Active Funded Research by School of Communication Faculty

Grants by Sponsor:

  • Ma, Bingjing Ma (PI); Chuan, Ching-Hua (co-I). (December 2025 – November 2027). A Pilot Adaptive Trial of FITrack Chatbot, Nurse Navigator, and Peer Navigator to Promote FIT Screening Among Rural Residents. Funded by NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grants R21. Total award: $407,009.
  • 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.
  • 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 (PI); Millet, Barbara (co-I). (July 2025-June 2026). State of Florida Fire Marshal FCI Yr 11 Cancer Epidemiology Surveillance Program. Funded by State of Florida.

  • Tao, Weiting (co-PI); Wang, Dongya (co-PI); Shi,Hui; Yue, “April” Chen; Yang, Jeongwon. (July 2026-December 2027). Inside the Black Box: Understanding Top PR Managers’ DEI Rollback Decisions Through the Circuit of Culture. Funded by Arthur W. Page Center, Total Award: $5,000.
  • Li, Queenie (co-PI); Carcioppolo, Nicholas (co-PI). (March 2026-February 2027). Examining Online Discourse on Childhood Vaccination Amid Florida’s Removal of Mandates. Funded by AEJMC Senior Scholar Award. Total Award: $4,600.
  • 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.
  • 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.

  • Elyaderani, Hadis (PI); Trust, Rhonda (co-I); St. George, Sara. (June 2026 – May 2027). Leveraging Independent Grocers as Community Health Hubs: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Obesity in Miami-Dade’s Underserved Areas. Funded by University of Miami U-LINK Dissemination, Implementation, and Commercialization. Total award: $99,972.
  • Wu, Yanfang (PI); Ogihara, Mitsunori; Evans, Spencer. (June 2026-May 2027). Enhancing Depression Detection on TikTok: A Multi-modal Machine Learning Approach. Funded by University of Miami U-LINK’s Mental Health One-time Competing Renewal. Total award $50,000.
  • Prado, Willy (PI); De la Rosa, Mario; Behar-Zusman, Victoria; Wu, Yangfang (co-I); (January 2026-January 2027). Leveraging Peer Digital Social Influence to Bridge the Gap in Mental Health: A Culturally Grounded Approach. Funded by Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities
    (CLaRO)/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). Total award: $50,000.
  • Cabas-Mijares, Ayleen. (June 2026-May 2027). Out of the Shadows: Undocuqueer Lives in Media and Movement. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award: $20,000.
  • Lane, Christina. (June 2026-May 2027). The Women v. Warner Bros.: How Bette Davis and Company Upended Hollywood. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award: $20,000.
  • Reis Murao, Rachel. (June 2026-May 2027). Satire And Journalism: How YouTube Influencers Blend Humor and Information as a Gateway to News. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award: $19,693.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (June 2026-May 2027). Mall Rats. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Research Award. Total award: $20,000.
  • Habashi, Ali. (June 2026 – May 2027). Translating Discovery: A Critical Documentary Film — and a New Agentic AI Prototype — Investigating the Future of AI-Mediated Science Communication. Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $10,000.
  • Leibel, Barabara. (June 2026 – May 2027). I am Abbas Karimi. Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $8,000.
  • Queiroz, Anna. (June 2026 – May 2027). A Research-Driven AI-Enhanced Adaptive Immersive Learning Experience for Literacy Skills Development. Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $9,950.
  • Talavera, Ed. (June 2026 – May 2027). The Sound of Belonging. Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $10,000.
  • Varma, Rechna. (June 2026 – May 2027). Guilt – Feature Film Casting Support. Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $10,000.
  • Wu, Yangfang. (June 2026 – May 2027). A Comparative Study of AIGC Governance: User Literacy, Concerns, and Trust on Instagram (U.S.) and Xiaohongshu (China). Funded by University of Miami Arts & Humanities Fellowship. Total award: $9,989.
  • Ahn, Regina (PI); Mueller-Bryson, Sophia; Trust, Rhonda. (December 2025 – May 2026). Consumer Processing of Generative AI in Healthy vs. Unhealthy Food Ads on Social Media: An Elaboration Likelihood Model Approach. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $4,320.
  • Chatterjee, Sanjeev. (December 2025 – May 2026). Apatoto – A short narrative film. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $8,000.
  • Habashi, Ali. (December 2025 – May 2026). The Algorithmic Witness: Decoding Silence, Tone, and Gaze and other Non-Verbal Communication in Patient Video Narrative. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $10,000.
  • Leibell, Barbara. (December 2025 – May 2026). I Am Abbas Karimi. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $10,000.
  • Varma, Rechna. (December 2025 – May 2026). Hello Darling – Professional Sound Mix. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $10,000.
  • Mueller-Bryson, Sophia (PI); Ahn, Regina; Trust, Rhonda. (January 2026 – May 2026). Modeling Misinformation: How Influencer Type and Message Accuracy Shape Gen Z Women’s Responses to Branded Nutrition Content. Funded by University of Miami Bridge Award. Total award: $6,510.
  • Queiroz, Anna. (Spring 2026). Publications Award for the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Creative Arts. Funded by University of Miami Provost’s Office. Total Award: $ 1,134.
  • 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.
  • Martin, Alfred. (August 2023-July 2025). Rolling: Blackness and Mediated Comedy. Funded by University of Miami Relief Funding. Total award $1,500.
  • 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.

