Office of Research and Creative Scholarship Newsletter

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Happy summer! The ORCS newsletter will arrive in your inbox every other Friday between now and fall semester. We’ll return to our weekly schedule on August 21st.  

Points With Paul

Fostering Communication Among the UM Research Community 

Open lines of communication are critical for developing a common understanding of goals and needs. In 2025-26, ORCS relaunched our weekly newsletter with original content and submissions from our UM community. We also brought ORCS leadership and staff to you through our ORCS forums, ORCS coffee hours, mixers, and a campus-wide science communication training series. 

In 2026, we plan to keep up the momentum, and we want to ensure we cultivate effective strategies for staying connected with our stakeholders. To support the continued work, we’re launching a new strategic planning initiative. 

Organizations operate at peak efficiency when they clarify their mission and act on a common strategy. UM’s mission, vision, and priorities for action guide the direction of ORCS. As we head into a year with new leadership, ORCS must have a clear understanding of its own strategy built from the ideas of those involved in research and creative scholarship at UM along with our community partners. We will convene a strategic planning committee to help guide the direction of the research office into the future, and we’re looking for volunteers or nominations. Please email me if you want to participate or would like to nominate a colleague. 

The committee will begin meeting in Fall 2026. Members will provide input on the interests and needs of the UM research community and help guide strategic decision making in the office. Committee members will also be a conduit for input from their colleagues to ORCS from all parts of the UM community and all forms of scholarship. 

Additionally, if you have ideas about venues and media you think would be useful for communication, please let us know by clicking the “send us feedback” link at the top of this newsletter.  

A Message from the Graduate School 

Congratulations! This spring, we celebrate 730 graduations from UM’s diverse graduate-level offerings—60 graduate certificates, 391 master’s degrees, 224 professional doctorates, and 56 research doctorates.  

Each of you has demonstrated dedication, curiosity, and hard work, and these qualities have led you to graduation. As you step into the next chapter, carry forward not only your knowledge, but also a commitment to thoughtful inquiry and meaningful impact. We will continue to cheer you on and support you from near or far. 

The Graduate School would love to keep in contact with you. Please add us on Facebook (@University of Montana Graduate School), LinkedIn, and Instagram (@umontgrad) accounts.

Also, if you could take a few minutes to fill out this UM Graduation Survey, that would be much appreciated. 

Go Griz! 

Warmly, 

Ke Wu, Ph.D. 

Dean of Graduate School 

Spring 2026 Research Doctoral Graduates 

• Heidi Abresch — PhD, ECEV 

• Deborah Agbakwuru — PhD, TOXI 

• Jacob Albright — PhD, TOXI 

• Carly Anderson — PhD, NEUR 

• Bradley Applegate — PhD, PUBH 

• Nagashree Avabhrath — PhD, CMMB 

• Brooke Bain-White — PhD, SYEC 

• Caroline Bean — PhD, FCS 

• Joshua Beisel — PhD, SYEC 

• Anna Benton — PhD, PSDD 

• Katherine Booher — EdD, EDLD 

• Kassandra Boshae — PhD, BCBP 

• Nicole Capser — EdD, EDLD 

• Brian Cayko — EdD, EDLD 

• Jacob Christiansen — PhD, INTR 

• Lauren Cornelison — PhD, NEUR 

• Remy Delplanche — PhD, ECEV 

• Beverly Domschot — PhD, FWB 

• Sophia Etier — PhD, ANTH (CHSA) 

• Daniel Evans — PhD, IEDL 

• Leah Finch — PhD, CSUP 

• Lacy Hazelwood — PhD, ANTH 

• Kaitlyn Hess — EdD, EDLD 

• Robert Heumann — PhD, SYEC 

• Kaylee Hinds — PhD, ANTH 

• Samantha Hofland — PhD, ANTH 

• Kevin Inglesby — PhD, ANTH (CHSA) 

• Kristi Jacobs — EdD, EDLD 

• Michael Kayne — PhD, CHEM 

• Allison Kelly — PhD, CHEM (OCHE) 

• Damien Ketcherside — PhD, CHEM (ACHE) 

• Kanbi Knippling — PhD, CSUP 

• Junwei Liao — PhD, MATH 

• Clare Maguire — PhD, CSUP 

• Elizabeth Matilda Abena Mantebeah — PhD, ANTH (CHSA) 

• Courtney Manthey — PhD, ANTH 

• Anna Marbut — PhD, INTR 

• Helen Matoosk (Cryer) — PhD, ANTH (CHSA) 

