Skip to main content
University of Nebraska at Omaha logo University of Nebraska at Omaha
REQUEST INFO VISIT APPLY

MY UNO DIRECTORY
University of Nebraska at Omaha logo
Office of Research and Creative Activity
REQUEST INFO VISIT APPLY
MY UNO DIRECTORY
  • About
    Leadership
    • Mission & Values
    • Message from AVC
    • Leadership Team
    • Advisory Committee
    Directory
    • Staff
    • Org Chart
    Resources
    • ORCA Annual Report
    • NURamp
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Core Facilities
  • Students: Get Started
    Welcome
    • A Message From AVC Myers to Students
    • FAQs and Contact Information
    Internal Funding
    • Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA)
    • Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE)
    • Student Conference Travel Fund (SCTF)
    External Funding
    • Internships
    • Grant Databases
    Resources
    • Student Research and Creative Activity Fair
    • Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships
  • Develop Backback to Main menu
    • Roadmap to Success
    • External Funding Opportunities
    • Internal Opportunities
    • Grant Databases
    • Limited Submissions
    • Faculty Awards and Recognitions
    • Development Resources
  • Comply Backback to Main menu
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Research Integrity
    • Research Data
    • Export Control
    • Resources
  • Engage
    Communications
    • Announcements and Events
    • Events Calendar
    • ORCA News
    • Subscribe to the ORCA Newsletter
    Partnerships
    • Research and Creative Activity Partners
    Supporting Research
    • Commitment to RCA
    • NU Foundation
    • Share Your Success
  • Office of Sponsored Programs

Office of Research and Creative Activity News

Friday, April 24, 2026
  1. UNO
  2. Office of Research and Creative Activity
  3. ORCA News
indextrue177703882045984749620News RoomNews from the Office of Research and Creative Activity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha1462078800000News Room/news/indexOffice of Research and Creative Activitysite://Office of Research and Creative Activity/news/indexcnebel17194374713624556204917770528213341761714000000
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1774933200000UNO’s annual research celebration filled campus with ideas worth experiencing. View the graduate and graduate award winners.//news/2026/20260327_rcaf_055-web1.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20260327_rcaf_055-web1.jpgwww20260327_rcaf_055-web1.jpg492091200800Student 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/2026/20260327_rcaf_023-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20260327_rcaf_023-web.jpgwww20260327_rcaf_023-web.jpg739091200800Student 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/2026/20260327_rcaf_034-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20260327_rcaf_034-web.jpgwww20260327_rcaf_034-web.jpg589631200800Student 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/2026/20260327_rcaf_021-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20260327_rcaf_021-web.jpgwww20260327_rcaf_021-web.jpg731031200800Panel 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 CommunicationsYouTube

➡️ 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”
////Yes/news/2026/03/18th-student-research-and-creative-activity-fair-showcases-innovation-across-unodepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communicationsphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryResearchAcademic Affairslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2026/03/18th-student-research-and-creative-activity-fair-showcases-innovation-across-unowww18th-student-research-and-creative-activity-fair-showcases-innovation-across-uno18th Student Research and Creative Activity Fair Showcases Innovation Across UNO18th Student Research and Creative Activity Fair Showcases Innovation Across UNOUNO’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.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20241004_drones_17-web.jpgwww20241004_drones_17-web.jpg750311200800University 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.///YouTube

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 

////Yes/news/2026/02/drones-are-everywhere-hackers-are-too-uno-is-working-to-keep-nebraskas-uavs-safedepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communicationsphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Information Science and Technologylocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2026/02/drones-are-everywhere-hackers-are-too-uno-is-working-to-keep-nebraskas-uavs-safewwwdrones-are-everywhere-hackers-are-too-uno-is-working-to-keep-nebraskas-uavs-safeDrones Are Everywhere. Hackers Are, Too. UNO is Working to Keep Nebraska’s UAVs SafeDrones Are Everywhere. Hackers Are, Too. UNO is Working to Keep Nebraska’s UAVs SafeAs 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.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20250812_ash_002-web.jpgwww20250812_ash_002-web.jpg1512001200800The 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.///YouTube

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.”

