Active Funded Research by School of Communication Faculty

Grants by Sponsor:

  • Millet, Barbara; Majumdar, Sharanya; Cairo, Alberto (co-I). (August 2021-September 2025). Dynamic Communication of WeatherRrisk: A User-Centered Design Approach. Funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Total award $394,602.
  • Narayanamurthi, Manohar; Funchion, John; Wuchty, Stefan; Uscinski, Joseph; Seelig, Michelle (co-I). (July 21-June 2024). Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Large: Multi-Disciplinary Analyses of the Nature and Spread of Unsubstantiated Information Online. Funded by National Science Foundation. Total award $1,935,238.
  • Lane, Christina. (June 2024-August 2024). Naughty Ladies: How Bette Davis and the Women at Warner Bros. Upended Hollywood. Funded by National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend. Total award $5,000.
  • • Schlumbrecht, Matt; Wright, Kalia (co-I). (July 2024-June 2027). Awareness and knowledge of endometrial cancer among subpopulations of Black women. Funded by United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). Total award $1,444,111

  • Kobetz, Erin; Millet, Barbara (co-I). (July 2024-June 2025). State of Florida Fire Marshal FCI Yr 9 Cancer Epidemiology Surveillance Program. Funded by State of Florida.

  • Dallman, Julia; Millet, Barbara (co-I). (September 2024-August 2026). G.I. Function using Blue Dye GRI Disorders. Funded by CureGRIN Foundation. Total award $79,140.
  • Nimreezi, Pedram; Perry, Nicole; Talavera, Ed (co-PI). (October 2024-March 2025). Totentanz: Creative Performance Protection (aka T3). Funded by Doris Duke Foundation Performing Arts Technologies Lab. Total award $100,000.
  • Jo-Yun Li, Queenie; Lee, Yeunjae (co-I) (July 2023-December 2024). Prosocial Communication in Social Media for Public Resilience During a Collective Tragedy. Funded by Pennsylvania State University Arthur W. Page Society Grant. Total award $3,772.50.
  • Tao, Weiting; Xu, Dongqing; Liang, Xiao; Ni, Lan; Chen, Zifei Fay. (August 2023-October 2025). Prosocial Communication and Interracial Solidarity: Toward an Integrated Model of Communication, Coping, and Intra-and Inter-group Collective Action. Funded by Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society. Total award $8,980.
  • Ramaprasad, Jyotika. Phase III -Worlds of Journalism Study. Funded by Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany. Total award $6,191.40.
  • Whaples, Oana; Barnes, Grace (co-I), (February 2024- February 2025). News Without a Newsroom. Funded by Knight Foundation. Total award $40,000.
  • Dallman, Julia; Millet, Barbara (co-I). (October 2023-November 2025). G.I. Transit Test People with PMS. Funded by Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF). Total Award $55,000.
  • Shehadeh, Lina; Habashi, Ali (co-I) Dr. Shehadeh Medical Education Project. Funded by Wolfson Foundation. Total award $100,000.

