Research News & Events
Kean University Awarded National Science Foundation Grant to Explore Biological Insecticides Originating from Fungi
September 8, 2025. Kean University continues to expand its research portfolio with a new $455,019 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study a fungus found on aspen trees, which may lead to development of natural, eco-friendly insect repellents. Principal Investigator, Kean University Associate Professor Maria Shumskaya, Ph.D., and co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor Supratik Kar, Ph.D., both of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology (CSMT), will lead a study of Phellinus tremulae, the fungus known as the aspen bracket. Notably avoided by insects in nature, this fungus – either alone or in partnership with the host aspen tree – may hold clues to developing safe, sustainable insect-repelling compounds for use in agriculture, forestry and public health.
Kean to Plant Trees on Campus with $235,342 Trees for Schools Grant
July 17, 2025. Launched in 2023, Trees for Schools, a joint effort of The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Sustainable Jersey, and The College of New Jersey, is funded through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Kean was one of 40 public schools, colleges, and universities across the state awarded a Trees for Schools grant this year.
Kean Oceanography Students Dive into Hands-On Science at Sandy Hook
April 30, 2025. Kean oceanography students are making discoveries through coastal research at Sandy Hook. From measuring water samples to exploring sediment layers, this hands-on experience brings classroom concepts to life and inspires students to become stewards of the environment.
Read About It Here
Kean Research Offers New Tools in the Fight Against Spotted Lanternflies
April 8, 2025. While many New Jerseyans know to squash spotted lanternflies to protect plants, new research from a Kean University faculty member offers more effective methods to curb their spread.
Kean University Researchers, Student-Athletes Partner to Study Calcium Intake and Cardiovascular Health
April 2, 2025. A collaborative study involving Kean University’s student-athletes and researchers is one of the first to examine the importance of calcium to cardiovascular health, opening new pathways for future scientific discovery.
Kean Researcher Kuan Huang, Ph.D., Working to Transform Lives with AI Cancer Screening
April 2, 2025. Kean Assistant Professor Kuan Huang, Ph.D., is researching the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in breast cancer screening, aiming to develop highly accurate diagnostic tools that can ultimately save lives.
Kean University Forges Research Partnership in Brazil, Furthering Global Reach
April 2, 2025. Kean University is partnering with an institution of higher education in Brazil to conduct applied research focused on sustainability and the bioeconomy, offering students opportunities for international collaboration. The partnership between Kean and SENAI CIMATEC, a science and technology institution located in Salvador, Brazil, will focus on research in areas such as sustainable agricultural products; drug discovery for therapeutics to combat the Zika virus and neglected tropical diseases; and the development of healthy, sustainable housing.
Kean University Researchers Discover Plant Fat and Animal Protein May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
February 24, 2025. For years, researchers have explored a range of possible causes for Type 2 diabetes, looking at everything from lifestyle to diet and beyond. The key challenge has been disentangling these overlapping factors to determine which ones actually contribute to the disease. Now, new machine learning techniques have helped two Kean University researchers, Adam Eckart, DHSc, and Pragya Sharma, Ph.D., both assistant professors in Kean’s Department of Health and Human Performance, cut through the noise and pinpoint the most influential factors. Their findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, revealed that a combination of age, body mass index, fatty acid ratios and an unhealthy lifestyle are linked to Type 2 diabetes.
Kean Researcher Works to Make Self-driving Cars Safer for Pedestrians
January 22, 2025. Assistant Professor Lakshmi Subramanian, Ph.D., of the Department of Computer Science and Technology, is leading a team of Kean undergraduate researchers who are conducting research to understand how pedestrians behave when crossing streets in the era of autonomous vehicles.
Kean University Receives State Grant to Support Student Teachers in High-Poverty School Districts
Kean University’s College of Education has received a $375,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to help increase diversity in the state’s teacher workforce by funding full tuition for 10 student teachers working in high-poverty school districts.
Faculty Awards at the Third Annual Kean University End-of-Year Faculty Research Conference
The following Kean University faculty were honored with awards during the Third Annual Kean University End-of-Year Faculty Research Conference on May 9, 2025 in the Liberty Hall Academic Center (LHAC):
Research Mentor Award - This award recognizes 4 individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring students, fostering academic and personal growth, and cultivating a supportive and inclusive research environment while promoting research integrity.
- Basic Science: Kim Spaccarotella (Biological Sciences)
- Applied Science: Pragya Sharma-Ghimire (Health & Human Performance)
- Humanities & Social Science: Mansi Brat (Counselor Education)
- Creative Arts & Design: Camille Sherrod (Architecture)
Early-Career Award - This award recognizes the achievements and future potential of 4 early career researchers who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and impact in their fields. They also find time to mentor students and collaborate with colleagues here at Kean as well as other institutions.
- Basic Science: Mingjing Sun (Chemistry/Physics)
- Applied Science: Galia Shokry (Environmental Science)
- Humanities & Social Sciences: Saran Nurse (Management)
- Creative Arts & Design: Venesa Alicea-Chuqui (Architecture)
Excellence in Research Award - This award recognizes outstanding and impactful research contributions. These awards honor 4 faculty members for their originality, innovation, and the potential for their research to have broad societal benefit.
- Basic Science: Supratik Kar (Chemistry/Physics)
- Applied Science: Daehan Kwak (Computer Science)
- Humanities & Social Sciences: Ngoc Dao (Public Administration)
- Creative Arts & Design: Matthew Halper (Fine Arts/Music)
Urban Research Award - This award recognizes outstanding research that advances understanding, innovation, or practice in urban environments. This includes contributions to urban planning, housing, infrastructure, transportation, sustainability, social equity, education, or the built environment.
- Winner: Madji Fall (Bilingual Education, TESOL and World Languages)
- Honorable Mention: Sarah Ruel-Bergeron (Architecture)
Computer Science Student Researcher, Finalist for National Award, Graduating from Kean
Kean University senior Oluwatunmise Alabi’s work in research earned her both recognition as a finalist for a competitive national computing award and a job offer as a software engineer at Northrop Grumman.
Kean Receives $800,000 NSF Award to Increase Diversity in Computing
Students in the Department of Computer Science and Technology will learn to design more inclusive software, with a goal of using those skills in the future.
Read more Here.
Kean’s 2024 Research Days Highlight Learning
Kean University celebrated research across campuses and academic disciplines at the University’s 16th annual Research Days conference April 15-17.
The University showcased learning and scholarship, at all of the university campuses Union, Kean Ocean in Toms River, Research Days Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) in China. The conference featured the work of 1,253 students and 46 faculty members.
“Research Days is an exciting way that Kean highlights our commitment to academic excellence through the research and creative work of our students and faculty,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We are thrilled once again to celebrate our active academic community and our focus on the pursuit of knowledge, especially as we continue on the path toward designation as an R2 research institution.”
Read more HERE.
College of Education Receives Grant to Create Diverse Teacher Pipeline for New Jersey Schools
Kean University is working to recruit, train and place teachers from diverse backgrounds in three economically disadvantaged school districts across New Jersey through a new grant-funded program. Read more HERE.