////Yes/news/2026/03/uno-to-launch-humanities-internship-initiativedepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communicationsphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2026/03/uno-to-launch-humanities-internship-initiativewwwuno-to-launch-humanities-internship-initiativeUNO to Launch Humanities Internship InitiativeUNO to Launch Humanities Internship InitiativeThe 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 ReleaseNoNoYesYes1776229200000Workforce readiness increasingly depends on knowing how to collaborate with AI, not just extract answers from it.//news/2026/shutterstock_26795916971.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/shutterstock_26795916971.jpgwwwshutterstock_26795916971.jpg1374941200800closeup of a person typing on a computerStudent working on a laptop. Photo: Shutterstock /news/2026/20250917_future-of-work_13-2.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20250917_future-of-work_13-2.jpgwww20250917_future-of-work_13-2.jpg66238312001159Woman in a blue sleeveless outfit speaks into a handheld microphone while seated, turned slightly to the side, addressing an audience during a panel discussion.Erin Bass, Ph.D., CBA Management Professor and Center for Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development Executive Director. Photo: UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2026/20230421_futureofwork_21-2.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20230421_futureofwork_21-2.jpgwww20230421_futureofwork_21-2.jpg5668081200800Man in a blue suit and light-colored tie speaks into a microphone while gesturing with his hand, seated on stageJoel Elson, Ph.D., IS&T Assistant Professor and NCITE Director of Information Science & Technology Research. UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2026/20210324_erin_pleggenkuhle-miles_01-1.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2026/20210324_erin_pleggenkuhle-miles_01-1.jpgwww20210324_erin_pleggenkuhle-miles_01-1.jpg5381201200800Woman in a gray blazer and white top smiles at the camera in a softly lit indoor hallway setting.Erin G. Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Ph.D., CBA Management Professor. UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications YouTube

As generative AI tools rapidly reshape the workplace, universities are exploring how to prepare students to collaborate effectively with these technologies. 

A new study from researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) examines how business students actually use generative AI during strategic decision-making tasks, and what those patterns reveal about preparing the future workforce.  

➡️ What’s new: Researchers from UNO’s College of Business Administration (CBA) and College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T) collaborated on the project, combining expertise in strategy, workforce development, and human-AI interaction. The team analyzed how undergraduate business strategy students used generative AI during a business ideation exercise designed to simulate real-world strategic decision-making.  

  • Their findings, presented at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-59), revealed an important insight: while students demonstrated strong strategic thinking, they often used AI tools in limited ways. This finding suggests that students may be capable of strategic reasoning but have not yet learned how to collaborate with AI in ways that fully support that thinking. 
  • While students demonstrated higher-order thinking, most positioned AI in relatively simple roles, such as generating ideas, rather than using it as a strategic collaborator. The research identified several distinct ways students used AI, ranging from simple idea generation to more advanced forms of collaborative problem-solving. 

💡Why it matters: As AI becomes embedded in modern business practice, workforce readiness increasingly depends on knowing how to collaborate with AI, not just extract answers from it. 

🔎 Zoom in: The study was conducted across three sections of an undergraduate capstone business strategy course. Students were asked to identify an unmet need and develop a business idea using a customized version of ChatGPT. Researchers analyzed 167 student prompts across 24 chatbot sessions using a dual-framework approach: 

  • The AI-ICE model, which measures cognitive engagement (ideas, connections, extensions). 
  • An inductively developed functional typology, identifying how students positioned AI during interaction. 
  • Using these data, the research team developed a functional typology of AI collaborative roles, describing how students position AI tools in their thinking process—from content generator to thinking partner. 

📊 By the numbers: The typology captures how students position AI as a collaborator, from more passive roles (i.e., Content Generator, Task Executor) to more active roles (i.e., Thinking Partner, Role-Shifting). How students positioned AI: 

  • 54% as a Content Generator 
  • 10% as a Task Executor 
  • 16% as an Advisor 
  • 19% as a Thinking Partner 
  • 1% engaged in Role-Shifting, asking AI to simulate stakeholder perspectives 

🎤 What they’re saying:  

  • Erin Bass, Ph.D., CBA Management Professor and Center for Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development Executive Director: “This research tells us that preparing students for an AI-enabled workforce isn’t about restricting these tools but teaching strategic collaboration with them. This research helps us understand not just whether students use AI, but how they collaborate with it. That insight is critical for designing education that prepares graduates for AI-enabled workplaces.” 
  • Joel Elson, Ph.D., IS&T Assistant Professor and NCITE Director of Information Science & Technology Research: “Many students initially approach generative AI with a search-engine mindset: type a question, accept the answer, and move on. Shifting that perspective requires modeling and practice. Students need to see what iterative dialogue looks like: how to challenge AI outputs, ask follow-up questions, request alternative viewpoints, and treat the tool as a collaborator rather than a vending machine for answers. That shift doesn’t happen automatically. It has to be taught.” 
  • Erin G. Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Ph.D., CBA Management Professor: “There is a tremendous amount of untapped potential in these tools. Generative AI can help students and budding entrepreneurs pressure-test assumptions, simulate competitive responses, explore trade-offs, and refine strategic positioning in ways that mirror real-world decision-making. When used intentionally, it becomes a thought partner that expands creativity and deepens analysis.”

