The Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) provides an opportunity for selected graduate students to expose state government, education officials, and the public to the quality of graduate research performed in the state of Kansas.

Research Matters - Showcasing Graduate Research

Research Matters is a collaboration between Kansas Public Radio and the Office of Graduate Studies that showcases how graduate research supports the economic, human, social, and environmental well-being of Kansans, our state, and the nation.

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Research Matters Archive

  • Megan Wittman is a 2021-2025 Self Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering

    Megan Wittman, PhD Student in Environmental Engineering

    A microorganism that thrives with less oxygen, saving water utilities and operators valuable resources while treating waste water.

  • Kip Nielsen is a PhD candidate in Atmospheric Science. He is using aircraft data and machine learning to analyze data, looking for trends and patterns that could help improve your weather forecast.

    Kip Nielsen, PhD candidate in Atmospheric Science

    Using aircraft data and machine learning to analyze data, looking for trends and patterns that could help improve your weather forecast.

  • Grant Downes is a 2020-2024 Self Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in bioengineering at the University of Kansas.

    Grant Downes, PhD student in Bioengineering

    Developing antigen-specific immunotherapy for safe and efficacious treatment of type 1 diabetes.

  • Grahmm Funk is a 2022-2026 Self Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

    Grahmm Funk, PhD student in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

    Discovering and developing the formulation of small molecule and biologic compounds for oral delivery in immunomodulatory therapy.

  • Graduate Researcher Kara Hageman is researching ways to prevent infection in orthopedic implants using bioactive glass.

    Kara Hageman, PhD in Bioengineering

    Graduate Researcher Kara Hageman is researching ways to prevent infection in orthopedic implants using bioactive glass.

  • João Victor Poli, a first-generation student from Brazil, is pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas.

    João Victor Poli, PhD student in Chemical Engineering

    Doctoral Researcher João V. Poli in chemical engineering is exploring more efficient ways to transform waste water into fuel & fertilizer.

  • Doctoral Researcher Reb Bryant in ecology & evolutionary biology is researching ways to reconstruct tallgrass prairies

    Reb Bryant, PhD student in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

    Researching ways to reconstruct and preserve tallgrass prairies by partnering with fungi.