PBS Researchers Among Winners of IDS 2026 Seed Grants
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Two researchers from the College of Natural Sciences's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences—Lisa Sanders, professor and developmental science area head, and graduate student Yimeng Wang—were part of a team that recently won a seed grant from the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS) as part of an initiative that supports interdisciplinary teams of faculty and student researchers. The goal of these grants, which totaled $15,000 this year, is to bolster STEM research that addresses pressing social problems. Researchers supported by these grants come from nine departments across campus.
In the 2026 funding cycle, IDS is supporting projects that expand access in tourism and in the classroom; help communities develop equitable energy infrastructure in the face of climate-related disruptions; and two projects that examine public perceptions of higher education. Together, they show what IDS seed grants are designed to support: research that is ambitious, interdisciplinary, and committed to the public good.
“At a time when so much about higher education feels uncertain, it’s easy to focus on what we can’t control,” said Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta, director of IDS. “Our seed grants reflect what we can do—bring together faculty and students from different disciplines to develop research that responds to the needs of our communities. These projects demonstrate how scientific collaboration can create meaningful impact.”
Sanders and Wang partnered with members of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences to propose a project entitled "Education Embodied: Measuring Student Engagement Through Physiology." In their proposal, the team argues that universities are investing heavily in more inclusive teaching, but they seek to understand which classroom practices actually help students feel engaged and supported. This project will explore whether physiological indicators can provide a more immediate and inclusive way to measure student engagement in active learning environments.
To learn more about the other projects chosen for IDS's 2026 seed grants, visit the original version of this article, published by the UMass News Office.