News Room | Office of Research and Creative Activity

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News RoomNews from the Office of Research and Creative Activity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha

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News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1774933200000UNO’s annual research celebration filled campus with ideas worth experiencing. View the graduate and graduate award winners.//news/2026/03/img/20260327_rcaf_055-web1.jpg

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1200800Student gestures toward framed artwork displayed on a gallery wall at UNO’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair. Rachel Cloeter presents an art exhibit at the Student Research and Creative Activity Fair on Friday, March 27, 2026. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2026/03/img/20260327_rcaf_023-web.jpg

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1200800Student in a white shirt plays a grand piano in front of an audience seated in a classroom at UNO’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair. Marcus Kroeber performs at the Student Research and Creative Activity Fair on Friday, March 27, 2026. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2026/03/img/20260327_rcaf_034-web.jpg

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1200800Student presenter gestures toward charts and data on a research poster while explaining findings to an attendee at UNO’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair. Dustin Reilly presents during the poster session of the Student Research and Creative Activity Fair on Friday, March 27, 2026. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2026/03/img/20260327_rcaf_021-web.jpg

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1200800Panel of five speakers seated at the front of a lecture hall, with one woman speaking into a microphone while audience members listen during UNO’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair. From left: Gurpreet Dhillon, Ph.D., Dean of UNO’s College of Business Administration; Alex Kolodkin, Ph.D., Sara Myers, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity; Joann B. Sweasy, Ph.D., Director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center; and Lance C. Pérez, UNL College of Engineering. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications

➡️ What’s new: The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) hosted a two-day celebration of student research and creative activity March 26–27, featuring a keynote speaker, expert panel, and a full day of student-led presentations and performances.

🔎 Zoom in:

March 26: Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist Alex Kolodkin, Ph.D., kicked off the event with a lecture on neural circuit assembly in the Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom.
March 27: The Weber Fine Arts Building/CEC spaces/Strauss Performing Arts Center transformed into a hub of discovery, with undergraduate and graduate students presenting research through posters, presentations, performances, and interactive exhibits.
March 27: A keynote and panel discussion brought together leaders in business, engineering, and cancer research to explore the impact of interdisciplinary collaboration.

💡 Why it matters: Pragmatic Research and Discovery is one of four pillars UNO’s strategic plan.

Investigators secured more than $40 million in external funding for research in FY 2024-2025, including more than $600,000 in student awards.
Ten current and emeritus UNO faculty members are among the top two percent of cited scholars in the world, according to a ranking of 100,000 researchers from Stanford University and Elsevier.

Award Recipients

Undergraduate Performance

Best: Nicole Stander, “Head Sky, Me Much Snout”
Outstanding: Salvador Becerra “Comprehensive Musical Experience exhibiting synthesis of pedagogical ideas and real-world musical practices on keyboards”
Meritorious: Lexi Axiotes, “Religion and Other Catastrophes: Stories Performance”
Honorable Mention: Marcus Kriener, “FUSE Student Creative Activity - Senior Piano Recital for May 2026”

Undergraduate Exhibit or Demonstration

Best: Ana P. Lopez-Zurita, “Hasta la Piel Collection (Down to My Skin Collection)”
Outstanding: Rachel Cloeter, “Deconstruction: Saint John's Chapel
Meritorious: Simon Miller, “Charlie Vessel”
Honorable Mention: Marie-Claire Broohm, “I'll change the name later”

Undergraduate Poster Presentation

Best: Claire Wing and Jayden Smith, “Cytotoxic Effects of Ethanol on the OVCAR-8 Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Line”
Outstanding: Chris Schinzel, “Examining Long Term Effects of Antibiotic Administration in Callithrix jacchus”
Meritorious: Clara Wallace, "Do feeding patterns explain greater energy use observed in cold-adapted prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus) populations?’
Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Parker, “Effects of dietary protein during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development on stress expression and cortisol after exposure to chronic stress during adulthood”

