We support INFER through government and philanthropic grant awards that are aligned with the research and service interests of our faculty and community partnerships.
We support INFER through government and philanthropic grant awards that are aligned with the research and service interests of our faculty and community partnerships.
Current Work
INFER is committed to pairing faculty with community agencies and other faculty in different schools, departments, and divisions. Below are examples of INFER partnerships and collaborations.
The Crews School of Accountancy in partnership with various universities
Exploration of geopolitical risk and the valuation of U.S. foreign private issuers
Dr. Joanna Golden (Accountancy), PI, with Drs. Han Yu (Economics), Douglas Cumming (Florida Atlantic University), Michael Imhof (University of Wyoming), and Leo Yang (Wichita State University)
College of Education in partnership with the Memphis Museum of Science & History
Exploration of the impact of museum resources on rural teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching STEM
Dr. Logan Caldwell (Instruction and Curriculum Leadership), PI, with Dr. Elena Delavega (Social Work), and Alex Eilers (The Memphis Museum of Science & History)
College of Education
Exploration of the impact of digital parenting and children’s digital literacy practices among the Chinese immigrant community in the United States
Dr. Huan Gao (Instruction and Curriculum Leadership), PI, with Drs. Micah Trapp (Anthropology), J. Elliott Casal (English), and Todd Zoblotsky (Center for Research in Educational Policy)
Loewenberg College of Nursing
Exploration of hypertension control of African Americans in an urban environment
Dr. Tracie Augusta (Nursing), PI, with Drs. Annapoorna Mary (Nursing) and Fawaz Mzayek (Epidemiology)
Department of City and Regional Planning
Initiative to make a vision and community character plan for the town of Mason, TN
Dr. Stephen Diko (City and Regional Planning), PI, with Drs. Charlie Santo (City and Regional Planning) and Susan Elswick (Social Work)
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Exploration of synergistic interactions in biological and integrated socio-environmental systems
Dr. Thomas Hagen (Mathematical Sciences), PI, with Drs. Jim Adelman (Biology), E. Olusegun George (Mathematical Sciences), and Xinhua Yu (Epidemiology)
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders in partnership with the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center
Exploration of the effects of dance training on the function of the vestibular system
Dr. Raghav Jha (Audiology), PI, with Drs. Michael Medcalf (Theatre & Dance), Ulrike Griebel (Institute for Intelligent Systems), and Matthew Hollis (Memphis Speech and Hearing Center)
College of Education
Exploration of how preservice teachers perceive and navigate politics and practice in response to book-banning policies
Drs. Nikki Wright (Leadership) and Matthew Panozzo (Instruction and Curriculum Leadership), PIs
Fogelman College of Business and Economics
Exploration of the cognitive and social dynamics of memes
Dr. Yuan Zhang (Management Information Systems), PI, with Drs. Ganga Hewage (Marketing and Supply Chain Management) and Brandon Booth (Computer Science)
Fogelman College of Business and Economics
Exploration of consumer self-discovery using GenAI to make better pre-consumption decisions
Dr. Ganga Hewage (Marketing and Supply Chain Management), PI, and Drs. Yuan Zhang (Management Information Systems) and Linh Ha Le (Hospitality and Resort Management)
Fogelman College of Business and Economics
Exploration of the effectiveness of distracted driving prevention advertisements on young drivers using eye-tracking technology
Dr. Susana Jaramillo (Marketing and Supply Chain Management), PI, with Drs. Subhash Jha (Marketing and Supply Chain Management), Casey Waldsmith (Marketing and Supply Chain Management), and Brandon Booth (Computer Science)
School of Public Health in partnership with international universities
Exploration of lifestyle risk factors for hypertension using machine learning models
Dr. Onoja Akpa (Biostatistics), PI, with Drs. Hongmei Zhang (Biostatistics), Yu Jiang (Biostatistics), Fawaz Mzayek (Epidemiology), Leanne Lefler (Nursing), Sohye Lee (Nursing), Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle (Seoul National University), and Osahon Jeffery Asowata (University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
Fogelman College of Business and Economics in partnership with University of Alabama in Huntsville
Initiative to empower software designers for a seamless transition from 2D to the Metaverse
Dr. Yafang Li (Management Information Systems), PI, with Drs. Pavankumar Mulgund (Management Information Systems), Han Yu (Economics), and Vasileios Pavlopoulos (University of Alabama in Huntsville)
School of Social Work in partnership with Love Doesn’t Hurt
Initiative for research on intimate partner violence
Dr. Sarah Leat (Social Work), PI, with Drs. Amaia Iratzoqui (Criminal Justice), Bernadette Ombayo (Social Work), and Phillis Lewis (Love Doesn’t Hurt)
