Featured news at KU


Our top featured stories

A chatbot with eyes and a smiling face taking part in a virtual therapy session.
A study from the University of Kansas and University of Southern California measured which nonverbal behaviors indicate that people are forming connections in a support group, particularly in virtual groups. The researchers also examined the feasibility of using machine learning in support groups.

Other featured news

An image of a chatbot with eyes and a smiling face taking part in a virtual therapy session.

Study measures behavioral markers of alliance in support groups, viability of machine learning in mental health

A study from the University of Kansas and University of Southern California measured which nonverbal behaviors indicate that people are forming connections in a support group, particularly in virtual groups. The researchers also examined the feasibility of using machine learning in support groups.
A photograph of Joseph R. Pearson Hall, home to KU's School of Education and Human Sciences.

KU part of collaborative grant to prepare new generation of special education leaders

The University of Kansas is part of the Collaborative Approaches to Impactful Special Education Leadership program, designed to enroll scholars with teaching experience who want to progress to leadership roles in research, teaching and serving students with disabilities.
Luke Erber

NIH grant supports KU study of DNA-protein cross-links

Identifying toxic DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) and the cellular pathways to repair them are the goals of research underway by University of Kansas researcher Luke Erber, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry, and his lab team. The research is being funded by a $1.8 million grant recently announced by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a unit of the National Institutes of Health.
Associate Professor Zijun Wang

School of Pharmacy researcher publishes work on social isolation, drug abuse

School of Pharmacy researcher and associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology Zijun Wang was recently published in Nature Communications. Her research delves into social isolation and how it impacts mental health and substance abuse disorders and potentially discovering drug therapies to intervene.

Research



Continued funding for this work will "ensure that all of our shareholders, whether that be state-level personnel, local-level personnel, and/or students and youth with disabilities and their families, can really digest the work,” according to the primary investigator, Valerie Mazzotti, who is an affiliated researcher at the KU Center on Disabilities and KU distinguished professor of special education.
Researchers in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare have secured a grant to implement the Family Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement (FORGE) partnership in five northeast Kansas counties to promote healthy relationships, engaged fatherhood and family and financial stability.
Associate Professor Zijun Wang
School of Pharmacy researcher and associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology Zijun Wang was recently published in Nature Communications. Her research delves into social isolation and how it impacts mental health and substance abuse disorders and potentially discovering drug therapies to intervene.

Kansas Communities



The Kansas Flood Mapping Dashboard uses stream gauge data from the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, among other sources, along with the terrain-based FLDPLN (“Floodplain”) model developed at the University of Kansas. The tool will aid emergency managers across the state as well as the public.
Industry executives, state policymakers and University of Kansas leadership joined the Kansas Geological Survey Nov. 6 for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the newly renovated Watney CORELAB, which includes a 5,500-square-foot expansion of the existing laboratory space.
A student raising his leg in front of a TV screen and people at a desk with a computer inside a gym.
A new initiative led by the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory helps Kansas high school athletes train smarter, stay healthier and sets the stage for groundbreaking sports science research.

Economic Development



The University of Kansas is a powerful engine of economic growth and job creation for the state of Kansas, according to a new study detailing the university’s impact.
The University of Kansas School of Business received a $10 million gift commitment from an anonymous donor that ensures the construction of a new entrepreneurship hub building that benefits the greater KU community by teaching students to solve problems in meaningful ways. The new gift supplements the donor's lead gift of $50 million in 2023.
Kalin Baca shown working in a KU lab in 2023 with professional portrait superimposed over main image.
A recent report from the Institute for Research on Innovation & Science shows more than 7,000 KU research-funded employees leveraged their experience to build careers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2011 to 2023 — and nearly 40% found employment in Kansas.

Student experience and achievement



The University of Kansas will celebrate International Education Week through various campus events, talks, food tastings and gatherings.
On Veterans Day, KU ROTC students honor veterans and reflect on their own service as they look forward to careers in the U.S. military.
Luna Schultz and Rose Larson seated at table looking at laptops during debate tournament.
The University of Kansas debate team of Rose Larson, Milwaukee, and Luna Schultz, Houston, ended the fall semester as the top-ranked team in the country, according to the 2025-26 College Policy Debate Rankings.

Campus news



The Bales Choral Society at the University of Kansas will present its fall semester concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Lawrence Catholic Center. John Rutter’s “Gloria” highlights the program, which also features Rutter’s “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” and Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto 3rd movement.
KU AAAS fellows met with university leaders and research administrators to discuss future research potential and strengthen collaborations across campuses.
East Asian Books on Display
A new travel grant program will support the use of KU Libraries International Collections and in-person consultation with librarians, with researchers from across the United States and around the globe encouraged to apply online through March 1, 2026.

Latest news

An image of a chatbot with eyes and a smiling face taking part in a virtual therapy session.

Study measures behavioral markers of alliance in support groups, viability of machine learning in mental health

A study from the University of Kansas and University of Southern California measured which nonverbal behaviors indicate that people are forming connections in a support group, particularly in virtual groups. The researchers also examined the feasibility of using machine learning in support groups.
East Asian Books on Display

International Collections Travel Grants now available through KU Libraries

A new travel grant program will support the use of KU Libraries International Collections and in-person consultation with librarians, with researchers from across the United States and around the globe encouraged to apply online through March 1, 2026.
Surface topography of Kansas: elevation hillshade

New elevation maps from Kansas Geological Survey illustrate state’s varied topography

Two new maps from the Kansas Geological Survey tell the story of how geology and other natural features interact to form the unique and varied landscapes found across Kansas and offer a visual illustration that the state is not as flat as people believe.
Snow on buildings and trees along Jayhawk Boulevard at the University of Kansas.

Four faculty members awarded Research-Intensive Course Grants for Fall 2025

In an effort to supply research opportunities to more students, four University of Kansas faculty members will be working alongside the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships this fall and into the spring. While working with the center, they can redesign portions of their courses to include a larger research or creative component.