  • Wu, Yanfang (PI); Ogihara, Mitsunori; Evans, Spencer. (June 2025-May 2026). Enhancing Depression Detection on TikTok: A Multi-model Approach Leveraging ImageBand. Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award $99,955.
  • Ahn, Soyeon (PI); Kim, Sangmi; Mena; Maite; Chuan, Ching Hua (co-I); Sapahia, Rishav; Otero, Kristal; Kohn-Wood, Laura. (June 2025-May 2026). AI-Driven Mental Health Therapy System: Integrating Culturally Informed and Flexible Family Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA). Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award $99,955.
  • Chatterjee, Sanjeev; Jyotika Ramaprasad (co-I); Evans, Scotney (co-I); Kanamori, Mariano (co-I). (June 2023-May 2025). Storytelling for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award $100,000.
  • Morrison, Brian; Carcioppolo, Nick (co-PI). (June 2025 – May 2027). Enhancing Early Detection of Nail Unit Malignancies: Educating Nail Technicians Through Advanced Certification and Health Communication Intervention. Funded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Health Communication Grant. Total award: $30,000.
  • Kumar, Shria; Trust, Rhonda (co-PI). (June 2025 – May 2027). Social Media to Improve Recruitment in Clinical Studies and Community Health. Funded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Health Communication Grant. Total award: $30,000.
  • • Kanamori, Mariano; Chatterjee, Sanjeev (co-PI). (June 2025 – May 2027). NET-AI – An AI-informed, spatially explicit, social network-based communication simulation model designed to increase breast cancer clinical trial participation among underrepresented populations, specifically Black and Latino communities. Funded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Health Communication Grant. Total award: $30,000.
  • Grinfeder, Kim; Cojocaru, Liviu (co-PI); Barrios, Alexia (co-I); Tang, Jiajing (co-I). (June 2024-July 2026). Obstetric Emergency Simulations: Enhancing Skills and Empowering Communities to Improve Maternal and Fetal Health Outcomes Using Immersive Technologies. Funded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Health Communication Grant. Total award: $30,000.
  • Chen, Chen (Crystal); Yang, Jeongwon. (June 2025 – May 2026). Navigating AI-driven infodemic: Exploring the effect of the unique communication style of AI health misinformation on belief formation among young adults. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $34,774.
  • Francis, Terri. (June 2025 – May 2026). Blackness is an Exposure: Reflecting on the Black Histories of the Florida Everglades. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $18,460.
  • Kontaxis, Konstantia. (June 2025 – May 2026). LeRoy Reconsidered. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $20,000.
  • Chatterjee, Sanjeev; Talavera, Ed. (June 2025 – May 2026). Apatoto – A short narrative film. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $37,000.
  • Tao, Weiting. (June 2025 – May 2026). Voices of Inclusion: Understanding Workplace Communication for Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $19,125.
  • Rich, Benjamin James; Chen, Chen (Crystal) (co-I). (June 2024-July 2026). Radioactive: Radiotherapy Patient Education with Virtual Reality. Funded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Health Communication Grant. Total award: $30,000.
  • Martin, Alfred. (June 2024-May 2025). Ease on Down the Road? A Cultural History of The Wiz. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $19,911.50.
  • Martin, Alfred. (June 2025-May 2026). The Black Fandom Cookout: Blackness and Crossracial Fan Practices. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $9,512.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (June 2024-May 2025). Chelo. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Musca, Thomas. (June 2024-May 2025). Aguadilla. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Haq, Sana; Leibell, Barbara. (June 2024-May 2025). Overtown, Overtime: A Living Visual Archive. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Chen, Chen (Crystal); Rich, Benjamin James (co-I). (June 2024-May 2025). Radioactive: Radiotherapy Patient Education with Virtual Reality for Post-treatment Session. Funded by the University of Miami XR Faculty Awards. Total award $10,000.
  • Habashi, Ali. (June 2024-May 2025). Reliving U-Legacy. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $8,361.
  • Leibell, Barbara. (June 2023-May 2025). Abbas Karimi: Paralympic Refugee in the Water. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,375.
  • Morgan, Susan; Harrison, Tyler (co-I), Kalia Wright (co-I). (June 2023-May 2024). Improving Communication Practices of Clinical Research Coordinators with African American and Black Caribbean Patients. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $35,271.
  • Lane, Christina. (June 2023-May 2024). Naughty Ladies: How Bette Davis and the Women at Warner Bros. Upended Hollywood. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award $18,708.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal; Talavera, Ed (co-I). (June 2023-May 2024). 360 VR Simulations Series: Health Equity and Cultural Humility. Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award $100,000.
  • Bolina, Jaswinder; Ewing, Clay (co-I); Lorena Lopez (co-I). (December 2023-May 2024). Answer Campus: An Interdisciplinary Course in Equity, Inclusion, and Game Development. Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award $48,200.
  • Chuan, Ching-Hua. (January 2024-December 2024). Exploring Large Language Models for Chatbots as Eligibility Assistants for Clinical Trials. Funded by Miami CTSI FY24 Pilot Awards, UM Clinical & Translational Science Institute. Total award $40,000.
  • Cardillo Fronefield, Margaret. (June 2023-May 2024). Jane the First. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Ramaprasad, Jyotika (June 2023-Many 2024). Indian Journalists at Risk: WJS Phase III. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Martin, Alfred. (June 2023-Many 2024). On the Black Hand Side: Black Fandoms and Cultural Politics. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $6,013.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (June 2023-Many 2024). River. Funded by University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities. Total award $7,500.
  • Varma, Rechna. (August 2023-May 2024). Hello Darling. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $10,000.
  • Martin, Alfred. (August 2023-July 2025). Rolling: Blackness and Mediated Comedy. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $1,500.
  • Rodriguez, Zevensuy (June 2022-May 2023). Evaluating Asymmetries in Rowing. Funded by University of Miami XR Faculty Awards. Total award $10,000.
  • Dallman, Julia; Millet, Barbara (co-I). (October 2023-May 2026) Validation of a Novel, Inexpensive, Home-Based Gastrointestinal Transit Test among People with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Funded by University of Miami PMSF Translational Research Award. Total award $55,000.
  • Chuan, Ching-Hua; Tsai, Wahnsiu (co-PI). (August 2024-July 2025). Communicating Climate Justice via A Multi-user Augmented Reality Experience. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $6,000.
  • Millet, Barbara. (August 2024-July 2025). From Isolated to Multiple Threats: Investigating Public Comprehension and Response to Single and Multiple Hurricane Hazard Visualizations. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $9,750.
  • Martin, Alfred. (August 2024-July 2025). Fandom For Us, By Us. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $2,000.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (June 24 – May 2025). Funded by University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas. Total award $3,000.
  • Varma, Rechna (June 2024-June 2026). Hello Darling. Funded by University of Miami 2024 Faculty Learning Community on Learning through Dialogue and Discussion (Harkness cohort). Total award: $4,000.
  • Martin, Alfred. (June 2025-August 2025). Ease on Down the Road: The Lives and Afterlives of The Wiz. Funded by University of Miami Center for Global Black Studies. Total award: $1,500.