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Initiative for an Annual Memphis Neuroscience Symposium
Drs. Miriam van Mersbergen (Communication Sciences and Disorders) and Nicholas Simon (Psychology), PIs
School of Public Health
Initiative for climate, environmental, and energy justice research
Dr. Chunrong Jia (Environmental and Urban Health), PI, with Drs. Ashish Joshi (Public Health), Abu Mohammed Naser Titu (Environmental and Urban Health), Arleen Hill (Earth Sciences), and Debra Bartelli (Urban Health)
School of Public Health
Exploration of vaccine acceptance and uptake decision processes for COVID-19 and influenza
Dr. Yong Yang (Social and Behavioral Sciences), PI, with Drs. Marian Levy (Social and Behavioral Sciences), James Murphy (Psychology), Esra Ozdenerol (Earth Sciences), Sohye Lee (Nursing), Seok Won Jin (Social Work), and Latrice Pichon (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Herff College of Engineering in partnership with Arkansas Tech University
Initiative to create an artificial intelligence and machine learning informed model for multiaxial fatigue life predictions of additive manufactured metallic porous structures
Dr. Reza Molaei (Mechanical Engineering), PI, with Drs. John Williams (Biomedical Engineering), Deepak Venugopal (Computer Science), and Mohammadreza Amjadi (Arkansas Tech University)
Herff College of Engineering
Initiative to develop a 3D multifunctional multicellular spheroid-on-a-chip system
Dr. Yuan Gao (Mechanical Engineering), PI, with Drs. Omar Skalli (Biology) and Xiaolei Huang (Computer Science)
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music in partnership with Crosstown Arts
Initiative for an Arts Entrepreneurship Research Lab
Dr. Josef Hanson (Music), PI, with Drs. Joel Roberts (University Libraries), Dawn Kimble (Crews Center for Entrepreneurship), and Jenny Davis (Crosstown Arts)
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders in partnership with the Shelby County Health Department, The Urban Child Institute, Literacy MidSouth, and Tennessee universities
Exploration of links between dichotic deficits and lead exposure in Memphis and Shelby County
Dr. Deborah Moncrieff (Communication Sciences and Disorders), PI, with Drs. Marian Levy (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Leah Windsor (English), Emily Ritter (Vanderbilt University), Roozbeh Rezaie (University of Tennessee Health Science Center), LaTricea Adams (Shelby County Lead Prevention & Sustainability Commission), LaQusha Barnes (Shelby County Health Department), Katherine Bryan (The Urban Child Institute), and Anasa Franklin (Literacy MidSouth)
Department of Computer Science
Initiative to strengthen scientific computing service for advancing research and education development for delta regional communities
Dr. Xiaolei Huang (Computer Science), PI, with Kristian Skjervold (Research Computing) and Eric Spangler (Research Computing)
School of Public Health in partnership with the West Cancer Center and Research Institute
Exploration of the role of environmental factors and climate change on cancer development
Dr. Abu Mohammed Naser Titu (Environmental and Urban Health), PI, with Drs. Hongmei Zhang (Biostatistics), Matthew Smeltzer (Epidemiology), and Noam VanderWalde (West Cancer Center)
Fogelman College of Business and Economics in partnership with universities
Exploration of GenAI’s role in mental health care
Dr. Polina Durneva (Management Information Systems), PI, with Drs. Yuan Zhang (Management Information Systems), J. Elliott Casal (Institute for Intelligent Systems), Attila Hertelendy (Florida International University), and Ejemai Eboreime (Dalhousie University)
Department of Journalism and Strategic Media
Exploration of the effects of game mode and product involvement in mobile VR gaming and in-game advertising
Dr. Jin Yang (Journalism and Strategic Media), PI, and Drs. Ruoxu Wang (Journalism and Strategic Media), and Brandon Booth (Computer Science)
School of Social Work in partnership with University Police Services
Initiative for the Victims Advocacy Collaborative
Dr. Bernadette Ombayo (Social Work), PI, in partnership with Drs. Sarah Leat (Social Work) and Joah Williams (Psychology), Dianne Stacks (Police Services), and Katlynn McClatchie (Police Services)
Fogelman College of Business and Economics in partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
Initiative for designing a metaverse application for educating young fathers on postpartum depression
Dr. Pavankumar Mulgund (Management Information Systems), PI, with Drs. Yafang Li (Management Information Systems), Han Yu (Economics), and Sam Marrazzo (Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus)
Past Work
INFER has a strong history of fostering collaborations between faculty, community agencies, and various departments across the university. These efforts have resulted in impactful projects that address critical needs and drive meaningful change. Below are examples of successful INFER partnerships and completed initiatives.