Graduate Poster Presentation

Best: Brandon Doehne, “The Role Of Physiological Metrics in Baseball Pitching Performance”
Outstanding: Chukwuma Adinchezor, “Gastrointestinal Transit Time in Captive Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): Associations with Stool Consistency and Gut Microbiome Structure”
Meritorious: Nagesh Palukuru, “Analyzing Trends and District-Level Disparities in Chronic Absenteeism in Douglas County, Nebraska (2019–2020 to 2024–2025)”
Honorable Mention: Brian Schlattman, “Direction-specific wobble-board instability as a rehabilitation strategy to restore orthogonal postural geometry in older adults”

Undergraduate Oral Presentation

Best: Wells Johnson, “IRE1 and Filamentation in C. albicans”
Outstanding: Dominic Koperski, “Investigation of Antimicrobial PA-12 in Selective Laser Sintered Prosthetic Sockets”
Meritorious: Victor Rivero, “Validation of a human-specific, multiplex platform for detecting common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) inflammatory analytes”
Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Oswald, “The Impact of Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysregulation, and Lifestyle Adaptation on Informal Caregivers: A Literature Review”

Graduate Oral Presentation

Best: Danae Greig, “Effects of environmental pollutant exposure on mitochondrial function”
Outstanding: Jeffrey Zimmerly, “Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs Against the Pathogenic amoeba Naegleria fowleri”
Meritorious: Josephine Parker, “Creative Arts Impact on Identity Formation within Nebraska Communities”
Honorable Mention: Emilie Whitehouse, “Support for Survivors of Sexual Misconduct: Comparing Accommodations and Student Perceptions Across Institutions of Higher Education”

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18th Student Research and Creative Activity Fair Showcases Innovation Across UNO

UNO’s annual research celebration filled campus with ideas worth experiencing. View the graduate and graduate award winners.

Sam PeshekUNO’s annual research celebration filled campus with ideas worth experiencing. View the graduate and graduate award winners.

Mar 31, 2026 12:00 AM

News ReleaseYesNoYesYes1770055200000As drones become essential to agriculture and public safety, a UNO team is developing AI-powered defenses against cyberattacks that could send them off course./news/2026/20241004_drones_17-web.jpg

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1200800University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Aviation Institute Sawyer Buller alum and his Husker Drone Spraying Services business partner Alex Smith fly a drone near Ashland, Nebraska. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and CommunicationsA drone hovers above a wide grassy field while two people stand below on a narrow path, looking up at it under a clear sky.///

Drones are transforming how crops are monitored, bridges are inspected, and emergencies are managed.

As their responsibilities grow, a University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) College of Information Science and Technology (IS&T) team is working to protect them from cyberattacks.

➡️ What’s new: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded IS&T Assistant Professor Peng Jiang, Ph.D., a two-year grant to develop AI-driven methods that protect drones from cyberattacks such as GPS spoofing, a growing threat that can cause unmanned aerial vehicles – also known as UAVs or drones – to lose direction or crash.

💡 Why it matters: Drones are quickly becoming essential tools in agriculture, emergency response, and monitoring ecosystems and infrastructure. UNO’s research aims to make UAVs safer and more trustworthy.

📊 By the numbers: According to a 2023 FAA Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Survey report:

More than 42 million drone flights occur annually in the U.S.
Nebraskans recorded an estimated 1.1 million non-recreational drone flights in 2023, reflecting the widespread use of drones of drones for public and commercial use.
Emergency response agencies conducted nearly 59,000 drone missions nationwide in one year.
About one-third of professional drone operators fly across state lines.

🔎 Zoom in: Jiang’s project, MUSE: Multi-Modal Security Enhancement for Cyber-Resilient UAV Operation, focuses on creating a GPS-independent navigation system for drones.

Instead of relying on a single signal that can be spoofed, the system fuses data from multiple sensors — such as cameras, LiDAR, and motion sensors — allowing drones to navigate securely even in adversarial conditions.
The research will be tested using UNO’s new Multi-Modal AI-enabled UAV Research (MM-AIR) testbed, a platform designed for advanced experimentation in drone security and autonomy.
The project also provides hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students across cybersecurity, computer science, aviation, and artificial intelligence.

