Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research | | | Lisa Knoche, NAECR director | | Sue Sheridan, CYFS director | | |
NAECR researchers Knoche, Sheridan among presenters at Big Ten Learning Alliance virtual event
Lisa Knoche, NAECR director, and Sue Sheridan, director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, will be among the featured early childhood experts making presentations at this week's Big Ten Learning Alliance event.
Knoche and Sheridan, both NAECR researchers, will discuss current research on parent engagement and partnerships and outline its vital connection to policy and practice at the Wednesday, April 16, virtual event, "Parent Engagement and Partnerships in Early Childhood: Outcomes from Across the Big Ten."
Parent engagement, broadly defined, is associated with positive social emotional and academic outcomes in young children. However, research shows that parent engagement remains a persistent challenge for schools, particularly with families of young children from marginalized groups.
Learn more.
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Apply now for the NAECR Policy Fellows Program
NAECR is currently accepting applications for the 2025-26 NAECR Policy Fellows Program! The program is a series of interactive and collaborative conversations between First Five Nebraska and NAECR early childhood researchers.
Objectives include:
- To educate NU early childhood researchers on policy processes, impacts and relationships to research;
- To provide the Nebraska policy community with insight into the University of Nebraska’s latest early childhood research; and
- To create meaningful, bi-directional connections and collaborations between the research and policy communities to develop a policy-relevant research agenda and enrich early childhood experiences.
We will select four NAECR researchers to participate in the program, which runs from September 2025 to May 2026.
Applications are due by May 30. Selected applicants will be notified by June 13.
All participants will be expected to:
- Attend a total of four conversations with First Five Nebraska and other policy fellows;
- Participate in a culminating activity (e.g., presentation, panel);
- Engage in and contribute to an active, ongoing and supportive dialogue about the connections between policy and research;
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Attend the 2026 CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit in April 2026; and
- Provide feedback on the Policy Fellows program.
Learn more about NAECR Policy Fellows.
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NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research in Social-emotional Development
The spring 2025 NAECR Networking event will feature early childhood researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, who will share their latest research and findings on social-emotional development.
Presenters will include:
Kerry-Ann Escayg, Teacher Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sara Kupzyk, Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Abbie Raikes, Health Promotion, University of Nebraska Medical Center
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required.
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Presentation Details
NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research
in Social-emotional Development
This Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CDT
Virtual via Zoom
A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
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Research study seeking parents and children
University of Nebraska researchers are exploring how parents communicate with their children during social interactions. They are seeking parents and their children (ages 6-10) to participate in a study, including families with children on the autism disorder spectrum and those with typically developing children.
If you have connections with groups that meet these criteria, please reach out to the study coordinator and/or share the research flyer.
Learn more.
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Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:
Aligning Intervention for Autistic Beginning Communicators With Language Development Milestones Using NDBIs
Ciara Ousley*, Special Educaiton and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Cindy Gevarter, University of New Mexico
Sophia D’Agostino, Utah State University
Examining the Impact of PBIS Experience on MTSS Implementation in Secondary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study
April Rangel-Pacheco, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Amanda Witte*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families & Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Rebecca Wright, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Linnea Swanson, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
* Denotes NAECR Researcher
** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher
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Would you like to see your work featured here? Contact us at naecr@unl.edu
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NAECR can assist you in finding research partners for your funding applications and staff in CYFS are available to assist with your proposal development for these or other funding opportunities.
Please contact Lisa Knoche if you are interested in building a collaborative team, need assistance with proposal development or would like to discuss funding opportunities for your research.
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New! Spencer Foundation Large Research Grants on Education
The goal of Spencer Foundation’s research grants is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.
The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived.
Award budget: $125,000 – $500,000
Letter of Intent due date: May 14, 2025
Proposal due date: June 17, 2025
Learn more.
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New! Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood
The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports research and development projects to improve the support, acculturation, social integration and child care of young children in the U.S.
This foundation provides funding in parenting education, to help parents create nurturing environments for their children, early childhood welfare, to provide a safe and nurturing environment, and early childhood education and play, to improve the quality of early childhood teaching and learning.
Letter of inquiry due date: May 31, 2025
Learn more.
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Student Funding: Buffett Early Childhood Institute Graduate Scholars
The goal of this program is to support high-quality research from a variety of fields, including health, education, social work, music, art, psychology, neurosciences and others. New methodologies are encouraged along with multidisciplinary research.
Applicants must be full-time, doctoral-level graduate students who have been admitted to candidacy within a department on one of the University of Nebraska campuses.
Award budget: Up to $25,000 to a maximum of four NU doctoral students every year.
Proposal due date: April 25, 2025
Learn more.
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Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation anticipates announcing the availability of funds and requesting applications for the Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC). The TRC will provide leadership, collaboration, and support for culturally responsive and actionable research and evaluation of federal early childhood and family economic well-being initiatives that serve Indigenous communities.
Estimated award budget: $700,000 – $1 million
Estimated proposal due date: May 1, 2025
Learn more.
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Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Tribal Child Care Data and Research Capacity Awards
The Tribal Child Care Data and Research Capacity Awards (Phase I) will support partnerships between Tribal (CCDF) Lead Agencies and research and coordinating organizations to develop and improve tribal data systems and strengthen capacity-building of Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies.
