Exploration Groups
Exploration Groups bring together UM researchers from diverse departments to explore the potential for collaborative work on a shared interdisciplinary purpose. Groups are supported for a defined period, known as the Exploration Window.
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How do we form an Exploration Group?
Each group should select one Group Leader and one or more Co-Leaders from different departments. Leaders will:
- Serve as points of contact with ORED Strategic Research Development (SRD)
- Guide group activities
- Work with ORED SRD to employ resources on behalf of the group
- Report on group progress and outcomes to ORED SRD
Leaders can apply to form an Exploration Group through the UM InfoReady Review portal, providing details on:
- Team members
- Common purpose
- Support requested
- Proposed Exploration Window
- A means of assessment
What support does ORED SRD provide?
ORED SRD offers tailored support to Exploration Groups, including:
- Facilitating group communications and meetings
- Providing training and information sessions
- Conducting grant prospecting
- Limited funding for group activities (available in select cases)
What happens after the Exploration Window?
Exploration Groups are intended to be temporary. Productive groups may evolve into Strike Teams, while those that do not make sufficient progress may disband early. Groups that remain active and engaged through their Exploration Window will complete their work at that time, with renewal possible in certain cases.
How is progress tracked?
ORED SRD will track each group from formation through completion, reporting on outcomes such as the creation of Strike Teams, submission of full funding proposals, and awards resulting from the group’s work.
Ongoing Supported Exploration Groups
The Exploration Group on Aging is a group of researchers from UM and UMMC who are exploring the potential to collaborate on proposals to the National Institute on Aging. To join the group, fill out the UM and UMMC Exploration Group on Aging Participant Information Form.
Participants for the UM and UMMC Exploration Group on Aging
Debolina Chatterjee, Data Science
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
Sushil Mishra, Biomedical Engineering
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
Ethan Davis, The Center for Practical Ethics
Partnering with the Center for Practical Ethics
Interest Areas Include:
- Biology of Aging (Geroscience)
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
- Palliative Care & End-of-Life Care
- Training & Workforce Development
- Other Aging Research
Keith Anderson, Social Work
Persons with Dementia and Access to Adult Day Resources in Mississippi
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
Xiaopeng Zhao, Mechanical Engineering
Research Interest Sketch Personalized AI Support for Dementia Caregivers
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
Deborah Mower, The Center for Practical Ethics
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
Hyejin Park, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
Md Tarikul Islam, Biology
Interest Areas Include:
- Biology of Aging (Geroscience)
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Other Aging Research
Callie Draine, National Center for Cannabis Research & Education
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
- Palliative Care & End-of-Life Care
- Other Aging Research
Robert Welch, National Center for Cannabis Research and Education
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
- Palliative Care & End-of-Life Care
Pratim Guha Niyogi, Data Science
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
Elizabeth Burklow, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Interest Areas Include:
- Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Training & Workforce Development
Vanessa Parks, Center for Population Studies
Interest Areas Include:
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Training & Workforce Development
Justin J Sherman, Department of Pharmacy Practice
Interest Areas Include:
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
Srinivas S Pulugurtha, Civil Engineering
Interest Areas Include:
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
Ana Carolina (Carol) Stoffel, Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
Interest Areas Include:
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Behavioral & Social Research on Aging
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Other Aging Research
Jamie Stewart, Biomolecular Sciences
Interest Areas Include:
- Biology of Aging (Geroscience)
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
Sixue Chen, Biology
Research Interest Sketch Sixue Chen UM-UMMC Aging Research
Interest Areas Include:
- Biology of Aging (Geroscience)
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Training & Workforce Development
Charles Walter, Computer and Information Science
Interest Areas Include:
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
Ryan Parsons, Sociology and Anthropology; Southern Studies
Interest Areas Include:
- Healthy Aging & Longevity
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Caregiving & Long-Term Care
- Health Disparities & Equity in Aging