🎤 What they’re saying:

Peng Jiang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor: Drones are being adopted at an incredible pace across industries, and that rapid growth brings real urgency. As UAVs become more embedded in everyday operations, especially in Nebraska agriculture, protecting them from cyberattacks like GPS spoofing is essential. What excites me most about this work is that our research has the potential to directly improve safety, reliability, and trust in the drone systems Nebraskans increasingly depend on.”
Robin Gandhi, Ph.D., UNO IS&T Associate Dean for Research, Technology, and Facilities: “This project is a strong example of how UNO is tackling tomorrow’s challenges by building solutions today. By bringing together cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and drone aviation, this research reflects where technology and workforce demand are heading. Just as important, undergraduate and graduate students are deeply involved, gaining meaningful, hands-on experience in skills that will be in high demand as autonomous systems and cyber-physical security continue to converge.”

⚡ What’s next: The project began Oct. 1, 2025, with deployment of the MM-AIR testbed and initial student training planned for Spring 2026. Findings will be shared with UNO and Nebraska STEM outreach programs in Summer 2026.

📌 Award info:

Funding: $175,000
Funder: National Science Foundation, Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) Program
Award number: 2451471
Project duration: 2025–2027

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Drones Are Everywhere. Hackers Are, Too. UNO is Working to Keep Nebraska’s UAVs Safe

As drones become essential to agriculture and public safety, a UNO team is developing AI-powered defenses against cyberattacks that could send them off course.

Sam PeshekAs drones become essential to agriculture and public safety, a University of Nebraska at Omaha team is developing AI-powered defenses against cyberattacks that could send them off course.

Feb 2, 2026 12:00 PM

News ReleaseYesNoYesYes1772517600000The program will integrate revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners./news/2026/20250812_ash_002-web.jpg

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1200800The Arts and Sciences Hall at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications Exterior shot of the Arts and Sciences building on UNO campus.///

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has been awarded a Mellon Foundation grant to launch Humanities in Action: The Maverick Internship Program, a cross-college initiative designed to expand access to paid, credit-bearing internship opportunities for humanities majors.

With the grant, UNO’s College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media will design, implement, and scale a coordinated internship program that allows humanities students to apply classroom learning in professional, civic, and public-sector contexts. The program will integrate career preparation directly into the curriculum through new and revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners.

“UNO’s humanities programs prepare students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage ethically, skills that are essential and increasingly important in professional life,” said Dr. Melanie Bloom, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and principal investigator for the project. Dr. Tanushree Ghosh, co-principal investigator and Chair of the Department of English, adds “We hope that these humanities internships show students how the skills honed in the humanities classroom translate directly into real-world problem solving, professional collaboration, and meaningful impact beyond the university.”

Launching in spring 2026, Humanities in Action will build partnerships with organizations such as the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands and the Nebraska Business Development Center to develop a wide range of internship placements. “The Humanities in Action grant is an excellent articulation of UNO’s urban, metropolitan mission,” said Dr. Julie Dierberger, co-principal investigator and Paul Sather Distinguished Director of the Office of Engagement. “We know this will expand learning, increase partner capacity, and strengthen students’ connection to Omaha.”

Beyond the five-year grant period, Humanities in Action will become a permanent part of UNO’s academic infrastructure. The program will maintain at least 40 paid internships annually, supported through university investment, donor partnerships, and external funding.

“The Mellon Foundation’s support recognizes the power of the humanities to connect learning with action,” said Bloom. “Through this program, our students will graduate not only with valuable humanities skills but also with experience, confidence, and a sense of civic purpose.”

“This transformative grant will empower our students to turn their passion for the humanities into purpose-driven careers,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, “By creating direct pathways from the classroom to the community, Humanities in Action will position our students for success in a world that increasingly values analytical, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving skills. I am deeply grateful to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Engagement for their bold leadership and commitment to the lifelong success of our students.”

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UNO to Launch Humanities Internship Initiative

The program will integrate revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners.

