Deans Notes - July 2020

"Regardless of who wins the Democratic primary this week, I would totally expect the Democratic nominee to be a strong favorite against Gardner," said Michael Berry, Associate Professor of Political Science. "It's difficult to see a scenario where Gardner is able to overcome the unpopularity of Donald Trump in Colorado...

“This is it,” says Brian Buma, Integrative Biology Assistant Professor. He’s draped head to toe in orange and black rain gear. Straddling hummocks, he re-checks his compass and mutters “cool.” Few things in the natural world can be identified as the true end, the last of a kind, the edge,...

Andrew Friedson, Assistant Professor of Economics, is an author of the recent study, "Black Lives Matter Protests, Social Distancing, and COVID-19,” published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Using data from Black Lives Matters protests across 315 of America's largest cities, the study found "no evidence" in...

In the midst of fluctuating regulations, Assistant Economics Professor Philip Luck speculated that if some international students won't be allowed in the US they could have issues with Internet access and censorship and won't be able to connect with peers. "It’s not as though you can just say, 'Oh, well....

Studying prayer is challenging for several reasons, according to Psychology Professor Kevin Masters. "Science is about testing observable relationships, processes and mechanisms," Masters said. "But almost by definition, prayer, as operationalized in these studies, invokes involvement of God or a higher being, something outside the boundaries of natural phenomenon, which...

Because social distancing is one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of coronavirus, it seems promoting “health and safety” would require limiting kids’ time in school. However, allowing kids only partial access to education, as many districts across the country are currently proposing, does not support children’s...

A group of researchers and educators at University of Colorado Denver, led by PI and Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Professor Jan Mandel, will be building a state-of-the-art computing resource on the downtown campus thanks to a $400,000 National Science Foundation Award (#2019089).The new facility will provide the first...

Associate Professor of Health and Behavioral Sciences jimi adams headed up the team organizing an international conference on networks & COVID-19 this month: COVID-19 Satellite of Sunbelt. The International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA) conference included a plenary session, invited panel on the intersection between policy and...

Associate Professor of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Steffen Borgwardt was recently awarded a $233,560, 4-year, National Science Foundation award for researching Circuit Walks in Optimization. Borgwardt is working to design, study, and implement algorithms for optimal gradual transitions between solutions of a mathematical program. The ability to efficiently construct such...

Associate Professor of Anthropology Marty Otañez was featured in the podcast episode Cannabis Workers' Rights and Social Responsibility, produced by Cannabis Science Today. The podcast covers how to build a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable cannabis industry, and avoid the pitfalls of Big Tobacco.  Otañez shares his research on...

Clinical Health Psychology student Alex Presciutti (along with colleagues) recently published, “Modifiable provider-patient relationship factors and illness perceptions are associated with quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest with good neurologic recovery” (Resuscitation Plus Volume 3, September 2020). The researchers’ aim was to identify the implications of...

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities is now accepting faculty applications for the EURēCA! Work-Study program. Click here to apply!

EURēCA! Work-Study supports research-based work-study jobs for undergraduates in any discipline. Our office helps find, hire, and support undergrad research assistant mentees at no cost to you! Have...

The Office of Undergraduate Research is actively recruiting presenters, judges and attendees for the Summer 2020 Virtual Research Symposium, which kicks off on Friday, July 31st.

Throughout the months of June and July, CU Denver students have been engaging in original, mentored research through programs including EUReCA!...

 A cohort of 75 students will be trained to handle a variety of logistical tasks in Zoom including monitoring chat, organizing break-out rooms, taking attendance, managing screen sharing, facilitating polling, and troubleshooting student technical problems. Faculty will be assigned (or choose) a Course Assistant who will help them for the...