News Headlines

Doak, Templeton awarded Distinguished Research Lectureships

Allison Jane Miller — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:52:47 +0000

Doak, Templeton awarded Distinguished Research Lectureships Allison Jane Miller Thu, 09/11/2025 - 09:52

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) today announced that Dan Doak of Environmental Studies and Alexis Templeton of Geological Sciences have been recognized with 2025-26 Distinguished Research Lectureships.

The Lectureship is among the most esteemed honors bestowed by the faculty upon a faculty member at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ. Each year, the Research & Innovation Office solicits nominations from faculty for the Distinguished Research Lectureship, and a faculty review panel recommends one faculty member as a recipient. Two faculty members were selected for the 2025—26 academic year.

Dan Doak (Environmental Studies)

Dan Doak

Dan Doak is a professor and the Byers Family Chair in the Department of Environmental Studies.

Doak received his PhD at the University of Washington and was a professor at both UC Santa Cruz and University of Wyoming before joining ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ in 2012.

His research features the development and use of new modeling methods to better understand ecological patterns and processes, and also field work that investigates the ecological dynamics of multiple plant and animal species. This research includes work on the conservation and management of endangered species, climate change impacts on wild species and communities, and basic research on species interactions and population dynamics.

In the first of these areas, Doak has worked to better understand the degree of endangerment and the most effective management methods for species including sea otters, island foxes, California condors, Mediterranean purple gorgonian corals and multiple rare plants.

His climate change research includes development of analysis and modeling methods, as well as a continuing, twenty-five-year study of arctic and alpine plants and their responses to climate across a wide latitudinal range in western North America.

Finally, he has worked with colleagues to better understand the ways that spatial patterns and changing contexts can shape ecological interactions. This area of work includes field studies of how termites create spatial structure in east African savanna and the ways that changing ecological context can mediate the impacts of sea otters on kelp forest communities.

Alexis Templeton (Geological Sciences)

Alexis Templeton

Alexis Templeton is a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and the CU Center for Astrobiology.

Templeton received her BA and MS in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College, followed by employment by the Department of Energy at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She then completed her PhD at Stanford University, examining how heavy metals can be transformed from toxic to non-toxic states at the surfaces of minerals and microbial organisms.

She completed her training as a National Science Foundation postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, examining how microbial life thrives inside submarine volcanoes, before starting her professorship at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ in 2005. She is an active member of the Geobiology program, and she teaches several courses in geochemistry, in the classroom and field-based settings in the mountains of Colorado.

Templeton’s research investigates how microbial life functions in the Earth’s subsurface environments, harnessing chemical energy produced as water flows and reacts through rocks. Her work has moved from volcanoes in the Pacific to cold springs in the High Arctic to the mountains and deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Through funding from NASA, the Department of Energy, and the Grantham, Packard and Simons Foundations, she has led several large multi-disciplinary projects to investigate the subsurface biosphere on Earth and the potential for similar life forms to exist elsewhere in our solar system.

Currently, Templeton is developing projects around the world with academic, government and industry partners to harness hydrogen produced naturally by the Earth as a future clean energy source.

The lectures

Templeton's talk will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20, while Doak's lecture will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Details about the lectures will be shared in ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Today as they become available.

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) today announced that Dan Doak of Environmental Studies and Alexis Templeton of Geological Sciences have been recognized with 2025-26 Distinguished Research Lectureships.

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Rising faculty leaders: Apply for the Research & Innovation Office Faculty Fellows program

Allison Jane Miller — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:35:58 +0000

Rising faculty leaders: Apply for the Research & Innovation Office Faculty Fellows program Allison Jane Miller Wed, 09/10/2025 - 08:35

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) has opened applications for the RIO Faculty Fellows 2026 cohort, which will be accepted through October 31. Selections will be announced in November.

RIO Faculty Fellows identifies and develops tenured and tenure-track assistant or associate professors who are poised to lead significant collaborative projects, develop vision and deliver novel and impactful scholarly work. The cohort-based program framework includes both retreats and periodic shorter meetings, as well as the development of a scholarly network that extends beyond the formal training itself.

