Family Social Science Small Grants Program awards seed grants

Three research teams in Family Social Science were awarded funding through the FSoS Small Grants Program.

Launched in 2023, the program is designed to support research conducted by faculty, instructors, staff, or graduate students that furthers the Department's mission, vision, and values; advances current and emerging research priorities; and provides benefit to individuals, families, and communities.

"The goal of this program is to provide seed funding for research that focuses on FSoS priorities as well as advancing some aspect of diversity, equity, inclusion, or justice," says Chalandra Bryant, FSoS research director, professor and Dr. Pauline Boss Professorship in Ambiguous Loss. "We're interested in supporting collaborative research that has the potential to provide data to support future grant proposals outside the department."

Teams led by graduate students and a post-doctoral fellow were awarded grants during the fall 2025 cycle. They include:

• Janette Driscoll, post-doctoral fellow, for her proposal, "ASPIRE Plus Individualized Supports: Refinement of a Parent Training for Early Adolescence." (Team: Eunyoung Park, graduate student, and Armeda Wojciak, associate professor and program director of the CFT program, and Olson Family Professorship)
• Celia Lee, graduate student, for her proposal, "Examining Associations between Adolescents' Smartphone Content and Mental Health." (Team: Xiaoran Sun, assistant professor, and Ju Sun, assistant professor, College of Science and Engineering)
• Umme Kawser, graduate student, for her proposal, "Project Anando Bari (Happy Home): Relational Mental Health Workshops for Bangladeshi Couples and Families." (Team: Steve Harris, professor) 

Their proposals addressed FSoS research priorities that focus on centering health and well-being across multiple domains; marginalized communities, families, and individuals; and innovative methodological approaches in applied and engaged research, system theories, and interdisciplinary initiatives.

Funding decisions were made by the FSoS Research Committee led by Dr. Bryant: Stacey Horn, department head, professor and Campbell Leadership Chair in Education & Human Development; Steve Harris, professor; Xiaoran Sun, assistant professor; and Lindsey Weiler, associate professor. (Where a possible conflict of interest was present, the participating party excused themselves from proceedings).