Sponsored projects will identify, collect, analyze and use early childhood data to complete research activities guiding policy and program improvement efforts.
Estimated award budget: $400,000
Estimated proposal due date: June 2, 2025
Learn more.
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Student Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Graduate Student Dissertation Grants
The Administration for Children and Families supports rigorous dissertation research by advanced doctoral students addressing policy relevant issues. ACF is accepting proposals for behavioral interventions, child care and Head Start dissertation grants.
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Behavioral Interventions Scholars Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: April 28, 2025
Learn more.
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Child Care Dissertation Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 1, 2025
Learn more.
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Head Start Dissertation Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 16, 2025
Learn more.
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New! National Center for Families Learning Conference
Call for Proposals
Nov. 2-5, 2025
Charlotte, North Carolina
This annual conference is focused on delivering learning content to support educators and others to engage families in family learning, with an emphasis on innovative practices.
Seeking highly interactive proposals that showcase strategies and materials that attendees can use right away in their classrooms or programs. Materials should aim to help families succeed in accomplishing their learning and career goals.
Proposal due date: This Friday, April 18, 2025
Learn more.
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New! National Association of School Psychologists
Annual Convention
Call for Proposals
Feb. 24-27, 2026
Chicago, Illinois
This convention is seeking presentations that support seasoned practitioners in delivering high-quality, evidence-based school practices.
Presentations may be submitted in the following formats; mini-skills, papers, poster, practitioner conversation sessions, symposia and workshops.
Proposal due date: Opens May 1; Closes June 18, 2025
Learn more.
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Midwest Pyramid Model Summit
Call for Proposals
Nov. 5-6, 2025
Naperville, Illinois
Aimed at advancing high-impact, sustainable implementation strategies, this event will focus on how the Pyramid Model, an evidence-based approach to promoting social and emotional development and positive behavior, can be effectively adapted and scaled in early childhood settings.
Summit organizers are especially excited to showcase some of the Pyramid Model and infant/early childhood mental health work happening across the state of Nebraska.
Proposal due date: April 30, 2025
Learn more.
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International Society for Developmental Psychobiology
Annual Meeting
Call for Proposals
Nov. 12-14, 2025
San Diego, California
The ISDP is currently accepting proposals for its 58th annual meeting, which will bring together a multidisciplinary group of international researchers from all areas of developmental psychobiology ranging from clinical psychiatrists to ethologists to molecular biologists with a common interest in promoting translational research by emphasizing the integration of basic and clinical research approaches.
Proposal due date: June 2, 2025
Learn more.
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Parent Engagement and Partnerships in Early Childhood:
Outcomes from Across the Big Ten
Big Ten Early Learning Alliance
This Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Noon CDT
Virtual via Zoom
Parent engagement, broadly defined, is associated with positive social emotional and academic outcomes in young children. However, research shows that parent engagement remains a persistent challenge for schools, particularly with families of young children from marginalized groups.
Featuring experts from the Big Ten Early Learning Alliance, this event will discuss current research on parent engagement and partnerships and outline its vital connection to policy and practice.
Presenters will include NAECR researchers Susan Sheridan and Lisa Knoche from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Learn more.
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NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research
in Social-emotional Development
This Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CDT
Virtual via Zoom
The spring 2025 NAECR Networking event will feature early childhood researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, who will share their latest research and findings on social-emotional development.
Presenters will include:
Kerry-Ann Escayg, Teacher Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sara Kupzyk, Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Abbie Raikes, Health Promotion, University of Nebraska Medical Center
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required. A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
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Student Research Days: Undergraduate Poster Session
This Tuesday & Wednesday, April 15-16, 2025
10 a.m. – Noon CDT
Nebraska Union
The office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, the Office of Graduate Studies and the Office of Research and Innovation will be hosting their annual Student Research Days Poster Sessions and Creative Exhibitions.
Students can present their research or creative work to the larger UNL community and choose to participate in a poster and creative exhibition competition.
Presentations in any formats are welcome.
Learn more.
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Student Research Days: Graduate Poster Session
This Tuesday & Wednesday, April 15-16, 2025
3 – 5 p.m. CDT
Nebraska Union
The office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, the Office of Graduate Studies, and the Office of Research and Innovation will be hosting their annual Student Research Days Poster Sessions and Creative Exhibitions.
Students can present their research or creative work to the larger UNL community and choose to participate in a poster and creative exhibition competition.
Presentations in any formats are welcome.
Learn more.
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Student Research Days Slam
This Thursday, April 17, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT
Nebraska Union
Student Research Days Slam is a campuswide contest in which undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines are challenged to communicate their work in short presentations. This year reflects on the prompt, “If you could travel into the past or the future to tell people about your research or creative endeavor, where would you go, who would you talk with, and what would you tell them?”
Reserve your seat.
| | Is there an upcoming conference you want to publicize? A new publication you would like to share? Let us know! | |
Connecting Research and Policy
Learn more and sign up for alerts about legislation relevant to early childhood researchers.
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NAECR Student Researchers
Students involved in early childhood research at the University of Nebraska can access a number of resources through NAECR.
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Find a Researcher
Find and collaborate with other early childhood researchers across the NU system.
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NAECR News archives available
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NAECR News will be shared twice a month to inform the early childhood research community across the NU system.
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