Current Funding Opportunities

Funding for Faculty

The Regional Institute on Aging provides various funding opportunities, primarily as internal grants for WSU faculty. The primary purpose of this funding is to assist faculty members in their scholarly and/or creative activities and to foster the generation and application of scholarly work aimed at improving the quality of life of older adults. Details of current calls for proposals can be found below. General inquiries and open requests for funding can be made by contacting the current director: Professor Carryl Baldwin via email at Carryl.Baldwin@wichita.edu

Spring 2023 Call for Research or Activity Proposals:

Age-related research

The RIA is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for students or faculty with research or activity proposals that focus on improving inclusivity and accessibility for older adults. Please click the link below for detailed instructions.

Current Request for Proposals

Funding for Students

Note: Graduate students can apply for each of the above funding opportunities.

Graduate students seeking funding to complete or add an age-related component to their current research projects are encouraged to contact the current RIA Director: Professor Carryl Baldwin via email at Carryl.Baldwin@wichita.edu

Past Recipients

2022 Recipients

Graduate Students (UCIPA conference)

Bill Bui
Abbie Hutton
Rachel Sutton

Faculty Grant Recipients

Dr. Ajita Rattani is an Assistant Professor with the School of Computing (PI); Dr. Lara Cure is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (co-PI). Project: Computer Vision based Weight Monitoring for Older Adults using Facial Images from Smartphones.
Dr. Li Yao is an Associate Professor with the Department of Biological Sciences (PI); Dr. Kandatege Wimalasena is a Professor with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (co-I); Dr. Nazih Moufarrij is a Clinical Professor and Neurosurgeon at KU School of Medicine-Wichita (Co-I). Project: A Cellular Approach Exploring the Mechanism of Electrical Brain Stimulation for Therapy of Parkinson's Disease.
Dr. Nicole Rogers is Chair and Associate Professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences (PI); Dr. Amy Chesser is an Associate Professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences (co-PI); Ms. Jacie Green is Director of Graduate Programs and Associate Educator with the Department of Public Health Sciences (co-PI). Project: Combating Ageism.

2020 Recipients

Lisa Vangsness, Assistant Professor in Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (PI), Yimesker Yihun, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering (co-PI). Project: Integration of Human Factors with the Automation of Robot-Based Upper-Limb Rehabilitations
Cheyla Clawson, Assistant Professor of Dance (Co-I) and Twyla Hill, Professor of Sociology (Co-I). Project: KANSAS LINEAGE: A project documenting and sharing the stories of older female Wichitans to improve well-being and social connection through an immersive collaboration between social research and movement
Yongkuk Lee, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering (PI) and Kyoung Hag Lee, School of Social Work, Fairmount College of Literal Arts and Sciences (co-PI). Project: Smart Wireless, Flexible Hybrid Electronics for Fall Risk Monitoring among Older Adults

2019 Recipients

Nils Hakansson, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Project: Effects of Lower Extremity Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Strength Generation and Interleukin-6 Levels in the Elderly
Hongsheng He, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Project: Quantification of Motion Deficits for Early Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of Parkinson’s Disease

2018 Recipients

Eveline Ndii Kalomo, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Project: The Role of Resiliency Among Older Adult Caregivers of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Rural Namibia
Rui Ni, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Visual Perception and Cognition Lab
Project: Effects of Racket Sports-Playing on Older Adult Cognition and Balance: Evidence from Cross-Sectional and 12-month Longitudinal Studies
Kyoung Hag Lee, Associate Professor of Social Work and Director of the Social Work Research and Evaluation Lab
Project: Limited English Proficiency, Depression Literacy and Stigma, and Depression among Asian Immigrant Elders in Kansas

2015-16 Recipients

Graduate Students

Kadarla Vinay Kumar — Chemistry
Jessica Sullivan — Communication and Speech Disorders
Seyed ali Cheragh — Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Brady Patzer — Psychology
Dustin Smith — Psychology
Erin Gannon — Psychology
Heidi Marie Pontinen — Psychology
Inga Sogaard — Psychology
J.P. Plummer — Psychology
Samantha Jansen — Psychology

Undergraduate Students

Jessica Aldrich — Biomedical Engineering

Faculty Recipients of GRA Funding

Amy Chesser, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences
Vinod Namboodiri, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science received funding this year.