Research

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Photos of Holotype of Dendrobates duellmani (KU 221835) and dorsolateral views of the specimen in life.

A clerical error caused misidentification of frog specimen that once stood for an entire species

Martin Nedbal in his office

New ‘History of Music in Czech Lands’ takes innovative approach

Image of Sayyida Al Hurra from Sid Meier’s Civilization VII made by Firaxis Games, a division of 2K, which is, in turn, held by Take-Two Interactive Software.

KU scholar’s work comes alive as empire-building video game character

A few years ago, Amal El Haimeur could hardly find any information about the 16th century “pirate queen” of Morocco. After the University of Kansas professor published her research, Sayyida al-Hurra became a character in a leading video game.

Science and Technology

A clerical error caused misidentification of frog specimen that once stood for an entire species

Researchers at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum recently uncovered a slipup from decades ago: the misidentification of a poison frog specimen from Peru used as a holotype.

KU scientist known for discoveries in precision medicine named to National Academy of Inventors

Steven Soper was among the 185 academic inventors named to the 2025 Class of NAI Fellows on Dec. 11. Election as an academy fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors.
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170-ton detector being placed in Fermilab’s neutrino beam.

Experiment nixes ‘sterile’ neutrino explanation of previous unexpected measurements

Experimental particle physicists working at the MicroBooNE experiment at Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory have found evidence against the existence of a “sterile” type of neutrino hypothesized to be responsible for previous experiments’ anomalous results, as detailed in a paper recently published in Nature.
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Health and Well-Being

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.

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.
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An instructor demonstrates how to complete an exercise.

Grant to expand community-based research project focused on people with mobility disabilities

With new federal funding, a University of Kansas project is expanding access to exercise for people with disabilities. Life Span Institute researcher Lyndsie Koon says the community-based functional fitness program has shown strong results.
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Teaching, Learning and Behavior

Book outlines how to move beyond reliance on student surveys to evaluate, improve college teaching

“Transforming College Teaching Evaluation,” a new book from scholars at the University of Kansas and colleague institutions, outlines a project that developed new ways to more fully evaluate the value of college teaching. The book details how three institutions developed a new, more robust method of evaluation that recognizes how to fully evaluate teaching and how schools can overcome resistance to implement the methods at their campuses.

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.
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Hospital chaplain at a patient’s bedside

Grant launches initiative to integrate faith perspectives into health education

The Department of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas received a $60,000, two-year grant from the nonprofit group Interfaith America to create partnerships with community groups addressing the spiritual connection to health issues.
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Arts, Architecture and Humanities

Resistance to Spanish tribute in colonial Panama reflective of early Black community mobilization

In a new article, Robert Schwaller, a professor of history at the University of Kansas, details the tireless efforts and legal proceedings of the free Black community in 16th century Panama to challenge the tribute imposed by King Philip II of Spain.

Modern mixmasters have nothing on Poverty Row movie music mavens

For the first time, a University of Kansas musicologist has traced the sources and remixing of 16,000 musical fragments used to score all 66 serials produced by Republic Pictures.
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Image of Sayyida Al Hurra from Sid Meier’s Civilization VII made by Firaxis Games, a division of 2K, which is, in turn, held by Take-Two Interactive Software.

KU scholar’s work comes alive as empire-building video game character

A few years ago, Amal El Haimeur could hardly find any information about the 16th century “pirate queen” of Morocco. After the University of Kansas professor published her research, Sayyida al-Hurra became a character in a leading video game.
More Arts, Architecture and Humanities

Business, Economics and Innovation

Strong incentives may lead to even more employee burnout, research finds

In a new article, Rob Waiser, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Kansas, examines how firms should account for effects like fatigue and burnout when designing incentive compensation for their employees.

B2B sales now require a ‘holistic’ selling approach, study finds

In a new study, Murali Mantrala, the Ned Fleming Professor of Marketing at the University of Kansas, examines how the key role of the salesperson has evolved in business-to-business sales, in response to changing buyer behavior during the purchase journey.
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Accountants analyze financial reports in an office, flanked by a magnifying glass and documents.

Lack of competition leads to more efficient and effective auditing, study finds

In a new working paper, Will Ciconte, assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, investigates the relation between audit competition, quality and labor hours, finding that auditors who appear to be operating in less competitive markets are more efficient and more effective.
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Law, Politics and Society

Study finds Marion County Record raid created ‘shared press distress’ among fellow journalists

Research from the University of Kansas has found that the raid on the Marion County Record newspaper in rural Kansas created “shared press distress” among fellow small town journalists. Shortly after the raid, journalists reported feeling distress and asked questions about if such raids would continue to be allowed and what it would mean for their journalistic practices.

Study finds Kansas City fare-free bus policy attracted new riders, increased overall use

A University of Kansas study found that following Kansas City's policy implementation of fare-free bus service, new riders were attracted to the service and overall usage increased, among other changes. Traditionally marginalized communities were especially affected by the change, showing that such a policy has equity benefits, the study author said.
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A businessman wearing a Superman cape stands on a pile of rocks overlooking a city.

Superman’s bygone battle with hate group provides strategy for thwarting modern conspiracy theories

In a new book chapter, Colin McRoberts, associate teaching professor of business at the University of Kansas, traces the story of Superman’s battle with the Ku Klux Klan in a 1946 radio serial and suggests it may provide strategies for thwarting the damage done by conspiracy theories.
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