Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research | | |
NAECR Networking event highlights latest research on early childhood social-emotional development | A panel of University of Nebraska researchers discussed the latest programming, interventions and resources being used to promote early childhood social-emotional development across Nebraska at the NAECR Networking event April 15. | | | | |
New UNO Health Science Collaborative space
provides researchers with additional opportunities
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NAECR researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha are celebrating the opening of the Health Science Collaborative, which includes lab space for early childhood.
Scheduled to open later this spring, the 30,000-square-foot space in UNO's Health & Kinesiology Building will offer researchers teaching spaces, community areas and state-of-the-art laboratories supporting research in early childhood research, as well as exercise and vascular physiology, physical and intellectual disabilities, sports medicine and biomechanics and sexual and reproductive health.
The reimagined lab space will enable more student research opportunities and experiential learning in the training of future clinicians, researchers, and practitioners who are equipped to handle complex issues and improve health outcomes in a variety of populations.
| | Danae Dinkel, UNO associate professor | | |
Faculty-led programs will advance health equity and improve outcomes through impactful community partnerships and research collaborations with organizations such as the Department of Defense, NIH, and National Strategic Research Institute.
The space was formerly underused space housing squash and racquetball courts.
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"The Health Science Collaborative and specifically the Physical Activity in Health Promotion labs will provide critical infrastructure to support innovative, collaborative work focused on child health and well-being," said Danae Dinkel, associate professor of health and kinesiology at UNO and a NAECR researcher. "It will enhance our ability to conduct high-quality research, foster interdisciplinary partnerships and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students as well as community members. This space will strengthen our capacity to generate meaningful insights and real-world solutions that improve the lives of children and families in Nebraska and beyond."
Michaela Schenkelberg, associate professor of health and kinesiology and a NAECR researcher, agreed.
"The Physical Activity in Health Promotion suite, in particular, was designed with families and young children in mind and features family-friendly spaces, including a waiting room and lactation room," Schenkelberg said.
| | Michaela Schenkelberg, UNO associate professor | | "The space and new technology allow us to advance our lines of research focused on developmental movement, physical activity and health promotion of children with and without disabilities while providing students with experiential learning and training opportunities." | | Patty Kuo, assistant professor, Child, Youth and Family Studies | | Guy Trainin, Melvin C. and Jane N. Nore Professor; Department Chair, Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education | | Sarah Zuckerman, associate professor, Educational Adminitration | | |
NAECR researchers honored with CEHS Awards
Three NAECR researchers have earned awards from the College of Education and Human Sciences, recognizing their exceptional achievements and contributions.
Patty Kuo, assistant professor of child, youth and family studies, earned the CEHS Outstanding Teaching Award.
Guy Trainin, Melvin C. and Jane N. Nore Professor and department chair of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, was honored with the Faculty Student Mentoring Award and the Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Career Award.
Sarah Zuckerman, associate professor of educational administration, earned a CEHS Outstanding Teaching Award.
This spring's annual CEHS Awards Celebration will be Friday, May 2, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. in CPEH 227.
Congratulations to all!
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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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Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:
Academic Achievement and Engagement During the Transition to Middle Childhood: Comparisons by Learning Disability Status
Rachelle Johnson, Florida State University–Tallahassee
Jenna FInch*, Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln,
Expanding the child care table of influence: Reaching under-resourced families to understand their needs and barriers to accessing early childhood care and education
Jamlick Peter Ondieki Bosire**, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Alexandra Daro*, Buffet Early Childhood Institute, University of Nebraska
Kathleen Gallagher, Early Childhood Education Institute, University of Oklahoma
Kymberly Caddel, 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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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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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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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: This Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Learn more.
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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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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.
| | No events are scheduled at this time. | | 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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