Sam PeshekThe program will integrate revised internship courses, professional development workshops, and public events connecting students with community partners.

Mar 3, 2026 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1778734800000The most common interaction between police and community members is traffic stops./news/2026/shutterstock_2232056639-web.jpg

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1200800A car gets pulled over. (Shutterstock) A car’s side mirror reflects a police vehicle with flashing red and blue lights following closely behind on a rural road at sunset ///

In Nebraska, like in most communities, the most common interaction between community members and law enforcement is through traffic stops. And the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is leading a state-wide, multi-year research effort to make those traffic stops safer and fairer for all.

UNO researchers are working with law enforcement agencies to better understand the patterns behind them and how traffic stop data is collected and reported.

➡️ What’s new: UNO’s Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR), along with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ), are partnering with the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office on a research initiative, funded by NDOT to support fair and safe traffic stops in Nebraska.

💡Why it matters: Through analyzing data, Nebraska police agencies can better understand traffic enforcement and identify opportunities to strengthen and improve their policing practices as well as transparency, consistency, and public trust.

In 2024, more than 383,600 traffic stops were reported across 185 law enforcement agencies in Nebraska
In 2025, more than 445,900 traffic stops were reported across 183 law enforcement agencies in Nebraska

⏱️ Catch up quick: The project builds on the current ‘gold standard’ for analyzing traffic stop outcomes, called the Connecticut Model. The model has been implemented in several states to help agencies better understand their own traffic enforcement practices.

🔎 What’s happening: The project is currently in its second phase.

Researchers from the SCCJ Violence Intervention and Policing Research Lab (VIPR) are conducting a statewide survey of law enforcement agencies to learn how their traffic stop data is currently collected and reported
From there, the project aims to strengthen the state’s traffic stop data infrastructure, including improving data completeness, reporting consistency and analytical capacity
The project will support training opportunities on officer wellness, trauma-informed policing, and implicit bias to further strengthen traffic enforcement and safety

📈 Nebraska numbers:

2 counties had no traffic stop data reported (2025)
11 counties had incomplete traffic stop data reported (2025)
80 out of 93 counties had complete traffic stop data reported (2025)
In 2025, 92.3% of all active policing agencies reported all four quarters of traffic stop data
In 2024, 89.4% of all active policing agencies reported all four quarters of traffic stop data

🎤 What they’re saying:

Ryan Spohn, Ph.D., Director of NCJR, SCCJ: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued partnership and collaboration with NDOT, as well as with law enforcement agencies across Nebraska. This work is important, and will help build stronger relationships, increased transparency, and data-driven solutions for safer communities and people. UNO is proud to be leading this effort, and grateful to each stakeholder who is helping this project move forward.”
Justin Nix, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Sadaf Hashimi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Travis Carter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, VIPR Lab, SCCJ: “The VIPR Lab is committed to supporting research aimed at making Nebraska safer for community members and law enforcement officers. This effort focuses on practical improvements over time, and ongoing participation from community stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, and researchers reflects a shared commitment to strengthening our communities."

🌎 The big picture: This effort lead by UNO leaders and researchers is strengthening UNO’s campus, Omaha, and Nebraska through teamwork, dynamic partnerships and shared resources, all of which exemplifies the university's core value of engagement.

📌 Award Info:

Funding amount: $994,510
Funder: Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office
Award number: 1906-26-03

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UNO Researchers Leading Statewide Effort to Support Fair, Safe Traffic Stops in Nebraska

The most common interaction between police and community members is traffic stops.

Marlo LarsenThe most common interaction between police and community members is traffic stops.

