Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research | | | |
NAECR Networking:
International Research and Collaboration
This Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual
Are you interested in conducting early childhood research internationally?
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Abbie Raikes, professor in UNMC's Department of Health Promotion, and Dr. Holly Wilhite, associate professor and early childhood Extension specialist in the UNL Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies.
They will share practical insights on getting started, identifying and securing funding, navigating common challenges and building successful international research partnerships.
Pilar Vilchez Conesa, UNO Fullbright Faculty Scholar from Spain, will also share her perspective on participating in international research.
The session will conclude with an opportunity to connect with colleagues, discuss ideas and explore potential collaborations in international early childhood research.
The virtual event is free, but registration is required.
| | |
NAECR Knowledge:
Qualtrics for Research
Dec. 3, 2026
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual
Would you like to learn how to optimize Qualtrics to better support your research activities? Alian Kasabian, Director of the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core in the UNL Office of Research and Innovation, will lead this training for intermediate+ Qualtrics users. The session will conclude with time for questions and discussion.
A zoom link will be shared with registrants prior to the event.
This virtual event is free, but registration is required.
| | |
Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:
Reducing Emotion Dysregulation Through Mindfulness Intervention: The Moderating Role of Occupational Stress for Early Childhood Educators
Emily Starr, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Holly Wilhite*, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Carrie Clark*, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Gilbert Parra, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Pearl Avari, Life Span Institute, University of Kansas
Rebecca Brock*, Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
An Active Approach to Behavior: Exergaming Bike Breaks for Students with Disabilities
Sara Kupzyk*, Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha
Heidi Reelfs, Physical Therapy, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Kevin Kupzyk, Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center
* Denotes NAECR Researcher
** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher
| | Would you like to see your work featured here? Contact us at naecr@unl.edu | | |
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.
Internal funding opportunities by campus:
UNK
UNL
UNMC
UNO
| | |
New! Department of Education From Seedlings to Scale Grants Program
Through the From Seedlings to Scale (S2S) Grants program, IES will invest in innovative ideas within an identified focus area through three phases of increasing funding and duration to support ideas as they grow from seedlings to scalable solutions.
Projects will incorporate high-quality research, robust solution development, and attention to sustainability and scaling throughout all phases.
Award budget: Up to $500,000
Proposal due date: Dec. 11, 2026
Learn more.
| | |
New! Department of Education Transformative Research in Special Education
The Transformative Research in Special Education Grants program seeks to support research and development of transformative solutions to seemingly intractable problems and challenges in special education.
Transformative projects enact bold and innovative thinking, involve interdisciplinary collaboration, are inherently risky and use high-quality research approaches to create high-reward, scalable solutions with the potential to lead to dramatic improvements for students with or at risk for disabilities.
Award budget: Up to $3,750,000
Proposal due date: Dec. 11, 2026
Learn more.
| | |
Student Funding: Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Child Psychology Graduate Student Fellowship
The Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Fellowship program supports graduate research projects and scholarships in child psychology. Program goals include nurturing excellent young scholars for careers in areas of psychology (child-clinical, pediatric, school, educational, developmental psychopathology) and supporting scholarly work contributing to the advancement of knowledge.
Award budget: Five fellowships of $21,800
Proposal due date: Nov. 25, 2026
Learn more.
| | |
University of Nebraska Collaborative Initiative
The primary purpose of the Collaboration Initiative is to enhance the competitiveness of the University of Nebraska (NU) faculty for federal grant funding by fully leveraging the intellectual capacity and research resources across the NU campuses. The Fiscal Year 2028 request for applications focuses on a single, flexible grant type. This single-year seed grant is designed to facilitate research collaborations among faculty in any discipline that will help them to compete for federal extramural funding.