Fogelman College of Business and Economics
Exploration of how the tone and complexity of earnings conference calls are associated with future stock price crash risk
Dr. Konstantin Sokolov (Finance), PI, with Drs. Pankaj Jain (Finance) and Rasheek Irtisam (Finance)
Institute for Intelligent Systems
Initiative to develop and implement a comprehensive mentorship network to support women, students, faculty and staff across disciplines, ranks, and colleges
Dr. Leah Windsor (IIS), PI, with Drs. Abby Parrill-Baker (College of Arts and Sciences), Marian Levey (School of Public Health), Deborah Tollefsen (Arts and Sciences), Helen Sable (Behavioral Neuroscience), Esra Ozdenerol (GIS and SAGE), Melinda Jones (Honors College), Robin Poston (Graduate School), Kris-Stella Trump (Political Science), Dale Bowman (Mathematical Sciences and Statistics), Leigh Harrell-Williams (CEPR), Deranda Brewer Lewster (Behavioral Neuroscience)
Health Sciences in partnership with various local nonprofits
Initiative to engage faculty capacity building for broader impacts via grantsmanship workshops to expand knowledge base and skills in community-based research
Dr. Fedoria Rugless (Health Studies), PI, with Drs. Barbara McClanahan, Onyejebose Okwumabua, Michelle Stockton
School of Public Health in partnership with University Schools
Initiative to develop a statistical model for pool testing data to correctly estimate the prevalence of COVID and determine the optimal pooling strategy to achieve the maximum cost and time reduction.
Dr. Xichen Mou (Biostatistics), PI, with Sally Parish (AVP) Educational Initiatives, and Drs. Xinhua Yu (Epidemiology), Meredith Ray (Biostatistics), Yinan Yu (Business Information and Technology), Rui Qi (Hospitality Management)
Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
Initiative to quantify the role of safety perceptions in hospitality decision-making (Airbnb vs. hotels) during and post-pandemic.
Dr. Rui Qi (Hospitality and Resort Management), PI, with Drs. Radesh Palakurthi (Hospitality), Tim Ryan (Hospitality), Xichen Mou (Biostatistics), Yong Yang (School of Public Health), Chi Li (COE)
Loewenberg College of Nursing in partnership with Church Health Center
Exploration of the impact of virtual health educational program and horticultural therapy in self-management skills and quality of life among people with cardiovascular risk factors: Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension
Dr. Annapoorna Mary (Nursing), PI, with Dr. Fedoria Rugless (Health Sciences)
School of Communication Sciences & Disorders with Urban Child Institute, Believe Memphis Academy, Bodine School, Campus School, and Perea Elementary School
Initiative to break through invisible barriers to literacy
Dr. Deborah Moncrieff (Communication Sciences and Disorders), PI, with Drs. Marian Levy (School of Public Health) and Carolyn Kaldon (CREP)
Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) in partnership with Lipman Early Learning and Research Center, Hatiloo Theater, and Campus School
Initiative to host a grant writing competition to increase the attainment of externally-funded research
Dr. Carolyn Kaldon (CREP), PI, with Sally Parish (AVP), Alfred Hall (COE), Stephanie Ivey (Engineering), Kenneth Ward (Public Health), Lorretta Rudd (Child Devlopment and Family Studies), Todd Zoblotsky (CREP), John Sabatini (Psychology), Andrew Tawfik (Instructional Design and Technology), Craig Shepard (Instructional Design and Technology), Shelly Counsell (School of Communication Sciences and Disorders), Josef Hanson (Music), Remy Debes (Philosophy), Terrence Tucker (AA Literature), Deborah Tollefsen (Philosophy), Brian Ruggaber (Theatre and Dance)
College of Communication and Fine Arts in partnership with various nonprofits
Initiative to help faculty develop community partners, a research project plan, and increased external funding knowledge
Dr. Melissa Janoske McLean (Journalism), PI.
