Research Interest Groups | Research, Innovation & Impact

Research interest groups (RIGs) are grassroots, faculty-led communities of scholars that foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, research ideation, public engagement and academic leadership.

Most RIGs are open to research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs. Any restrictions on membership will be included in the description.

Complete our brief form if you would like your RIG listed below.

Please email us at muresearchprodev@missouri.edu with questions and updates.

Mizzou RIGs

Updated July 24, 2025

Descriptions
Artificial Intelligence This RIG brings together research and creative activity in AI and machine learning at Mizzou. Join us to learn and collaborate with others in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Discussion topics include, but are not limited to, promising research and funding opportunities; AI development and innovation; applications of AI to widely varied problems; and ethical use of AI. Who can join: Investigators and creators from across Mizzou who are researching and/or using AI technologies and methods Meetings: Complete our brief form to be notified of upcoming meetings. Contact: Clintin Davis-Stober, Frederick A. Middlebush Professor of Psychology stoberc@umsystem.edu
Consortium for Interpersonal Violence Interventions in Context (CIVIC) CIVIC is a researcher-led initiative focused on cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration among scholars and practitioners researching interpersonal violence in local, state, national and international contexts. The initiative aims to break down silos that often hinder fruitful communication and collaboration among researchers in different disciplines and to foster rigorous, interdisciplinary research to improve our understanding of and responses to interpersonal violence. Who can join: Members represent a variety of disciplines within the University of Missouri System, including social work, political science, human development and family science, public health, law and criminology. Research and teaching faculty, staff and postdocs studying interpersonal violence (from any discipline) are welcome. Contacts: Rachel Wechsler, MU Associate Professor of Law, co-chair Annah Bender, UMSL Assistant Professor of Social Work, co-chair Email: civic@umsystem.edu CIVIC website
Family and Relationships Research Network of Missouri (FARR-net) FARR-net is composed of faculty, students and research and extension specialists affiliated with the UM System. Scholars in the network conduct research with diverse families in all stages of life on important relational processes such as harmony, conflict, resilience, interpersonal violence, positive parenting and child development. The aim of our research is to learn more about close personal relationships and improve the lives of Missouri youth, families and relationships over the lifespan. Who can join: Scholars from just about any social, behavioral and/or health science discipline who study the importance or influence of close, interpersonal relationships Current member disciplines include psychology, interpersonal communication, human development and family science, sociology, psychiatry and social work. We welcome research and teaching faculty, staff, graduate students and postdocs. Meetings: We meet six times a year at 11 a.m. over Zoom on the second Friday of September, October, November, February, March and April. Contact: Nicole Campione-Barr, professor, psychological sciences campionebarrn@missouri.edu
Hand and Limb Optimization Research Group We are a group of orthopaedic hand surgeons with grant-funded research seeking to understand patient perspectives on their care and answer questions related to peripheral nerve recovery, limb optimization in patients with amputation and targeted muscle reinnervation and other areas. Areas needed: Physical medicine and rehabilitation, occupational therapy, psychology and bioengineering Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs Meetings: First Monday of every month, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Room 4070 (Zoom option available). Contact: Daniel London, assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery d.london@health.missouri.edu
Interdisciplinary Reproduction and Health Group Seminar Series (IRHG) The goal of IRHG is to highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in the reproductive health field, provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners. The IRHG was established through a faculty-driven, grassroots effort in 2016 to develop an integrative, interdisciplinary program that transcends traditional departmental, college and UM System boundaries to foster excellence in reproduction, health research and education at Mizzou. Who can join: The overarching theme of the IRHG is to address broad challenges to reproduction and health of humans and animals by conducting basic, clinical and translational research and training the next generation of scientists. We employ integrative and multidisciplinary approaches to conduct cutting-edge research in reproduction, genomics and health; optimize opportunities for training in those fields; and facilitate transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the classroom, clinic (human and veterinary), field (animal agriculture and wildlife management) and community (information, policy and education). Open to research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs. Meetings: First Wednesday of every month (invited speaker seminar) and third Wednesday of every month (work-in-progress seminar) at 4 p.m., Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building Contacts: Wipawee Winuthayanon, associate professor, obstetrics, gynecology and women's health w.winuthayanon@health.missouri.edu Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health lynchmm@umystem.edu
Neural Control Working Group We are interested in neurophysiology as it relates to how the nervous system (both central and peripheral) controls physiological systems. We strive to train the next generation of neurophysiologists through immersion in cutting-edge neuroscience techniques. We range from investigators trained on single cell approaches through to whole systems physiologists. Areas needed: Physiology and neuroscience Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs Meetings: Journal clubs are every other Tuesday in the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center conference room 132;. Investigators from PIs to undergraduate trainees present new research articles and/or projects and grants in progress. Contact: Carie Boychuk, associate professor, biomedical sciences boychukc@missouri.edu
NextGen Cardiovascular, Muscle and Metabolism Science Seminar We highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in cardiovascular, muscle and metabolism fields; provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts; and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners. Who can join: Anyone interested in studying cardiovascular, muscle and metabolism science and similar or developing topics within these fields can join, including research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs. Meetings: Noon on the second Monday of each month, Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building; see our website for more details Contacts: Scott Rector, professor, nutrition and exercise physiology and medicine rectors@health.missouri.edu Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health lynchmm@umystem.edu
NextGen Neuroscience Meetup This casual, friendly monthly event facilitates interdisciplinary conversations among University of Missouri researchers at all levels. Join us for food, beverages and socializing. Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs interested in learning about neuroscience and relative topics within the field, including imaging, data science and others Meetings: 4:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building; see our website for more details Contacts: Smita Saxena, professor, physical medicine and rehabilitation smitasaxena@health.missouri.edu Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health lynchmm@umystem.edu
Show Me Implementation Collaboration Our network is interested in implementation research across disciplines, settings and sectors. Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff and postdocs from any discipline Meetings: We aim to meet at least once a year in person and once a year virtually. Main topics of interest are areas of possible collaboration including implementation research. Contact: Lisa Ferguson, Associate Director of Research, School of Nursing lafhwn@missouri.edu