  • Ahn, Regina; Mueller-Bryson, Sophia. (June 2026 – May 2027). Digital Bodies, Chemical Solutions: A Mixed-Methods Study of Young Women’s Perspectives on GLP-1 Drugs, Social Media Advertising, Influencer Marketing, and Body Image. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $4,601
  • Hughes, Sallie. (June 2026 – May 2027). Democracy in the Neighborhood: Communication, Accountability, and Resistance in an American City. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $3,000
  • Kinsler, Shane. (June 2026 – May 2027). Thoughts and Prayers. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $2,500
  • Li, Queenie (PI); Tao, Weiting. (June 2026 – May 2027). Navigating Polarized Public Health Issues: Framing Strategies and Issue Maturity in Health CSR Communication. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $4,890
  • Queiroz, Anna. (June 2026 – May 2027). Immersive Endurance: Transforming Real-Time AI Coaching into a Virtual Reality Cycling Environment. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $5,000
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (June 2026 – May 2027). Under Fluorescent Light. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $5,000
  • Tao, Weiting. (June 2026 – May 2027). Enacting and Communicating Corporate Digital Responsibility: Effects of Corporate Motives, Stakeholder Engagement, and Message Strategies. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $5,000
  • Treaster, Joe (PI); Solo-Gabriel, Helena; Pumar, Enrique. (June 2026 – May 2027). Cuba’s Environmental Crisis and Spillover Impacts to South Florida. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $5,00
  • Varma, Rechna. (June 2026 – May 2027). Foreign Affair. Funded by School of Communication Research Awards. Total award: $5,000
  • Cardillo, Margaret. (June 2026 – May 2027). The Broad in the Booth: Jane Chastain, The First Female Sportscaster. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award: $5,000
  • Grinfeder, Kim (PI); Rudolf, Bryson. (June 2026 – May 2027). Building Multi-Agent AI Communities in Virtual Reality: A Technical Infrastructure for Human-AI Social Interaction. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award: $4,800
  • Tao, Weiting (PI); Li, Queenie. (June 2026 – May 2027). How Generative AI (GenAI) Guides Parents of Children with Autism? Examining Linguistic Framing and Communication Strategies Across Leading GenAI Platforms. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award: $4,800
  • Talavera, Ed. (June 2026 – May 2027). Echo: A Hybrid Narrative Short Film Staging Artificial Intelligence as Human Presence. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award: $5,000
  • Tsai, Sunny (PI); Chuan, Ching-Hua; Carcioppolo, Nicholas; Seelig, Michelle. (June 2026 – May 2027). Conversational AI for Clinical Trial Recruitment: Addressing Trial Barriers and Misconceptions. Funded by School of Communication Grant Advancing AI Communication Research and Creative Activity. Total award: $4,968.75
  • Ramaprasad, Jyotika. (Fall 2025). Behind the Byline: Navigating Safety, Security, and Survival in Indian Journalism. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $500.
  • Wu, Yanfang. (Fall 2025). Networked Influence in Social Media: A Computational MixedMethods Investigation of Mental Health Influencers. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $500.
  • Sokolowski, Rafal. (Fall 2025). Chelo. Funded by School of Communication Faculty Microgrant. Total award $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.