Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research | | | |
Dear Colleagues,
As the fall semester ends, we would like to thank you for your continued work in early childhood research.
We hope you have a safe, peaceful and happy holiday season, and we look forward to working with you on the new opportunities ahead in 2026.
Sincerely,
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Lisa Knoche, Ph.D.
Research Professor
Director, Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research
Co-Director, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools
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In preparation for the eighth biennial CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit, we are soliciting research presentations and poster proposals from
University of Nebraska faculty and graduate students.
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CALL FOR FACULTY RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Faculty in the University of Nebraska system who are interested in presenting at the summit are invited to submit research proposals for the concurrent research sessions or the discovery showcase. Visit the proposal site to learn more. Selected presentations will represent a range of early childhood issues and topics. CYFS research affiliates, NAECR researchers and NAECR student researchers are encouraged to apply; participation of members from the practice or policy community as co-presenters is encouraged and welcomed.
CALL FOR GRADUATE STUDENT POSTERS
Graduate students from the University of Nebraska system are invited to submit poster proposals for presentation at the discovery showcase, provided at least one faculty member serves as a co-author. Faculty are encouraged to pass along this email to any graduate students who may be interested in this opportunity.
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Presentation and poster proposals are due
on or before Feb. 23, 2026.
To learn more and submit a proposal, please click one of the buttons below.
Contact Sommer Fousek with any questions at sfousek2@unl.edu
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Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:
Saints, Superheroes, and Zombies: Early Childhood Professionals’ Well-Being and Relational Health in the Waning Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Julia Torquati*, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Kathleen Gallagher, Education, University of Oklahoma
Jesutomilola Olayemi**, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Alexandra Daro*, Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Fostering Family-School Connections
Roshawn Hollie, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Amanda Witte*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, 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: Small Research Grants on Education Program
The Small Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets up to $50,000 for projects ranging from one to five years.
This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method or a location.
The goal is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.
Proposal due date: Monday, Dec. 15, 2025
Learn more.
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Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood
The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood is an incubator of promising research and development projects that appear likely to improve the welfare of young children, from infancy through 7 years, in the United States.
Funding is provided in the areas of early childhood welfare, early childhood education and play and parenting education.
Letter of inquiry due date: Jan. 31, 2026
Learn more.
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New! 2026 CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit
Call for Proposals
April 28, 2026
Nebraska Innovation Campus
Lincoln, Nebraska
In preparation for the eighth biennial CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit, we are soliciting research presentations and poster proposals from University of Nebraska faculty and graduate students.
CALL FOR FACULTY RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Faculty in the University of Nebraska system who are interested in presenting at the summit are invited to submit research proposals for the concurrent research sessions or the discovery showcase. Visit the proposal site to learn more. Selected presentations will represent a range of early childhood issues and topics. CYFS research affiliates, NAECR researchers and NAECR student researchers are encouraged to apply; participation of members from the practice or policy community as co-presenters is encouraged and welcomed.
CALL FOR GRADUATE STUDENT POSTERS
Graduate students from the University of Nebraska system are invited to submit poster proposals for presentation at the discovery showcase, provided at least one faculty member serves as a co-author. Faculty are encouraged to pass along this email to any graduate students who may be interested in this opportunity.
Presentation and poster proposals due date: Feb. 23, 2026.
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Zero to Three Learn Conference
Call for Proposals
Oct. 27-29, 2026
Portland, Oregon
The Zero to Three Learn Conference brings together educators, mental health leaders, researchers, advocates and policymakers to share knowledge that makes a difference for babies, toddlers and families.
Available session formats include poster presentations, baby talks, lecture sessions, synergy circles and issue intensives.
Proposal due date: This Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
Learn more.
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2026 National Home Visiting Summit
Call for Proposals
Sept. 29-30, 2026
Baltimore, Maryland
The National Home Visiting Summit is now seeking proposals from innovative leaders and thought partners to advance efforts that expand reach, increase impact, and build advocacy and policy pipelines at all levels of the home visiting and early childhood systems.
Examples of content areas include building cross-sector partnerships between home visiting and early childhood and health systems, leveraging research to strengthen policies and programmatic practices, and growing and sustaining a strong home visiting workforce.
Proposal due date: Jan. 4, 2026
Learn more.
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American Psychological Association Conference 2026
Call for Proposals
Aug. 6-8, 2026
Washington, DC
The American Psychological Association’s annual meeting advances the creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve lives. APA is now accepting proposals in three categories: Division Sessions, Division Posters, and Psych Science in 3.
Proposal due date: Jan. 14, 2026
Learn more.
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Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference
Call for Proposals
July 29 – Aug. 1, 2026
Washington, DC
The SNEB annual conference brings together professionals from universities, schools, government agencies, cooperative extension, the food industry and service organizations to learn about the latest nutrition education and research.
The 2026 conference theme, "Flourishing Through Change: Centering Purpose, Connection, and Community," explores individual, relational and community work as they relate to changes in nutrition and food systems environments.
Proposal due date: March 1, 2026
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.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email us using the button above.
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