Descriptions

Artificial Intelligence
This RIG brings together research and creative activity in AI and machine learning at Mizzou. Join us to learn and collaborate with others in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Discussion topics include, but are not limited to, promising research and funding opportunities; AI development and innovation; applications of AI to widely varied problems; and ethical use of AI.

Who can join: Investigators and creators from across Mizzou who are researching and/or using AI technologies and methods

Meetings: Complete our brief form to be notified of upcoming meetings.

Contact: Clintin Davis-Stober, Frederick A. Middlebush Professor of Psychology
stoberc@umsystem.edu

Consortium for Interpersonal Violence Interventions in Context (CIVIC)
CIVIC is a researcher-led initiative focused on cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration among scholars and practitioners researching interpersonal violence in local, state, national and international contexts.

The initiative aims to break down silos that often hinder fruitful communication and collaboration among researchers in different disciplines and to foster rigorous, interdisciplinary research to improve our understanding of and responses to interpersonal violence.

Who can join: Members represent a variety of disciplines within the University of Missouri System, including social work, political science, human development and family science, public health, law and criminology.

Research and teaching faculty, staff and postdocs studying interpersonal violence (from any discipline) are welcome.

Contacts:

Rachel Wechsler, MU Associate Professor of Law, co-chair
Annah Bender, UMSL Assistant Professor of Social Work, co-chair

Email: civic@umsystem.edu
CIVIC website

Family and Relationships Research Network of Missouri (FARR-net)
FARR-net is composed of faculty, students and research and extension specialists affiliated with the UM System. Scholars in the network conduct research with diverse families in all stages of life on important relational processes such as harmony, conflict, resilience, interpersonal violence, positive parenting and child development.

The aim of our research is to learn more about close personal relationships and improve the lives of Missouri youth, families and relationships over the lifespan.

Who can join: Scholars from just about any social, behavioral and/or health science discipline who study the importance or influence of close, interpersonal relationships

Current member disciplines include psychology, interpersonal communication, human development and family science, sociology, psychiatry and social work.