“This program is making a positive impact across campus and will be especially valuable for faculty seeking to lead and thrive even in challenging times,” said Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene. “I’ve seen it first-hand—it is a powerful and unique program that is creating more resilient, effective leaders and collaborations across our research and innovation ecosystem.”

The program identifies a network of campus research leaders who are experts in their respective fields, and equips them with the skills and capacity to lead collaborations across campus while strengthening the university’s reputation nationally and globally through collaborations beyond the campus.

RIO Faculty Fellows engages fellows as individuals and as a cohort on:

Research and creative work leadership
Collaboration and systems thinking
Team building and academic management
Scholarly communication and values
Personal and professional coaching

“Our program creates a community of scholars who are interested in sharpening their leadership and collaborative skills,” said Senior Director of Research Leadership Development Kirsten Rowell. “Being part of this cross-campus network and learning new tools to improve their capacity has already begun to pay off for these faculty.”

Complementing other prominent faculty leadership programs on campus, the RIO Faculty Fellows program is an investment in ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ faculty and in the university as a global leader in research, innovation and impact.

Please visit the Faculty Fellows website to learn more or submit an application, or contact Kirsten Rowell with additional questions at kirsten.rowell@colorado.edu.

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) has opened applications for the RIO Faculty Fellows 2026 cohort, which will be accepted through October 31. Selections will be announced in November.

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Above: The 2025 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort at a January retreat in the mountains

NSF and the USDA join DOE in announcing research security training requirements; other agencies to follow

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:04:33 +0000

NSF and the USDA join DOE in announcing research security training requirements; other agencies to follow Allison Jane Miller Tue, 09/09/2025 - 10:04

For several years, the federal government has signaled its intention to introduce enhanced research security training requirements for key personnel associated with federal grants. Enhanced requirements for NSF and USDA submissions go into effect starting on Oct. 1, 2025. Enhanced requirements for DOE submissions went into effect on May 1.

All principal investigators and key/senior personnel submitting new proposals to NSF or USDA from Oct. 1 forward are required to complete the research security training within 12 months before proposals can be submitted. This requirement does not impact existing NSF or USDA grant awards.

Full details of the new NSF and USDA requirements are available on the Research Security Training webpage, which is part of the Research Security & Integrity hub on the Research & Innovation Office website.

Similar announcements are anticipated from other agencies in the coming months and years. Details and resources for campus will be shared via the Research Security Training online hub and other communications channels as soon as specifics are available.

Enhanced requirements for NSF and USDA submissions go into effect starting on Oct. 1, 2025.

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AB Nexus announces 2025 grant awards with an emphasis on quantum-focused research collaborations

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:20:13 +0000

AB Nexus announces 2025 grant awards with an emphasis on quantum-focused research collaborations Allison Jane Miller Tue, 08/19/2025 - 15:20

AB Nexus awarded four research teams from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ. Collectively, the winning teams will receive $750,000 in funding to advance cutting-edge research that improves human health and well-being.

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Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 recipients announced; call for nominations for next program year

Allison Jane Miller — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:47:40 +0000

Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 recipients announced; call for nominations for next program year Allison Jane Miller Thu, 08/07/2025 - 08:47

Drs. Umniya Najaer (Ethnic Studies) and Daphna Raz (Computer Science) have been awarded the Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2025-2026.

Call for nominations

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs invites new nominations for the 2026-2027 Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Applications for the next cycle open in August and are due November 3.

Learn more

As the inaugural Center for African & African American Studies/Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Umniya Najaer joins the Department of Ethnic Studies, where her work examines Black epistemologies, narrative theory, and radical worldbuilding. Her dissertation, Scenes of Possibility: Black Worldbuilding Epistemologies and Praxis, draws on the philosophical work of W.E.B. Du Bois, Franz Fanon and Sylvia Wynter to how stories shape our understanding of the world – both as tools of oppression and pathways to liberation. Through this lens, Dr. Najaer explores how new ways of relating to each other and the planet can challenge existing hierarchies and open possibilities for more just and inclusive futures. She will be mentored by Professor Reiland Rabaka, Director of the Center for African and African American Studies, and will collaborate with a broad network of ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ scholars committed to social justice and meaningful change. Dr. Najaer earned her PhD from Stanford University.