May 14, 2026 12:00 AM

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News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1777914000000More than 3,000 users benefit annually from research, education, and outreach at the Glacier Creek Preserve.//news/2026/20200729_tracy_coleman_008-web.jpg

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1200800A woman writes on her clipboard while standing in a field of tall green and gold grass, with a bright blue sky with gray clouds above. Tracy Coleman, who is with UNO’s Department of Biology, conducts research on snakes at the Glacier Creek Preserve on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications) /news/2026/20251002_soil-judging_24-web.jpg

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1200800A group of students walk along a grassy trail surrounded by tall brown, yellow, and green grass with a lone tree with green leaves in the distance. The 2025 Region V Soil Judging Contest was hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Soil Judging Team on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Glacier Creek Preserve in Omaha, Nebraska. Universities from South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. When judging soil, students analyze its properties (like color, texture, and structure) in a field excavation (a pit) to determine its type, how it formed, and its best uses, such as for agriculture or construction. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications) /news/2026/20251104_environmental-biology_08-web.jpg

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1200800A group of elementary school students sit on the ground with their backs facing the camera, listening to a professor speak with a large white barn and gray silo behind him. Students in UNO professor John Hriblijan’s Environmental Biology class helped Walnut Creek Elementary School students gather seeds from plants that pollinators prefer on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Glacier Creek Preserve in Omaha Nebraska. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications)

Investments in Nebraska’s natural prairie are helping expand environmental and historical education for generations to come.

➡️ What’s New: A $1.1 million federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) has been awarded to the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Glacier Creek Preserve.

⏱️ Catch up quick: The Glacier Creek Preserve is a restored and ecologically sustainable wildlife and tallgrass prairie ecosystem managed by the College of Arts and Science that serves as a site for environmental research and education along with recreational enjoyment.

💡 Why it matters: The NSF grant will enhance and expand field research and STEM education, vital to understanding Great Plains ecosystems, biodiversity, and other environmental processes. It will also allow for improved year-round maintenance facilities for the historic grassland. More than 3,000 users benefit annually from research, education and outreach at the Glacier Creek Preserve.

🔎 Zoom in: The $1.1M grant will do two main things:

Replace the deteriorating Research Support Facility (RSF); the maintenance and repair building which houses all research equipment and land-management equipment for the 525 acres of tallgrass prairie, wetlands, creeks, and woodland habitats.
Fund a research weir; a small in-stream structure that allows for collecting data on waterflow and condition.

🎤 What they’re saying:

Thomas Bragg, Ph.D., UNO biology professor and preserve director: “The Preserve’s natural habitats are what attract so many visitors and endless research opportunities from those locally, regionally, and nationally. This funding will allow us to better maintain the land’s vital ecological resources, improve and expand education for learners of all levels, and continue to provide the community with an invaluable outdoor experience just minutes from their homes.”
Jill Blankenship, Ph.D., Department of Biology chair and associate professor: “Glacier Creek Preserve is a vital resource for our University and the Omaha Community. In addition to preserving the natural beauty of restored landscapes, it is a hub for research, allowing us to study the intersection of urban and rural environments. This funding will support the continued expansion of both our educational mission and our scientific endeavors.”

📌 Award Information:

Funding amount: $1,167,245
Funder: National Science Foundation
Award Number: NSF 2500041

⚡️ What’s next: You can learn more about the Glacier Creek Preserve by visiting the UNO Glacier Creek Preserve website, explore volunteer opportunities, or view public access hours to experience its beauty firsthand.

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UNO Receives Federal Grant to Maintain Local Nature Preserve, Enhance Research and Education

More than 3,000 users benefit annually from research, education, and outreach at the Glacier Creek Preserve.

Marlo LarsenMore than 3,000 users benefit annually from research, education, and outreach at the Glacier Creek Preserve.

May 4, 2026 12:00 PM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1778475600000A new multi-city study finds theft and assault spike near stadiums on game day—but not at the same time. Ever noticed how a big game can shift the energy of a city? New research from the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows it can also shift local crime patterns./news/2026/05/dr-carter-game-day-crime.png

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1200800Dr. Carter posed in front of a baseball field and a football field.///

➡️ What’s new:
A newly published study, “Prime Time for Crime? A Multi-City Analysis of Sporting Events, Sports Venues, and Crime,” by Travis M. Carter, Ph.D., Richard K. Moule, Jr., Ph.D., and Jedidiah Knode, examines how major sporting events shape crime in surrounding areas.