We welcome research and teaching faculty, staff, graduate students and postdocs.

Meetings: We meet six times a year at 11 a.m. over Zoom on the second Friday of September, October, November, February, March and April.

Contact: Nicole Campione-Barr, professor, psychological sciences
campionebarrn@missouri.edu

Hand and Limb Optimization Research Group
We are a group of orthopaedic hand surgeons with grant-funded research seeking to understand patient perspectives on their care and answer questions related to peripheral nerve recovery, limb optimization in patients with amputation and targeted muscle reinnervation and other areas.

Areas needed: Physical medicine and rehabilitation, occupational therapy, psychology and bioengineering

Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs

Meetings: First Monday of every month, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Room 4070 (Zoom option available).

Contact: Daniel London, assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery
d.london@health.missouri.edu

Interdisciplinary Reproduction and Health Group Seminar Series (IRHG)
The goal of IRHG is to highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in the reproductive health field, provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners.

The IRHG was established through a faculty-driven, grassroots effort in 2016 to develop an integrative, interdisciplinary program that transcends traditional departmental, college and UM System boundaries to foster excellence in reproduction, health research and education at Mizzou.

Who can join: The overarching theme of the IRHG is to address broad challenges to reproduction and health of humans and animals by conducting basic, clinical and translational research and training the next generation of scientists. We employ integrative and multidisciplinary approaches to conduct cutting-edge research in reproduction, genomics and health; optimize opportunities for training in those fields; and facilitate transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the classroom, clinic (human and veterinary), field (animal agriculture and wildlife management) and community (information, policy and education).

Open to research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs.

Meetings: First Wednesday of every month (invited speaker seminar) and third Wednesday of every month (work-in-progress seminar) at 4 p.m., Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building

Contacts:

Wipawee Winuthayanon, associate professor, obstetrics, gynecology and women's health
w.winuthayanon@health.missouri.edu
Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health
lynchmm@umystem.edu

Neural Control Working Group
We are interested in neurophysiology as it relates to how the nervous system (both central and peripheral) controls physiological systems. We strive to train the next generation of neurophysiologists through immersion in cutting-edge neuroscience techniques. We range from investigators trained on single cell approaches through to whole systems physiologists.

Areas needed: Physiology and neuroscience

Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs

Meetings: Journal clubs are every other Tuesday in the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center conference room 132;. Investigators from PIs to undergraduate trainees present new research articles and/or projects and grants in progress.

Contact: Carie Boychuk, associate professor, biomedical sciences
boychukc@missouri.edu

NextGen Cardiovascular, Muscle and Metabolism Science Seminar
We highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in cardiovascular, muscle and metabolism fields; provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts; and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners.

Who can join: Anyone interested in studying cardiovascular, muscle and metabolism science and similar or developing topics within these fields can join, including research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs.

Meetings: Noon on the second Monday of each month, Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building; see our website for more details

Contacts:

Scott Rector, professor, nutrition and exercise physiology and medicine
rectors@health.missouri.edu
Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health
lynchmm@umystem.edu

NextGen Neuroscience Meetup
This casual, friendly monthly event facilitates interdisciplinary conversations among University of Missouri researchers at all levels. Join us for food, beverages and socializing.

Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs interested in learning about neuroscience and relative topics within the field, including imaging, data science and others

Meetings: 4:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, Atkins Seminar Room, NextGen Precision Health building; see our website for more details

Contacts:

Smita Saxena, professor, physical medicine and rehabilitation
smitasaxena@health.missouri.edu
Mackenzie Lynch, program coordinator, NextGen Precision Health
lynchmm@umystem.edu

Show Me Implementation Collaboration
Our network is interested in implementation research across disciplines, settings and sectors.

Who can join: Research and teaching faculty, staff and postdocs from any discipline

Meetings: We aim to meet at least once a year in person and once a year virtually. Main topics of interest are areas of possible collaboration including implementation research.

Contact: Lisa Ferguson, Associate Director of Research, School of Nursing
lafhwn@missouri.edu