⚡️What’s next: The research team hopes the framework will help universities design learning experiences that prepare students to collaborate effectively with AI in professional settings. 

////Yes/news/2026/03/uno-study-reveals-how-students-collaborate-with-ai-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-workforcedepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communicationsphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Business Administrationlocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2026/03/uno-study-reveals-how-students-collaborate-with-ai-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-workforcewwwuno-study-reveals-how-students-collaborate-with-ai-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-workforceStandard Page - wwwUNO Study Reveals How Students Collaborate with AI and What It Means for the Future WorkforceWorkforce readiness increasingly depends on knowing how to collaborate with AI, not just extract answers from it.Sam PeshekWorkforce readiness increasingly depends on knowing how to collaborate with AI, not just extract answers from it.Apr 15, 2026 12:00 AM
News
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761627600000A five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania./news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_603582512.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_603582512.jpgwwwshutterstock_603582512.jpg1490891200800Exotic freshwater fish in an aquarium. Photo: Shutterstock. Exotic freshwater fish in an aquarium. ///YouTube

🧠 What’s new: A research team led by Central Michigan University, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded a $1.8 million Collaborative Research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate how aggression and competition influence the evolution of species. 

  • The project, co-led by Peter Dijkstra, Ph.D. (Central Michigan University), Hans Hofmann, Ph.D. (University of Texas at Austin), and Ryan Wong, Ph.D. (UNO), will examine the neurobiological and genetic mechanisms that drive aggression biases—when individuals direct aggression toward others that resemble themselves. 
  • By studying two species of social cichlid fish native to Lake Victoria, researchers aim to understand how these behavioral and physiological processes contribute to the emergence of new species and biodiversity. The project also includes international collaborators Ole Seehausen, Ph.D. (Switzerland) and Mary Kishe, Ph.D. (Tanzania). 

💡 Why it matters: 

  • Aggressive interactions are a fundamental driver of evolution, influencing how populations diverge and new species form. 
  • Understanding the neurobiology of aggression biases could explain how animals—and possibly humans—evolve complex social behaviors. 
  • The project strengthens UNO’s role in global, interdisciplinary research, providing opportunities for students to engage in genetics, bioinformatics, and behavioral neuroscience. 
  • It also promotes STEM engagement, including plans to develop an interactive museum exhibit on cichlid behavior for public education. 

🔎 Zoom in: The five-year NSF-funded study integrates social learning experiments, genetic mapping, and brain gene expression analysis to identify how aggression biases evolve and persist. 

  • Researchers will use cutting-edge tools to: 
  • Assess how social experience and context shape territorial behavior. 
  • Map genetic loci that regulate aggression and coloration in fish species. 
  • Examine neural activity and dopamine signaling to understand how the brain mediates aggression toward similar-looking competitors. 

This multi-institutional collaboration—spanning the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania—combines expertise across neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary biology. Beyond advancing science, it will prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers in STEM through immersive international research opportunities. 

🎤 What they’re saying: 

  • Ryan Wong, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at UNO: “This project gives us the chance to uncover the biological mechanisms behind how competition and aggression shape evolution. It also creates incredible opportunities for UNO students to learn advanced techniques in genetics, neuroscience, and behavioral research alongside leading experts around the world.” 
  • Peter Dijkstra, Ph.D., Lead Principal Investigator, Central Michigan University: “By combining genetic, behavioral, and neural approaches, we can finally begin to understand how aggression influences species formation and coexistence. It’s an exciting step toward linking animal behavior with evolutionary change.” 
  • Hans Hofmann, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, University of Texas at Austin: “This research allows us to connect processes happening at the level of brain cells to patterns we see across populations in nature. It’s truly an integrative approach to studying evolution in action.” 

