Research and Grants

Lab work in the STEM Center

STEM Education and Research Center

Innovations in research and training

At ĢƵ, we offer our students and faculty a wide variety of research and training opportunities in interdisciplinary studies as well as traditional research within STEM disciplines.

Programs funded by the Texas Workforce Commission

Governor’s Summer Merit Program provides summer STEM experiences for students ages 14 to 16. Week-long summer camps offer hands-on learning in science, nursing and engineering for a glimpse into STEM fields and careers. Students from the deep East Texas region are recommended by their home districts to apply for scholarships for the STEM camps.

Programs funded by the National Science Foundation

Talented Teachers in Training for Texas job shadow provides opportunities for interested students to learn more about STEM teaching careers. T4 job shadow participants have access to unique scholarships and job shadowing opportunities. Visit the T4 webpage to learn more about getting a firsthand look at life in the classroom by shadowing an experienced teacher.

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, or S.U.R.E., is an opportunity for students to be paired with a faculty member for one-on-one mentoring during the summer. Visit the S.U.R.E. webpage to learn more and explore past presentations.

Faculty Research Enhancement Grants

Launched in 2025, summer faculty research enhancement grants, or FREG, support original research in the fields of mathematics, science and STEM education. The grant awards provide summer salary stipend for tenured or tenure-track faculty to conduct a research project to be completed by Aug. 31.

Recipients

2026 Recipients

  • Dr. Matthew Kwiatkowski, Biology
  • Dr. Colin Lawson, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Dr. Nicholas Long, Mathematics and Statistics
  • Drs. Bidisha Sengupta and Darrell Fry, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Drs. Zachariah Fleming and Michael Read, Earth Science and Geologic Resources

2025 Recipients

  • Dr. Jeremy Becnel, Computer Science
  • Dr. Billy Harris, Computer Science
    • Harris, B., and Samuel Ofori-Addo. “3 Tape Turing Machine Simulator.” Proceedings of the 57th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS 2026), vol. 2, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, New York, February 2026, .
  • Dr. Md. Istiaq Hossain, Mathematics and Statistics
    • Hossain, Md. Istiaq. "The Role of Anti-Predator Behaviors and Prey Evolution in Predator-Prey Systems." Presentation at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, Washington, D.C., Jan. 3–7, 2026.
    • Hossain, Md. Istiaq. "Integrating Vigilance, Refuge Use, and Trait Evolution in Predator-Prey Models." Presentation at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, Nov. 19, 2025.
  • Dr. R. LaRell Nielson, Earth Science and Geologic Resources
    • Nielson, R. L. "Stratigraphic Analysis of the Conglomeratic Sandstone of Knight Canyon (Paleocene?), Grant County, New Mexico." Paper presented at the Texas Academy of Science Meeting, 2026.
    • Nielson, R. L. "Stratigraphic and Depositional Environmental Analysis of the Conglomeratic Sandstone of Knight Canyon (Paleocene?), Grant County, New Mexico." Paper presented at the Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, 2026.
  • Dr. Christal Schoen, Mathematics and Statistics
    • Schoen, C. L. “Affective Shifts: Exploring Math Attitudes in a Course for Future Teachers.” Contributed paper, MAA MathFest 2025, Sacramento, California.
    • Schoen, C. L. “Affective Shifts: Exploring Math Attitudes in a Course for Future Teachers.” Poster, MAA MathFest 2025, Sacramento, California.