Health Spaces and Technology Research Community
in partnership with Memphis Public Libraries
Initiative to complete the collection and analysis of data of the library community health needs assessment project, write abstracts and manuscripts for disseminating findings from the library health needs assessment projects, identify the health needs for potential interventions in faculty's expert areas, and seek funding to expand the community health outreach by enhancing collaborations with UofM scholars and community partners
Dr. Irma Sinagrella (Libraries), PI, with Drs. Sohye Lee (Nursing), Seok Won Jin (Social Work), Y'Esha Williams (Nursing), Susan Elswick (Social Work), Kathryn Hicks (Anthropology), Christine Bertz (CREP)
College of Health Sciences in partnership with
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Initiative to establish formal cross-disciplinary discussions among U of M faculty; facilitate communication between faculty at U of M, UTHSC and other regional institutions; and enhance opportunities for trainees
Dr. Brandt Pence (Health Sciences), PI, with Drs. Gary Bowlin (Biomedical Engineering), Thomas Sutter (Biology), Hongmei Zhang (Public Health), Melissa Puppa (Health Sciences), Yufeng Zhang (Health Sciences), Jim Adelman (Biology), Marie van der Merwe (Health Sciences), Aaryani Sajja (Biomedical Engineering)
Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in partnership with CEDM and the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and USA
Initiative to establish an interdisciplinary research center focused on ethnic/racial disparities in health
Dean Katherine Traylor Schaffzin (Law), PI, with Drs. Jacqueline Buford (Nursing), Elena Delavega (Social Work), Latrice Pichon (Public Health), Angel Oigbokie (Nursing), Enrica Ruggs (FCBE), and Demetria Frank (Law) and Katy Mason (Law)
Department of Civil Engineering in
partnership with various institutions
Initiative to form a better network between water researchers from various institutions
Dr. Farhad Jazaei (Civil Engineering), PI
College of Communication and Fine Arts
Exploration of the impact of video game playing on overcoming pandemic isolation in professional and recreational players
Drs. Jin Yang (Journalism and Strategic Media), PI, and Ruoxu Wang (Journalism and Strategic Media), PI with Drs. Shannon Cook (Computer Science) and Rhema Fuller (Hospitality)
College of Communication and Fine Arts in partnership
with Memphis Public Relations Society
Initiative to create local mentorship opportunities for students within CCFA
Dr. Kate Roberts (Art), PI, with Dr. Teri Del Rosso (Journalism and Strategic Media)
School of Public Health
Initiative to conduct a longitudinal online survey among American adults to collect information about the influences of COVID on health outcomes/behaviors
Dr. Yong Yang (Public Health), PI, with Drs. Ken Ward (Public Health), Jim Murphy (Psychology), Aram Dobalian (Public Health)
College of Communication and Fine Arts
in partnership with Memphis Symphony Orchestra
Initiative to examine the impact of Koru mindfulness training on professional orchestra musicians' music performance anxiety
Drs. Ryan (Music) and Robyn Jones (Music) with Dr. Sean Holder
College of Communication and Fine Arts
in partnership with Room in the Inn Memphis
Initiative to obtain the perspectives of the homeless to increase an understanding of their barriers to sustained housing
Drs. Sachiko Terui (Communication and Film), PI, and Joy Goldsmith (Communication and Film), PI, with Drs. Matthew Haught (Journalism), Andrew Tawfik (Instructional Design and Technology)