🧾 Grant award information: 

  • Funding source: National Science Foundation (NSF) 
  • Project title: Collaborative Research: Male-male competition and speciation: behavioral and neuromolecular mechanisms underlying aggression biases in cichlids 
  • Award number: IOS-2444904 
  • NuRamp number: UNO-00067872 
  • Principal investigator: Ryan Wong, Ph.D. 
  • Collaborating institutions: Central Michigan University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Bern (Switzerland), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) 
  • Funding period: 2025–2030 
////Yes/news/2025/10/when-fish-fight-science-winsdepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Arts and SciencesResearchOffice of Research and Creative Activitieslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/when-fish-fight-science-winswwwwhen-fish-fight-science-winsWhen Fish Fight, Science WinsWhen Fish Fight, Science WinsA five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.A five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.Bella Lockwood-WatsonA five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.Oct 28, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1761627600000A collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated./news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_2420565221.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2025/10/img/shutterstock_2420565221.jpgwwwshutterstock_2420565221.jpg1508871200800Researcher working with samples of tissue culture in microplate in the bioengineering laboratory. Photo: Shutterstock. A close-up of a scientist wearing a blue glove using a multichannel pipette to transfer bright pink liquid into a 96-well plate in a laboratory setting. ///YouTube

🧬 What’s new: A team of international researchers, including scientists from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), has made a breakthrough discovery about how cancer spreads and becomes deadly. 

  • The study, recently accepted by Nature Medicine, identifies macrovascular infiltration — the invasion of large blood vessels by cancer cells — as a major, previously overlooked driver of cancer mortality. This discovery could redefine how cancers are staged and open new avenues for treatment and survival prediction. 
  • The research team includes collaborators from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, ETH Zurich, and multiple European institutions.  
  • The study included 31 patients enrolled prospectively at UT Southwestern and a retrospective, validation cohort of 1,250 patients (from German institutions). The data analysis for the whole study was carried out at the University of Nebraska at Omaha by Kirk Gasper, Ph.D. under the supervision of Dario Ghersi, M.D., Ph.D. 

💡 Why it matters: 

  • Despite major advances in cancer treatment, the precise reasons patients die from the disease have remained unclear. 
  • By identifying macrovascular invasion as a key factor in cancer progression, researchers have unveiled a biological process that could reshape how clinicians assess risk and design interventions. 
  • The findings have the potential to inform new therapeutic strategies, improve staging systems, and enhance patient outcomes. 

🎤 What they’re saying: 

  • Dario Ghersi, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, UNO: “This work shows the power of collaboration between computation and clinical science. "Our expertise in complex data analysis played an important role in linking computational findings with biological and clinical observations, contributing to a discovery that could change how we view cancer." 
  • Matteo Ligorio, M.D., Ph.D.: “The big question we were trying to answer: What kills cancer patients? Why do they die one specific day rather than six months earlier or later?” 

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R37CA242070. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. 

////Yes/news/2025/10/uno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motiondepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications phoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryResearchOffice of Research and Creative ActivitiesCollege of Information Science and Technologylocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/10/uno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motionwwwuno-researchers-join-global-effort-to-catch-cancers-deadliest-secret-in-motionUNO Researchers Join Global Effort to Catch Cancer’s Deadliest Secret in MotionUNO Researchers Join Global Effort to Catch Cancer’s Deadliest Secret in MotionA collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.A collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.Bella Lockwood-WatsonA collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.Oct 28, 2025 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1762754400000A class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage./news/shutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/shutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpgwwwshutterstock_2655350509-resized-for-web.jpg438621200800A safety inspector surveys nuclear waste storage barrels—UNO students developed machine learning tools to detect damage like rust and dents in these containers as part of a national laboratory research partnership. Photo: ShutterstockA person in safety gear facing stacked yellow and black nuclear waste barrels at an industrial site under a cloudy sky. ///YouTube

What began as a classroom project in IT Project Management led University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students into the world of machine learning and nuclear safety.  

➡️ What’s new:

  • A student team at UNO turned an undergraduate IT Project Management class assignment into an interdisciplinary research partnership with a federal agency. The project originally began with students tasked by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) to design outreach strategies for OSI’s cybersecurity services.
  • That classroom effort soon sparked a collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) focused on nuclear safety. Over the summer, Magie Hall, Ph.D., associate professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis in UNO's College of Information Science & Technology (CIST), secured a grant from LANL and developed a prototype machine learning tool to detect rust and dents in hazardous waste storage drums.
  • The prototype, currently at Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL-4), demonstrates the concept in a lab setting and lays out the groundwork for further refinement. 

