and Recommendations.”

 

Dr. Stephanie Ivey, Professor of Civil Engineering, received $35,000 from Battelle for her project “TSIN West TN STEM Hub.”

 

Dr. Linda Jarmulowicz, Dean of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, received $25,000 from the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation for her project “What's that Sound? Evaluating Spoken Language and Phonological Processing Development for Spanish-English Bilingual Children.”

 

Dr. Michelle Washington, Assistant Professor of Psychology, received $20,000 from the Society for the Study of School Psychology for her project “Beyond the Workload: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Race-Related Stress and Burnout Among School Psychologists.”

 

Dr. Huigang Liang, FedEx Chair of Excellence and Professor of Management Information Systems, received $15,592 from the National Institutes of Health for his project “A sensor-controlled digital game-based approach to improve self-care behaviors among adults diagnosed with hypertension in a Native American community.”

 

Dr. Michael Kennedy, Professor of Biology, received $10,000 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for his project “Collection of Biological Data at Deer Check Stations.”

 

Dr. Linh Luu, Executive Director of Student Health and Counseling Services, received $7,250 from the American College Health Foundation for her project “Increasing Vaccination Rates for Meningococcal ACWY and Influenza Among Underserved Student Populations at the University of Memphis.”

 

Dr. Amy Abell, Associate Professor of Biology, received $2,916 from Medtronic Incorporated for her project “Evaluation of Gene Expression Methods for the Characterization of Donor Cells from CBM Bone Chips.”

 

Lauren Beaupre, Assistant Director of Academic Innovation for University Schools, received $2,500 from the Tennessee Valley Authority for her project “TVA STEM Robotics Award.”