Led by Carter, assistant professor in UNO’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the multi-city analysis finds that larceny and assault increase within one kilometer of MLB and NFL stadiums during home games. Drawing on data from 21 U.S. cities between 2015 and 2023, the research offers a detailed look at how game-day crowds influence crime patterns near stadiums.

💡 Why it matters:
Major sporting events draw tens of thousands of fans—along with opportunities for crime. Understanding when and where crime occurs can help cities, law enforcement, and venue operators better plan for safety, staffing, and prevention strategies.

This research highlights a broader reality: large gatherings can amplify risks tied to crowd size, alcohol consumption, and heightened emotions.

🔎 Zoom in:
Not all crime follows the same playbook.

Larceny (theft) spikes before and after games, as crowds gather and disperse.
Assault is more likely during and after games, when alcohol consumption and emotional intensity peak.

The takeaway: different crimes follow different timelines, driven by distinct “opportunity structures.”

📈 By the numbers:

21 U.S. cities analyzed
MLB and NFL games included
2015–2023 data window
1-kilometer radius around stadiums studied

🎤 What they’re saying:
Travis Carter, Ph.D., UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice:
“Sporting events create predictable shifts in routine activity. When large crowds gather, opportunities for both property crime and interpersonal violence increase—but not in the same way or at the same time.”

🌎 The big picture:
This study reflects UNO’s commitment to pragmatic research that improves communities. By uncovering real-world crime patterns, UNO researchers are helping cities develop smarter, data-driven public safety strategies—advancing the university’s mission to transform lives through impactful discovery.

⚡ What’s next:
See the data for yourself—explore what was collected around the stadiums and what it shows.

Carter’s work features an interactive data storytelling tool that maps crime patterns near stadiums across 21 cities—before, during, and after game day. The findings point to a clear trend: crime near stadiums isn’t random. It increases on home game days, driven by large crowds and shifting activity patterns, with the greatest impact on nearby neighborhoods.

For cities and venues, that insight matters. Stadiums often rely on public funding—and with measurable increases in public safety demands, the data adds a new layer to how communities evaluate costs, policing strategies, and event planning.

👉 Explore the interactive data story:
“The Hidden Cost of Hosting” breaks down these patterns in a way that’s visual, accessible, and easy to navigate.

Dive into the data: https://www.viprlab.org/visualizations/hidden-cost-of-hosting

Whether you’re a fan, policymaker, or community member, the tool puts the data at your fingertips.

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[Article Heading]

Game Day’s Hidden Cost: UNO Study Tracks Crime Shifts Around Stadiums

A new study finds a connection between game days and crime.

Amber EvensonA new multi-city study finds theft and assault spike near stadiums on game day—but not at the same time.

May 11, 2026 12:00 AM

News ReleaseYesNoYesYes1778562000000The UNO NoyceSTEM Program marks the fourth Noyce grant program at the university in the last 10 years. /news/2026/05/img/2019_show_045-web.jpg

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1200800Noyce Scholar Dario Gudino, right, holds tight to a high-altitude balloon as it fills with hydrogen with help from Girls Inc. students during the Eureka! STEM Camp at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications A UNO student holds a large white balloon, while three young students watch and offer support with blue skies in the background. ///

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is taking steps to tackle an increasingly important issue; the lack of qualified STEM educators at the elementary and secondary levels.

➡️ What’s New: UNO has been awarded a grant to launch the UNO NoyceSTEM Program. The program supports prospective teachers in fields like biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, math, and physics through scholarships, mentoring, targeted support, and extensive fieldwork in local high-need schools and districts, including Omaha Public Schools.

⏱️ Catch up quick: The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is part of the National Science Foundation and seeks to encourage talented STEM students and professionals to consider teaching roles in K-12 education to prepare the next generation of STEM research, students, and professionals.

💡Why it matters: STEM educators in the K-12 setting have been declining for years. Programs like UNO NoyceSTEM provide the opportunity for STEM students to turn their passion for discovery into mentorship, strengthening the next generation of learners in Omaha.

