Faculty and Staff Grants From January 2023

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff members who received grants and awards in January 2023:

Anne DePrince, faculty at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Grant from the National Institute of Justice/Department of Justice
• Abstract: Blows to the head and strangulation are dreadfully common among women victimized by intimate partners, according to dozens of research studies. Unfortunately, research on the impact of brain injury services on domestic violence (DV) victims in the criminal justice system is lacking, leaving jurisdictions with little empirical evidence to guide policy and practice. At a time when practice regarding intimate partner violence (IPV) and brain injury screening is rapidly developing, our goal is to use research to inform actions taken after screening that promote justice and enhance criminal justice outcomes for DV victims with brain injuries.

Christopher Reardon, faculty at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Grant from Colorado School of Mines
• Abstract: The goal of the project is to enable coordinated stealth robot team maneuvers through innovative context-aware bilevel optimization.

Tiamo Katsonga-Phiri, Gwen Mitchell and Maria Vukovic, faculty at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

• Grant from the International Rescue Committee Denver (subaward Department of Health and Human Services)
• Abstract: Clinicians at the Trauma & Disaster Recovery Clinic (TDRC) will offer direct clinical services to torture survivors through individual psychotherapeutic services and group therapy. The goal is to serve approximately 30 clients per year through individual psychotherapeutic services;  approximately 75 individuals per year through group services; and approximately 150 addition primary and secondary survivors through psychosocial workshops.

Kevin Morris and Sloane Hawes, faculty and staff at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection

• Grant from Spring Point Partners
• Abstract: The University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection is conducting an integrated series of studies aimed at measuring and understanding current trends in community engagement in animal control/field services with the goal of creating new tools and identifying best practices that will further both animal and community welfare. Much of this work is being conducted in partnership with the National Animal Care & Control Association to address the critical gap in the literature and the animal welfare sector’s understanding of perspectives on how to effectively engage with socially and economically marginalized communities through animal control/field services.

Courtney Everson, staff at the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab

• Grant from the Colorado Department of Human Services
• Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore risk and protective factors that influence access to and the successful navigation of substance use/substance use disorders treatment; prenatal, postnatal, and infant care; social services; child welfare; and community supports during the childbearing year.

Lauren Gase, staff at the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab

• Grant from the Denver District Attorney's Office
• Abstract: This project will work with key system stakeholders, as well as community groups, to systematically examine the outcomes of individuals arrested and booked into Denver County jail.

Jennifer Hoffman, faculty at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Grant from National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Abstract: We seek to establish whether the southern WR variable star WR 71 displays bright X-ray emission similar to known colliding-wind binaries. If so, we will propose follow-up observations to characterize its X-ray spectrum and shed further light on its binary status.

Katie Calhoun, PhD student at the Graduate School of Social Work

• Grant from the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative
• Abstract: The evaluation will assess the influence of safe parking on housing stability and well-being. We will address the proximal indicators toward housing stability and include retrospective questions about guests' sense of safety, sense of security, mental health and physical health.

Naazneen Barma, faculty at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Abstract: Restricted

Rachel Epstein, Gergana Kostadinova and Jill Schmieder Hereau faculty and staff at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies

• Grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Abstract: Restricted

Amin Khodaei and Ali Arabnya, faculty at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science

• Grant from Restricted
• Abstract: Restricted

Laura Meyer, faculty at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

• Grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Abstract: Restricted