Dr. Daphna Raz joins the Department of Computer Science, where her interdisciplinary research merges biomechanics and robotics to advance smart prostheses and orthoses. Her work applies state-of-the-art analytical methods to human movement to develop safe and effective user-centered technologies. At ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ, Dr. Raz will collaborate with Professors Sriram Sankaranarayanan and Alaa Ahmed, integrating cyber-physical systems and principles of human motor control to create innovative rehabilitation solutions with real-world impact. An advocate for inclusive academic culture, Dr. Raz is committed to supporting first generation undergraduate and graduate students in STEM. Dr. Raz secured her PhD from the University of Michigan.

About the Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ awards Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowships to postdoctoral scholars whose scholarship and/or service promote academic excellence and support the success of everyone. These one-year fellowships aim to provide fellows with protected time for scholarship or research in preparation for a tenure-track faculty position at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ. To date, ten former fellows have secured tenure-track positions at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ.

For additional information, please visit the program website or email cpfellows@colorado.edu.

Drs. Umniya Najaer and Daphna Raz have been awarded the Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2025-2026. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) invites new nominations for the 2026-2027 program year.

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Research institute building the AI-literate workforce of the future receives major new grant

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:00:37 +0000

Research institute building the AI-literate workforce of the future receives major new grant Allison Jane Miller Tue, 07/29/2025 - 11:00

After a rigorous review process, the NSF announced that it is renewing funding for the National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (NSF iSAT) for another five years, part of a $100 million investment by the federal government into AI research.

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��ý�Ļ��Ʒ shines on global sustainability stage

Allison Jane Miller — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:50:44 +0000

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ shines on global sustainability stage Allison Jane Miller Thu, 07/17/2025 - 12:50

Heather Hansen

At the recent Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress (SRI2025), held for the first time in the U.S., ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ made a powerful showing—solidifying its role as a global voice in sustainability research, education and skills training. From early-career scholars to faculty experts and a new campus-wide initiative, the university’s commitment to tackling the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges was front and center.

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s National Science Foundation-funded program, Global Sustainability Scholars (GSS), sponsored the attendance of 20 program alumni and 30 graduate students, postdocs and early career professionals from across the country. Those emerging leaders engaged in presentations, workshops and network-building sessions focused on collaborative, interdisciplinary sustainability solutions. GSS also hosted a well-attended and meaningful symposium that brought together sustainability researchers and early career scientists to discuss their work.

“We talked about the importance of bridging across different disciplines and sectors,” said Kirsten Rowell, senior director of research leadership development for ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s Research & Innovation Office (RIO), who organized the symposium. “Making sure that science is done collaboratively across community, government, academia and the private sector to address sustainability challenges more effectively.”

The meeting provided an important forum for the relatively new and challenging field and highlighted that ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ is not alone in its ongoing sustainability efforts. “There are many actors out there that are also trying to do this, and we need to collaborate,” said Rowell. “It’s so important for us to come together.”

Themed “Pathways to Sustainability,” SRI2025 emphasized action-forward strategies and inclusive approaches to achieving environmental resilience and equity. For many of the CU-sponsored scholars, the event served as both a moment for much-needed camaraderie and a glimpse into a future as global changemakers. “The early career folks felt energized about how to collaborate for solutions—from local, acute challenges to broader, global issues,” said Rowell. “The exchange of networks, ideas and knowledge gave us the boost we need to keep pushing forward.”