- Palliative Care & End-of-Life Care
- Other Aging Research
Yi Hua, Biomedical Engineering
Interest Areas Include:
- Clinical & Translational Aging Research
- Other Aging Research
Mona H Haron, NCNPR
Interest Areas Include:
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
Chip Wade, HESRM and NCTR
Interest Areas Include:
- Prevention & Chronic Disease in Older Adults
- Cognitive Health & Brain Aging
- Mobility, Frailty & Physical Function
- Training & Workforce Development
- Other Aging Research
Panduka Nagahawatte, Institute for Data Science
Research Interest Sketch Panduka Nagahawatte Intro UM-IDS
Interest Areas Include:
- Population Aging & Epidemiology
- Health Care Systems & Implementation Science
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
Veronica Crawford, ORED
Research Interest Sketch Digital Health, Workforce Development, Technology & Aging
Interest Areas Include:
- Technology, Digital Health & Aging
- Training & Workforce Development
Chip Templeton, RISE Center at Ole Miss (Mississippi SBDC)
Closed Exploration Groups
Exploration Window: 3/17/2021 – 3/21/2022
Leaders:
- Dr. Eden Tanner, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Dr. Jason Paris, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Exploration Window: 06/16/2021 – 08/01/2022
Leaders:
- Alexander Lopez, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
- Alice Steimle, Instructional Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Director for the Center for and Science Education
Exploration Window: 06/16/2021 – 08/01/2022
Leaders:
- Sujith Ramachandran, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Assistant Director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management
- John Young, Professor pf Psychology
- John Bentley, Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management
- Hannah Allen, Assistant Professor of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management
- Erin Cromeans, W Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing, Assistant Director for Wellness Education
- Sandra Bentley, Director of the Student Pharmacy and Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmacy Practice
Exploration Window: 07/26/2021 – 07/25/2022
Leaders:
- Eden Tanner, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Thomas Werfel, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Joint Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Sciences
- Adam Smith, Chair and Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Exploration Window: 10/20/2021 – 10/20/2022
Leaders:
- Jaime Harker, Director of the Isom Center and Professor of English
- Amy McDowell, Associate Professor of Sociology
- Eva Payne, Assistant Professor of History
Exploration Window: 01/10/2022 – 09/01/2022
Leaders:
- Angela Rutherford, Professor of Teacher Education, Director of the Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction
- Joey Rutherford, Assistant Director of the Center for Research Evaluation
Exploration Window: 02/14/2022 – 01/15/2023
Leaders:
- Michael Barnett, Associate Professor of Art & Art History
- Yixin Chen, Professor of Computer & Information Science
Exploration Window: 4/9/2021 – 5/31/2022, extended to 6/30/2024
Leaders:
- Dr. JT Thomas, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
- Dr. Simone Delerme, Associate Professor of Anthropology and McMullan Associate Professor of Southern Studies
Exploration Window: 08/19/2022 – 08/18/2023
Leaders:
- Brenda Prager, Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Education, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
- Charles (Clay) Dibrell, Chair of Entrepreneurial Excellence, Professor of Management
- Alice Steimle, Director for the Center of Mathematics and Science Education, Instructional Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
- Sarah Mason, Director of the Center for Research Evaluation, Instructional Assistant Professor of Higher Education
- Amy Wells Dolan, Associate Dean and Professor of Higher Education
- Scott Kilpatrick, Executive Director of the Center for Manufacturing Excellence
- Ahmed Al-Ostaz, Director of Graphene Research and Innovation and Professor of Civil Engineering
- Kristen Swain, Associate Professor of Journalism
Exploration Window: 11/30/2022 – 11/29/2023
Leaders:
- Seena Haines, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Director of Professional Wellbeing and Belonging
- Lynn Wilkins, Work-Life Resources Program Manager
- Stuart Haines, Director of the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
- Nicholas McAfee, Asst. Professor of Psychiatry, Univ of MS Medical Center
- Joshua Mann, Chair, SOM-Preventive Medicine, Univ of MS Medical Center
Exploration Window: 05/10/2023 – 05/09/2024, extended to 8/31/2025
Leaders:
- Stephanie Miller, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Experimental Graduate Program
- John Bentley, Professor of Pharmacy Administration and Director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management
- Lucas Gago Galvagno, Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Angel Elgier, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Questions? We can help.
Mary Lea McMillan
- Research Developer II
Kendra Sampey
- Research Administration Advisor