Join the Institute for Policy & Social Research for doctoral research fellow presentations

LAWRENCE — The Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas will showcase the research efforts of the 2023-2024 IPSR Doctoral Research Fellows this week at a public reception.

The interdisciplinary cohort of scholars will each give a five-minute overview of their research, followed by a five-minute period for audience members to ask questions. The event will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 5 at the Burge Union (Forum C). Registration is requested by email.

This year’s program will include:

• “Local Transformative Capacity and Policy Innovation,” by Mohsen Fatemi, public affairs & administration; adviser: Rachel Krause, professor of public affairs & administration.
• “Theorizing Sanctions in Networked Counterpublics. A Study of #StopAsianHate,” by Tatsuya Suzuki, communication studies; adviser: Alcides Velasquez, assistant professor of communication studies.
• “Municipal Tax Sale: Race, Profit, and Urban Renewal,” by Noelle Broughton, public affairs & administration; adviser: Dorothy Daley, professor of public affairs & administration.
• “How Do Children Self-locate Themselves in the Social Hierarchy? Educationally Homogamous Parents, Working Mothers, and Children’s Subjective Social Status,” by Heeyoun Shin, sociology; adviser: ChangHwan Kim, professor of sociology.
• “The Effects of Parental Migration on the Well-Being of Children Left Behind in Zimbabwe,” by Christabel Tsoto, geography & atmospheric science; adviser: Jay T. Johnson, University Distinguished Professor, geography & atmospheric science.
• “Perpetuating Neoliberal Pathologies: What Teacher Candidates Believe Students with Disabilities Should Learn,” by Marie Wagner, special education; advisers: Wayne Sailor, senior scientist, special education, and Elizabeth Kozleski, adjunct, special education.
• “Smart Home’s Meaning in Later Life: How Older Adults Make Meaning of Smart Home Technology in their Lives,” by Derek Wilson, sociology; advisers: Brian Donovan, professor of sociology, and Sarah Jen, assistant professor of social welfare.
• “Investigating Reinforcing Spirals in Incidental Exposure to Political News and News Engagement on Social Media Applications,” by Sreerupa Sanyal, communication studies; adviser: Ashley Muddiman, associate professor of communication studies.
• “Refining Hazard Mitigation Planning: Assessing Government Outsourcing’s Influence on Local Plan Quality," by Yiwen Wu, public affairs & administration; adviser: Ward Lyles, associate professor of public affairs & administration.
• “COVID-19 Transmission Paths and Treatment-Seeking Behavior among Slum Residents in Kolkata, India,” by Senjuti Mallik, geography & atmospheric science; adviser: Barney Warf, professor of geography & atmospheric science.
• “Contemporary Fathering in Middle America,” by Jennifer Babitzke, sociology; adviser: Tracey LaPierre, associate professor of sociology and gerontology.

Throughout the academic year, the fellows meet to share research and develop professional skills. Students interested in participating in the program in future years are encouraged to attend and talk with the graduating fellows program cohort. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year begin with a letter of nomination due April 26. To submit a letter of nomination, please complete this online survey. 

The IPSR Doctoral Research Fellows program is led by Jay T. Johnson, University Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Indigenous Science, Research & Technology.