💡 Why it matters:

  • Detecting corrosion or dents in nuclear waste drums is essential to national safety. Left unchecked, damage in these drums can lead to dangerous leaks or dangerous contamination events. By developing automated detection tools using machine learning, UNO students are helping to improve early warning systems for hazardous material storage.
  • Beyond its environmental implications, this project reflects the impact of experiential learning. Students gained hands-on research experience, built software with national security applications, and collaborated with federal scientists. The project underscores UNO’s commitment to preparing students for high-impact careers in data science, cybersecurity, and engineering. 

🔍 Zoom in:

  • The team’s prototype uses computer vision to scan images of 55-gallon drums and detect visible signs of rust or impact damage, which are key indicators of structural risk. Reaching TRL-4 validates the concept and opens the door to further refinement and real-world deployment.
  • Students involved in the project came from a variety of disciplines, including computer science, software engineering, IT innovation, and cybersecurity. The work culminated in a hands-on summer research experience, including a site visit to LANL in New Mexico where students toured a nuclear research facility and collaborated with LANL engineers and scientists.
  • Their efforts were supported and guided by UNO faculty, and the partnership continues to grow, with the potential for additional innovation in environmental safety technologies. 

🎤 What they’re saying:

  • Magie Hall, Ph.D., CIST Associate Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis: “This project is the perfect example of what happens when students are given the freedom to explore real-world problems with real-world partners. They rose to the challenge and exceeded expectations.”
  • Mohammed Njie, student in AI and Computer Science and Scott Scholar: "Going to New Mexico was such a fun experience, and seeing the inside of a nuclear facility was a once in a lifetime experience. This position gave us direction on what we want to do in the work force, and how real teams operate with deadlines and a user in mind." 

🧾 Grant information:

  • Funding source: Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Award number: C5702 
////Yes/news/2025/11/trash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumsdepartmentphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Information Science and Technologylocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/2025/11/trash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumswwwtrash-talk-how-uno-students-are-teaching-machines-to-spot-dangerous-waste-drumsTrash Talk: How UNO Students Are Teaching Machines to Spot Dangerous Waste Drums Trash Talk: How UNO Students Are Teaching Machines to Spot Dangerous Waste DrumsA class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage.A class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage. Bella Lockwood-WatsonA class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage.Nov 10, 2025 12:00 AM
/
/
/
/http:///http:////////http:///http:///http:///http://
/
BelowCSS/http://

Featured

Student gestures toward framed artwork displayed on a gallery wall at UNO’s Student Research and Creative Activity Fair.

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.

A 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 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.

Exterior shot of the Arts and Sciences building on UNO campus.

UNO to Launch Humanities Internship Initiative

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

closeup of a person typing on a computer

UNO Study Reveals How Students Collaborate with AI and What It Means for the Future Workforce

Workforce readiness increasingly depends on knowing how to collaborate with AI, not just extract answers from it.

News

more
Exotic freshwater fish in an aquarium.

When Fish Fight, Science Wins

A five-year collaborative project including UNO Professor Ryan Wong will explore how competition and aggression shape biodiversity, bringing together researchers from the U.S., Switzerland, and Tanzania.

A close-up of a scientist wearing a blue glove using a multichannel pipette to transfer bright pink liquid into a 96-well plate in a laboratory setting.

UNO Researchers Join Global Effort to Catch Cancer’s Deadliest Secret in Motion

A collaborative team including scientists from UNO, UT Southwestern, and European partners has identified a new factor in cancer mortality — one that could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated.

A person in safety gear facing stacked yellow and black nuclear waste barrels at an industrial site under a cloudy sky.

Trash Talk: How UNO Students Are Teaching Machines to Spot Dangerous Waste Drums

A class project sparked an interdisciplinary research collaboration between UNO students and Los Alamos National Laboratory, resulting in a machine learning tool to help safeguard hazardous waste storage.

Events

view more

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

Office of Research and Creative Activity

  • 203 Eppley Administration Building
  • 6001 Dodge Street
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.2286
  • unoorca@unomaha.edu
Social media

Services and Resources

  • Academic Calendar
  • Course Catalogs
  • MavCARD Services
  • MavLINK
  • my.unomaha.edu
  • UNO Brand Guide

Related Links

  • A-Z List
  • Employment
  • University of Nebraska System

Campus Links

  • Accessibility
  • Billing Office
  • Buildings and Maps
  • Campus Directory
  • Campus Safety
  • Events
  • Human Resources
  • Library
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • News
  • Registrar
  • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center

Policies and Reporting

  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • NU Foundation
  • Privacy Statement
  • University Policies
  1. Privacy Statement
  2. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  

Social Media

Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.