Faculty leaders and a bold new initiative

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s impact at the Congress extended beyond the GSS scholars’ participation. At the conference, Karen Bailey (Environmental Studies) valued being immersed in a community of sustainability practitioners, scholars and community members. “It was truly a celebration and an opportunity to regroup around the importance of sustainability and our commitment to achieving it across sectors and disciplines,” said Bailey. “It’s critical for CU to participate in these discussions–to stay on the cutting edge of sustainability collaborations, research and technology and to ensure that we are contributing to and participating in gatherings that elevate justice and joy in the sustainability research enterprise.”

Jane Zelikova, newly appointed director of ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI), was able to join SRI2025 remotely and was inspired to reimagine both the role universities play in building a vision for a sustainable future and bringing that vision to life through education, research and community engagement.

��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s SRI, launched earlier this year, represents a major step in uniting the university’s multi-faceted sustainability research under one cohesive umbrella. Housed within RIO, SRI is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, support real-world research projects and elevate ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ’s national and global leadership in sustainability science.

L-R: Alicia Adelman (RIO), Seth Webb (Center for Leadership), Kirsten Rowell (RIO), Karen Bailey (Environmental Studies), Martha Walker (Global Sustainability Scholars)

“It is essential for ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ to continue to participate in global sustainability collaborations that events like the SRI Congress help catalyze and foster,” said Zelikova. “Our SRI is an opportunity for us to be more agile and ensure we are able to identify and more quickly fill critical research gaps so that CU’s world class expertise across sustainability can be leveraged for more immediate impact.”

Act locally, impact globally

As global challenges—from climate disruption to water scarcity—become more complex and interconnected, ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ continues to strategically invest in people, partnerships and purpose-driven research. The university's presence at SRI2025 was a tangible reflection of its long-standing, future-forward and practical commitment to fully engaging in the global sustainability conversation.

“��ý�Ļ��Ʒ being on stage with this international community of committed sustainability scholars and practitioners is significant,” said Rowell. “The [Congress] was both a celebration of the work we do and a call to action for the global community to continue leaning in—underscoring the urgency of engaged sustainability scholarship. We’re realizing that sustainability has no geographic boundaries. While our work is grounded in local engagement, its impact reverberates outward—and it’s clear how far-reaching those effects can be.”

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Quantum Forge students gain industry experience with Xairos

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:22:48 +0000

Quantum Forge students gain industry experience with Xairos Allison Jane Miller Tue, 07/15/2025 - 09:22

L-R: Grayson Hallmark, Conor O'Neill, Andrew Nguyen and Ethan Trapp

Real-world experience with quantum optics

Four seniors in the Quantum Forge class at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ recently completed their year-long project with Xairos Systems, Inc., giving them an inside look at working in the industry.

Quantum Forge gives students first-hand experience with the quantum industry through sponsored projects with industry partners. Students gain proficiency with industry techniques while becoming more familiar with company culture and norms, positioning them well for industry entry to successfully enter the workforce upon completion of the course. Students can apply for Quantum Forge in March for the upcoming academic year.

Xairos Systems, Inc., a quantum technology company that is developing a global resilient space-based timing architecture to augment timing from GPS (Global Positioning Systems), benefitted from hosting four quantum physics and engineering physics undergraduate students in the lab, where they were exposed to the real-world problem of entangling photons, quantifying the interaction and visualizing the invisible process.

The participating students included four seniors majoring in physics and engineering physics: Conor O’Neill, Grayson Hallmark, Ethan Trapp and Andrew Nguyen, all of whom completed the program in Spring 2025.

“Working with Xairos was an incredible experience because I got to see startup culture and be involved in a project applying quantum optics,” said Nguyen. “It's rewarding to see physics from the classroom being used in the real world.”

Xairos is developing a global resilient space-based timing architecture using Quantum Time Transfer. Accurate timing synchronization is critical for improving the efficiency of power grids, networks and data centers, including those needing higher compute capabilities due to rising demand from artificial intelligence.

"Most capstone experiences for science majors are designed for students continuing on to graduate study,” said Michael Bennett, the course designer and director of education for the Q-SEnSE NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ. “But the reality is that companies are increasingly looking to hire at a variety of levels of quantum specialization. The Xairos team is a great example of how even bachelors-level workers can make meaningful contributions to the quantum workforce.”

