ICubedR

It was a pleasure to welcome Josiah Leong, Ph.D. and the inaugural class of medical students from the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine to explore the institute’s research, capabilities, and collaborative approach to advancing integrative health in Arkansas and beyond. We are inspired by their curiosity and look forward to seeing the impact this next generation of physicians will make in the years ahead.

Innovation starts with curiosity—and becomes impact through collaboration and hands-on research experience.

Join us Friday, April 3 from 9 - 10 AM for the ✨I³R Student Research Showcase✨to see how the next generation of innovators are tackling real-world challenges across health, technology, data science, and beyond.

Discover new ideas, meet future collaborators, and explore how student research is shaping solutions that matter at the University of Arkansas.

We invite faculty, staff, students, and community members to attend, ask questions, and be inspired!

✨I³R Student Research Spring Showcase
📍 I³R building | 793 W. Dickson Street
📅 Friday, April 3
⏰ 9 - 10 AM

Celebrating some of the incredible women on our team today 💜
When we support, uplift, and create opportunities for one another, we all move forward together!

🎓 Congratulations, Dr. Aliyah K. Shell 🎉

We are thrilled to congratulate Aliyah Shell, Ph.D., on the successful completion of her doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering and on her next professional step with UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Aliyah’s work reflects strong scholarly rigor and meaningful impact, particularly, in advancing research at the intersection of neuro-haptics, rehabilitation, and biomedical innovation.

Her dedication to research excellence, mentorship, and service exemplifies the values of I³R and the University of Arkansas. We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work in improving health outcomes across Arkansas and beyond.

We are so proud of you, Aliyah! We know you will accomplish big things and we'll be cheering you on from NWA!

We’re excited to wrap up the I³R Fall 2025 Speaker Series with a remarkable guest whose work is changing the future of maternal and fetal health.

Join us on Friday, December 5 from 9–10 AM as we welcome Dr. Ramkumar Menon, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Mildred Harvey and Phyllis Hankins Maternal Fetal Medicine Distinguished Chair at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Dr. Menon brings more than 35 years of leadership in reproductive and perinatal biology. His groundbreaking work—including the development of the pregnancy-on-a-chip model—is helping researchers better understand preterm birth and create safer, more effective approaches to maternal care. His talk, “Revolutionary New Approach Methods to Study Human Pregnancy and Parturition,” will highlight how new scientific tools are accelerating discoveries that can improve outcomes for mothers and babies.

📅 December 5 | 9–10 AM CT
📍 In Person: I³R Building | 793 W Dickson St., Fayetteville, AR
💻 Virtual: via Zoom (link available via our website: i3r.uark.edu)

We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring and important conversation!

Huge thanks to University of Minnesota Professor Théoden “Tay” Netoff, Ph.D. for a fascinating presentation on how engineering and Bayesian optimization are helping doctors tailor brain-stimulation treatments for conditions like epilepsy, chronic pain, and depression.

His research shows how computational innovation can improve patient outcomes and accelerate new treatments as we work toward .

Missed it? You can catch the full talk on-demand on our YouTube channel.
➡️ https://bit.ly/44iKjuF

Congratulations to I³R Founding Executive Director Dr. Ranu Jung on achieving Life Membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)!

This special honor is given to individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence and meaningful, long-term contributions to IEEE and the broader engineering community. It reflects Dr. Jung’s outstanding professional accomplishments, her leadership in advancing transformative technologies, and her enduring impact on the growth and development of IEEE.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition! 👏

Thank you to Hyoyoung Jeong, Ph.D. for delivering an exciting Speaker Series talk on how skin-like sensors are unlocking continuous, real-world health monitoring across all ages.

The work Dr. Jeong and his team at the UC Davis Jeong Research Laboratory are doing is a powerful example of how breakthroughs in are transforming diagnostics, therapeutics, and personalized care—moving us closer to .

Missed it? Catch the full talk on-demand on our YouTube channel.
👉 https://bit.ly/43yrgfQ

We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Alejandro Martin Gomez, assistant professor at the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) and faculty member in the University of Arkansas College of Engineering! 🎉

Dr. Martin Gomez was recently honored with a 2025 New Faculty Commendation from the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center for his meaningful engagement and contributions during the 2024–2025 academic year.

His work in extended reality (XR), medical robotics, and human-computer interaction is helping create new learning and surgical environments that connect innovative technology with real-world needs. Just as importantly, his commitment to teaching and mentoring students is making a lasting impact on our campus community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Martin Gomez on this well-deserved recognition! 👏🌟

Congratulations to Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) at the University of Arkansas Research Professor Mohsen Bazargan for inclusion among the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List for 2025! 👏

This prestigious list highlights the world’s leading scientists who have made a substantial impact in their respective fields through their citation influence. Dr. Bazargan's listing appears under Public Health, Gerontology, and Public Health & Health Services.

An accomplished medical sociologist and recognized leader in public health access and community-based interventions, Dr. Bazargan provides sociological expertise to the institute's well-health initiatives.

"His deep expertise in medical sociology, aging, research methodology, evaluation and statistics, paired with the unique expertise of our faculty and maternal health coalition partners, strengthens the institute's efforts to address 'wicked' problems like Arkansas' maternal health disparities and our initiative to empower improved health outcomes for families," says I³R Founding Executive Director Dr. Ranu Jung.

Congratulations, Dr. Mohsen Bazargan! 👏

We're proud to have Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) at the University of Arkansas Founding Executive Director Dr. Ranu Jung recognized as one of Arkansas' 250 Most Influential Leaders by Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

As steward of I³R, Dr. Jung is bringing to life the vision of a new kind of institute intended to catalyze transformation of the research, innovation and economic development culture of the region.

Under Dr. Jung's leadership the institute has reached significant milestones, and with the opening of the I³R building a few short months ago, we're just getting started!

Read the full issue: https://bit.ly/4oIPA6V

Guest Speaker Spotlight: Douglas J. Weber, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
🧠 Neural Engineering | 🦾 Neurotechnology | 💡 Innovation

Join us virtually or in-person this Friday, Nov. 7, as we welcome Dr. Douglas J. Weber—a trailblazer in neurotechnology and rehabilitation science--for a talk on efforts to develop wearable and injectable neural interfaces for restoring or improving motor function in people with paralysis due to stroke, spinal cord injury, ALS, and other neurological disorders.

Dr. Weber is a founder of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office and a pioneer in wearable and injectable devices that restore movement. He also brings to the conversation experience as the founder of a medical device startup developing novel therapy for restoring arm function for people with chronic hemiplegia post-stroke.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the top minds in neural engineering!

Everyone is welcome. Let's explore the future of neurotechnology---together.

📅 Friday, Nov. 7
⏰ 9-10 AM CT
📍 In person: I³R Building I 793 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR 72701
💻 Virtual: via Zoom (link available via our website: i3r.uark.edu)