The program provides prospective teachers with the high-quality education and support they need to become exceptional, long-term educators who make a lasting impact while simultaneously strengthening the local workforce and closing educational gaps.

In Nebraska, math and science have faced educator shortages for the last 15 years, according to the state’s Department of Education
A recent study shows that only 16% of U.S. high school students are “STEM ready,” and just 3.2% enter the STEM workforce

🔎 Zoom in: The UNO NoyceSTEM Program marks the fourth Noyce grant program at the university in the last 10 years, and is followed by the UNO NoyceSCIENCE Track 1 program, and two UNO NoyceMATH projects.

Former UNO Noyce scholars have become leaders in their districts and are leading locally and nationally in their fields
Noyce scholars have made up 32.5% of UNO secondary science teaching graduates over the past five years
Noyce scholars have made up 64% of secondary math teaching graduates over the past 10 years

Data from the recent NoyceMATH programs show significant impacts and the achievement of increasing the number and quality of math educators in the area.

Provided 81 individual Noyce internships (across UNO and MCC) and 31 Noyce Scholars/stipend awardees supported by the program at UNO.
Research by Noyce scholars & leaders led to 4 papers published in peer-reviewed academic journals
The phase 2 NoyceMATH program produced 14 program graduates who are now teaching in high-need area schools with a 100% retention rate as of 2025
76% of all graduates/certified teachers from both phases of the NoyceMATH program from 2014-2025 have been retained as secondary math teachers

🙌 Success stories: Scholars from UNO’s NoyceMATH programs share their own experiences:

“I think the best part of this semester was getting the chance to work in classrooms. It allowed me to gain more experience in the classroom and gain confidence being in the classroom,” says one student on becoming a teacher.
“Many of those [Noyce] activities expose you to varying levels of students and you quickly learn how to interact with them as their teacher,” says one scholar on pedagogy and growth within the NoyceMATH program.
“The support of the Noyce team has helped me grow not only as a math teacher, but as a leader in my school,” adds another student on mentorship and community in the program.
“The [learning assistant] experiences have been very beneficial in reinforcing my skills as an educator and as a math major,” another student says about the program’s professional development and outreach.

🎤 What they’re saying:

Deanna Johansen, STEM TRAIL Center Project Coordinator and Noyce Project Manager: “UNO’s NoyceSTEM Program is a natural next step for the university following several other successful Noyce grant partnerships, each of which have produced dedicated and celebrated K-12 educators in communities, districts and schools that need them most. UNO is proud to connect and provide our students with the resources they need to move confidently into the workforce and build stronger local STEM communities starting with our younger generations.”
Kelly Gomez Johnson, Ed.D., Associate Professor of STEM Education: “The NoyceSTEM Program is truly about education for the future, providing UNO students with the tools, support, and community they need to continue their passion in STEM while inspiring and educating future STEM leaders. We are grateful and proud that UNO continues to be federally funded for these STEM education programs that invest in our amazing students and hence, future STEM talent in Nebraska.”

🧑‍🎓Who qualifies? UNO undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field, and STEM professionals who hold a degree in a Noyce-eligible STEM field

🌎 The big picture: Collaboration with the Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program further exemplifies UNO’s commitment to educating all learners, providing real-life experiences that prepare students for today’s challenges, and developing the workforce to build a better and stronger community for all.

⚡️What’s next: The second round of applications for the UNO NoyceSTEM Program opens in Spring of 2026, with new scholars beginning the program in the fall. Interested students can view Noyce scholarship information, eligibility requirements and the application link on the STEM TRAIL Center website.

📌 Grant info:

Funding source: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Funding amount: $749,979
Award number: #2448147

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site://www/news/2026/05/uno-receives-grant-aimed-at-preparing-the-next-generation-of-stem-educatorswwwuno-receives-grant-aimed-at-preparing-the-next-generation-of-stem-educators

UNO Receives Grant Aimed at Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Educators

The UNO NoyceSTEM Program marks the fourth Noyce grant program at the university in the last 10 years.

Marlo LarsenThe UNO NoyceSTEM Program marks the fourth Noyce grant program at the university in the last 10 years.

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