• Holli McDonald — PhD, ANTH 

• Tracy McNew — PhD, PUBH 

• Haley O'Brien — PhD, ANTH 

• Erin O'Reilly — EdD, TLRN 

• Kim Paul — PhD, INTR 

• Anna Puryear — EdD, TLRN 

• Lona Running Wolf — EdD, TLRN 

• Tosha Sautbine — PhD, INTR 

• Matthew Schramm — PhD, CSUP 

• J. Sperry — PhD, ANTH

• John Statz — PhD, CMMB 

• Matthew Swarr — PhD, GEOS 

• Amy Szacilo — PhD, PUBH 

• Isaiah Tuolienuo — PhD, FCS 

• Mykala Ward — PhD, ANTH 

• Gabriella Weiss — PhD, CMMB 

• Dane Williams — PhD, ANTH 

News

NSF Vacancy Announcements 

On Monday, May 11, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) will release vacancy announcements of particular interest to early career scientists and engineers. The staff in these positions work with program directors to plan and analyze program portfolios, identify emerging research areas, and support/manage the merit review of proposals and use data analysis to understand the landscape of the principal investigator community and the impact of current NSF investments. The incumbents will work internally and externally to engage with the research community through outreach and other community activities. NSF also supports the professional development of entry level scientists and engineers through interdisciplinary activities, training, and opportunities to engage in independent research and collaboration. 

These career opportunities found on the NSF career webpage will be open for a limited time for applicants to apply through USAJobs. 

Funding & Other Opportunities 

Ion-ARPA, Advancing Novel Therapeutic Technologies 

White paper deadline: July 1, 2026 

Ion-ARPA’s focus and objective is the identification and acceleration of disruptive next-wave innovations with the potential to significantly advance the development of novel therapeutic technologies. Ion-ARPA programs will be funded (up to $1M per laboratory) based on high-risk/high-reward breakthrough scientific concepts. The program is designed to support the Ionis Innovation long-term strategy to create cutting-edge technologies capable of pioneering new markets and radically improve the standards of care for disease treatment. Read the guidance here. 

Funding Reminders 

Follow links for complete details 

Funding from CPHR 

LOI Deadline: 5:00 PM, May 25, 2026 

The University of Montana’s Center for Population Health Research (CPHR), a Phase 2 NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), will support one or more Research Projects to represent the next phase of our growing community of investigators. Note that this funding opportunity is distinct from our pilot project program. Research Projects are multi-year projects funded up to $150,000 in direct costs per year. Research Project Leaders (RPLs) are expected to allocate a substantial portion (~50% grant-supported) of their overall effort to the project. Applications must describe a research project that fits well with the scientific theme of CPHR. Preference will be given to projects that will make good use of one or more CPHR Core Facilities at the University of Montana. See the website for eligibility and application details. 

New Awards for April 2026

Grants  

• Anoop Basavanahalli Jagadeesh, School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences, MSU INBRE Pilot Research, funded by the National Institutes of Health through Montana State University, $68,704.  

• Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery, Selkirk Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Monitoring, funded by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, $40,000.   

• Beth Covitt, Broader Impacts Group, Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through Montana State University.  

• Kevin Endsley, Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, Woodwell, Assessing the Carbon Cycle and Risk, funded by the Woods Hole Research Center, $22,000.  

• Jeffrey Good, Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, MSU INBRE 5 Year Data Science Core, funded by the National Institutes of Health through Montana State University, $228, 254.  

• Mark Hebblewhite, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Grants in Biodiversity 2026, funded by the Alberta Conservation Association, $14,158.  

• Mark Hebblewhite, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Western Alberta Elk, funded by the Alberta Conservation Association, $23,192.  

• Katie Holick, Skaggs Institute, MSU INBRE, funded by the National Institutes of Health through Montana State University, $32,610. 

• Maja Pedersen, School of Public and Community Health, Our Food is Medicine, funded by the National Institutes of Health through the University of Alaska, $137, 391.  

• Andrew Rau, Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics/Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience, mPFC SST Changes During Learning, funded by the National Institutes of Health through Montana State University.  

• Maegan Ridesatthedoor, National Native Children’s Trauma Center, Tribal Youth Resource Center 25-26, funded by the Department of Justice through the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, $159,786.  

• Brent Ryckman, Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, Recombinants of Human CMV, funded by the National Institutes of Health, $147,000.  

• Christopher Vassallo, Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, Novel anti-phage defense systems, funded by the National Institutes of Health through Montana State University, $131,785.  

• Tony Ward, School of Public and Community Health, Project ECHO, funded by the Centers for Disease Control through the MT Department of Health and Human Services, $126, 607.  

Contracts  

• Elizabeth Barrs, Mansfield Center, US Navy CIWT Solicitation, funded by the Department of Defense, $158,640.  

• Lisa Gerloff, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Forestry Intern, MT Dept of Natural Resources and Conservation, $17, 054.  

• Lisa Gerloff, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Forestry Intern, MT Dept of Natural Resources and Conservation, $13,158.  

• Jeffrey Michael, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Impact Study, Montana History Foundation, $30,000.  

• Anna Prentiss, Collage of Humanities and Social Sciences-Anthropology, Hunter-Gatherer Cultural Transitions, funded by the European Research Council through the University of York, $2,772,667.  

• Andrew Whitely, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Genetic Basis of Migration, funded by the Avista Corporation, $186,262.

Cooperative Agreements  

• Patricia Cox, Research Administration-Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Montana APEX, funded by the Department of Defense through the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation, $232,651.