  • Chuan, Ching-Hua; Queiroz, Anna; Tsai, Wan-Hsiu. (June 2025-May 2026). Fostering Climate (In)Justice Awareness: A Multi-Person Immersive Mixed Reality Experience. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $5,000.
  • Ewing, Clay; Carcioppolo, Nick; Jacobson, Justin; Wu, Yanfang. (June 2025-May 2026). Developing a Narrative, Game-Based Mental Health Intervention for College Students. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $2,000.
  • Grinfeder, Kim. (June 2025-May 2026). Swampocalipse VR. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $4,400.
  • Li, Queenie. (June 2025-May 2026). Exploring the Paradoxical Impact of Facebook-Based Parent Support Groups on First-Time Mothers: Child Development Discussions and Their Influence on Parental Well-Being. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $2,620.
  • Martin, Alfred. (June 2025-May 2026). The Black Fandom Cookout. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $2,730.
  • Millet, Barbara; Majumdar, Sharanya; McNoldy, Brian; Cairo, Alberto. (June 2025-May 2026). Enhancing Hurricane Risk Communication: User-Centered Evaluation of Hurricane Hazard Graphics. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $3,800.
  • Seelig, Michelle; Tsai, Wan-Hsiu; Chuan, Ching-Hua. (June 2025-May 2026). Debunking Climate Myths: Leveraging Computational Analysis and Conversational AI to Counter Climate Misinformation. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $4,950.
  • Talavera, Ed. (June 2025-May 2026). Dance for Suffrage. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $4,500.
  • Cardillo, Margaret. (June 2024-May 2025). Jane the First. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $5,500.
  • Garcia, Neri (PI); Chen, Chen (Crystal); Liao, Jia; Alperstein, Warren; Coto, Jennifer; Rutendo, Chimbaru; Jia, Xiaofeng.
    (June 2024-May 2025). Augmented Nature: Exploring Hedonic and Eudaimonic Experiences in AR for Enhanced Mental Health in Healthcare Settings. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $4,000.
  • Haq, Sana (PI), Leibell, Barbara. (June 2024-May 2025). Overtown, Overtime: A Living Visual Archive. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $2,500.
  • Lane, Christina. (June 2024-May 2025). Rediscovering Shamley Productions: Another Look at ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $5,000.
  • Musca, Thomas. (June 2024-May 2025). Aguadilla. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $10,000.
  • Tao, Weiting. (June 2024-May 2025). Examining the Antecedents and Outcomes of Perceived Corporate Bravery in Corporate Social Advocacy (CSA). Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award $3,000.
  • Habashi, Ali; Sokolowski, Rafal; Varma, Rechna. (June 2025-May 2026). The New Creative Partner: Human-Centered AI Integration in Film Production. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award $5,000.
  • Chen, Chen (Crystal); Chuan, Ching-Hua; Li, Zhengyan (PhD); Mikkilinen, Sai (PhD). (June 2025-May 2026). Mimicry or Mastery? A Dual-Theory Approach to AI Voice Tone and Feedback on Public Speaking Self-Efficacy and Anxiety. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award $5,000.
  • Li, Queenie; Ahn, Regina; Wang, Geyi (PhD). (June 2025-May 2026).Navigating AI-Driven Health Information: Developing a Competency Scale to Assess Public Health Literacy in the Age of Generative AI. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award $5,000.
  • Wu, Yanfang. (June 2025-May 2026). Investigating News Readers’ Detection of Hallucination in LLM-Generated News: An Experimental Study. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award $5,000.
  • Varma, Rechna. (Spring 2025). Theatrical Road Trip. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $500.
  • Varma, Rechna. (Fall 2024). Hello Darling Festival Strategy. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $500.
  • Talavera, Ed. (Fall 2024). Rope Tied Festival Fees. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $500.