Award budget: $10,000 to $100,000
Proposal due date: Jan. 15, 2027
Learn more.
| | |
New! American Psychological Association Conference 2027
Call for Proposals
Aug. 12-14, 2027
San Francisco, California, and Virtual
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. 13, 2027
Learn more.
| | |
New! Region VII Head Start Association Annual Conference
Call for Proposals
June 8-10, 2027
Kansas City, Missouri
Region VII Head Start Association is seeking presenters for the 2027 Annual Conference: Setting the Stage for Success.
The conference will include a focus on all levels of Head Start Success: programs, staff, children and families. Attendees will include Head Start & Early Head Start program executive directors, program directors, senior level managers, center site managers, parent leadership, frontline staff, specialists and community partners.
Proposals should focus on the professional development needs of Head Start/Early Head Start staff.
Proposal due date: Feb. 5, 2027
Learn more.
| | |
New! Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference
Call for Proposals
July 19-21, 2027
Virtual
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 2027 conference theme is Connecting All – Sharing Global Voices; Bridging Research & Practice; Inspiring the Next Generation.
Proposal due date: March 1, 2027
Learn more.
| | |
Society for Prevention Research 2027 Annual Meeting
Call for Proposals
June 1-4, 2027
Washington, D.C.
The Society for Prevention Research is currently accepting conference proposals designed to highlight specific areas of research relevant to prevention science.
SPR accepts proposals under five research/science areas: epidemiology and etiology, development and testing of interventions, dissemination and implementation science, research/policy/practice and innovative methods and statistics.
Proposal due date: Nov. 23, 2026
Learn more.
| | |
Nebraska Maternal Child Health Summit
Nov. 19, 2026
Lincoln, Nebraska
Save the date for the 2026 Nebraska Maternal Health Summit, which will bring together people from all over the state working in many sectors of maternal child health — physicians, community health workers, maternal health advocates, lawmakers and mental health professionals — to discuss ways to improve perinatal outcomes in Nebraska.
Learn more.
| | |
Minority Health Disparities Initiative Health Equity Conference
Call for Proposals
Feb. 19, 2027
Lincoln, Nebraska
The Minority Health Disparities Initiative is accepting proposals for the 2027 Health Equity Conference poster session.
Proposals from research and/or practice-oriented projects or presentations that provide theoretical frameworks from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, government organizations and community members or organizations are welcome.
Topics should ideally relate to health disparities and health equity among minoritized, marginalized and vulnerable populations. Abstracts with a particular focus on thriving, resilience and coping as they relate to experiences of discrimination and/or life stressors are strongly encouraged.
Proposal due date: Dec. 4, 2026
Learn more.
| | |
NAECR Networking: International Research and Collaboration
This Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual
Are you interested in conducting early childhood research internationally?
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Abbie Raikes, professor in UNMC's Department of Health Promotion, and Dr. Holly Wilhite, associate professor and early childhood Extension specialist in the UNL Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies.
They will share practical insights on getting started, identifying and securing funding, navigating common challenges and building successful international research partnerships.
Pilar Vilchez Conesa, UNO Fullbright Faculty Scholar from Spain, will also share her perspective on participating in international research.
The session will conclude with an opportunity to connect with colleagues, discuss ideas and explore potential collaborations in international early childhood research.
The virtual event is free, but registration is required.
| | |
NAECR Knowledge: Qualtrics for Research
Dec. 3, 2026
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual
Would you like to learn how to optimize Qualtrics to better support your research activities? Alian Kasabian, Director of the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core in the UNL Office of Research and Innovation, will lead this training for intermediate+ Qualtrics users. The session will conclude with time for questions and discussion.
A zoom link will be shared with registrants prior to the event.
This virtual event is free, but registration is required.
| | |
Miss some events you would like to check out?
Visit the NAECR website to find recordings and summaries of past events, such as NAECR Knowledge, NAECR Networking, Early Childhood Summits and more.
| | Is there an upcoming conference you want to publicize? A new publication you would like to share? Let us know! | | |
NAECR News archives available
Access past issues of NAECR News.
| |
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.
| | | | |