“We have been very impressed by the students’ determination and motivation,” said David Mitlyng, CEO of Xairos. “Achieving photon entanglement is not for the faint of heart, and these young professionals showed fortitude and commitment.”

About Quantum Forge

Quantum Forge is a three credit-hour course that gives ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ students first-hand experience with quantum industry culture and practice. In project groups sponsored by industry partners from the quantum tech field, students work through the academic year on a real quantum information science tech project, gaining expertise with industry-relevant skills like programming, machining and fabrication, CAD design, professional communication and project management. Learn more.

Questions about the course can be directed to Professor Sean Shaheen and Dr. Michael Bennett.

“Working with Xairos was an incredible experience because I got to see startup culture and be involved in a project applying quantum optics,” said Andrew Nguyen, a senior majoring in physics with a quantum engineering minor. “It's rewarding to see physics from the classroom being used in the real world.”

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How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado's economy, national innovation

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:44:55 +0000

How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado's economy, national innovation Allison Jane Miller Tue, 07/08/2025 - 16:44

Federal funding cuts in the billions have impacted dozens of universities in the U.S. Read from Massimo Ruzzene, ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ's senior vice chancellor for research and innovation, on The Conversation.

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RIO seeks research advisors (faculty director appointments) for Sustainability Research Initiative

Allison Jane Miller — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:50:40 +0000

RIO seeks research advisors (faculty director appointments) for Sustainability Research Initiative Allison Jane Miller Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:50

The newly established Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ—a collaborative effort across colleges, the Research & Innovation Office, and the Provost—is seeking to build an advisory committee of 4-6 sustainability researchers who will help elevate SRI as a new initiative and serve as thought partners and impact amplifiers.

Advisors will work with the executive director to identify initial thematic areas and serve as connectors and ambassadors for the SRI across campus. Appointment selection will be based on a combination of factors to ensure the advisory committee brings together a diversity of sustainability research experience and engagement with the research community across campus. Advisors will meet with the executive director multiple times per month, and will be expected to both advise on and help execute some aspect of SRI’s initial strategy.

This is a one-year appointment compensated at a flat rate of $10,000 per year, under the “Faculty Director” job code. The opportunity is open to tenured or tenure-track faculty and research faculty currently employed by ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ. The appointments can be renewed for up to three terms, with each term following the academic year.

Please reach out to Dr. Jane Zelikova ( zelikova@colorado.edu) with any questions.

How to apply

Current ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ employees should access the job posting and submit interest at the following location:

Log in to the MyCUInfo portal
Select CU Resources > Business Tools > ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ Jobs Internal Job Board
Use the Keyword Search to find this posting number: 65428

The posting closes July 15, 2025, with an anticipated August 15 start date.

The newly established Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) at ��ý�Ļ��Ʒ is seeking to build an advisory committee of 4-6 sustainability researchers who will help elevate SRI as a new initiative and serve as thought partners and impact amplifiers.

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News Headlines

Doak, Templeton awarded Distinguished Research Lectureships

Dan Doak (Environmental Studies)

Alexis Templeton (Geological Sciences)

The lectures

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Rising faculty leaders: Apply for the Research & Innovation Office Faculty Fellows program

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NSF and the USDA join DOE in announcing research security training requirements; other agencies to follow

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AB Nexus announces 2025 grant awards with an emphasis on quantum-focused research collaborations

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Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 recipients announced; call for nominations for next program year

About the Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship

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Research institute building the AI-literate workforce of the future receives major new grant

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����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ shines on global sustainability stage

Faculty leaders and a bold new initiative

Act locally, impact globally

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Quantum Forge students gain industry experience with Xairos

About Quantum Forge

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How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado's economy, national innovation

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RIO seeks research advisors (faculty director appointments) for Sustainability Research Initiative

How to apply

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��ý�Ļ��Ʒ shines on global sustainability stage