Congratulations On Your Notice of Funding
 A photograph of the fatigue and fracture laboratory inside Corley Hall at Arkansas
Tech University in Russellville. |
Dr. Mohammad Amjadi - INBRE Instrument Grant - $20,619 Arkansas Tech University has earned a $20,619 grant that will expand biomedical research and scientific advancement in the Arkansas River Valley. Provided by the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the grant has allowed ATU to purchase an advanced optical video extensometer for biomaterial and biomedical device testing. “This new system will significantly enhance our ability to test biomedical materials and devices under both static and cyclic loading,” said Dr. Mohammad Amjadi, ATU assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of the fatigue and fracture lab at Arkansas Tech. “This upgrade strengthens our lab’s unique position in the state and expands our capabilities in advanced mechanical and biomedical testing.” Amjadi is the principal investigator on the grant. The extensometer will serve as a shared research asset for ATU mechanical engineering faculty and students. It will support coursework, research projects and collaborations while helping ATU students prepare for careers in biomedical engineering and health care innovation as well as graduate-level research. Visit www.atu.edu/stem/engineering/mechanical/fatiguetestinglab.php for more information. |
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J. Leigh Swain - Dr. Joshua Lockyer Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) - Arkansas Department of Higher Ed - $4,000 Mrs. J. Leigh Swain, an undergraduate researcher in anthropology, has been awarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE). Her project, Where Culture Takes Root: Ethnographic Insights into Seed Stewardship and Tradition in the Ozarks, explores how community seed stewards help preserve regional agricultural heritage and cultural traditions. Swain’s research focuses on the Revitalizing Ozark-Ouachita Seed Traditions (ROOST) Seed Bank, founded at Arkansas Tech University in 2013 to sustain locally adapted crops and safeguard the cultural knowledge tied to them. Through participant observation at community seed swaps and interviews with six Ozark seed stewards, she will document the practices, experiences, and motivations behind regional seed-saving traditions. Her work aims to illuminate how these agricultural practices support community identity, sense of place, and long-term cultural resilience. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Joshua Lockyer, Professor of Anthropology, Swain will apply established ethnographic methods used throughout ATU’s anthropology curriculum. Lockyer praised Swain’s commitment to place-based research, noting that her project “brings together culture, landscape, and heritage to highlight the human dimensions of agricultural biodiversity conservation and the roles that applied social scientists can play in working with local communities to preserve these essential natural and cultural resources. This will be a vital stepping stone in Leigh's career trajectory, allowing her to cultivate applied research skills that will be useful to her in graduate school and beyond." Dr. Michael J. Bradley, Dean of the College of Research & Graduate Studies, expressed gratitude for the faculty mentorship that makes student research possible. “Our faculty play an incredible role in guiding students through meaningful academic experiences,” Bradley said. “Seeing students like Leigh engaged in incredible projects, and faculty like Dr. Lockyer supporting them every step of the way, truly reflects the mission and strength of Arkansas Tech University.” Swain’s academic interests include sense of place, traditional foodways, and the relationships between people and the landscapes they inhabit. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Geography, she plans to pursue graduate studies in History at Arkansas Tech University and continue on to doctoral work focused on cultural and historical geography. Her long-term goal is to teach and conduct interdisciplinary research on the connections between culture, landscape, and regional heritage. The SURF-supported project will culminate in conference presentations, submissions to undergraduate research journals, and applied contributions such as enhanced ROOST seed bank protocols and a public exhibit for the ATU Center for Heritage and Culture. Through this work, Swain hopes to highlight the cultural depth of Ozark agricultural traditions and contribute to their long-term vitality. |
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Dr. Zahra Zamanipour Autonomous Vehicle Challenge - AR Space Grant Consortium - $14,000 |
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Dr. Zach Moran Fisheries Assessment - Lakewood Property Owners Association - $10,029 |
Fall 2025 PDGProfessional Development GrantsInternal Funding awards
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2025-2026 SRGSTUDENT RESEARCH GrantsInternal Funding awards
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