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Letter from the VPR
Colleagues,
Coming back from Thanksgiving break, I received a handwritten note of thanks from a colleague. I love cards. I always have. I have a drawer at home full of cards that I collect without knowing when I’ll use them. When my kids were little, I’d tuck a card or a note with words of encouragement—or a little joke to make them laugh—into their lunches or coat pockets, knowing they would find it later. It seems like a small thing, but recognizing the efforts of others is an invaluable way to remind ourselves that we’re in this together. We need each other to continue to grow and build, especially in moments of transition like the one we find ourselves in now.
That sense of shared effort was top of mind as we wrapped up the first phase of the President’s Big Ideas Initiative. I was not surprised that we received well over 150 letters of intent. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, I heard from colleagues all over the system—sometimes directly, sometimes through the grapevine—about the proposals they were shaping. And because we use a shared ticketing system, I also saw every LOI land in real time. As a PI myself, I know the ongoing cycle of proposals can feel like a grind, but the enthusiasm behind these ideas was unmistakable.
With the external pressures and the uncertainties we are all facing, that enthusiasm matters even more. It’s a reminder that big ideas don’t come to life in isolation. Because we received such a large number of LOIs, I asked our reviewers to keep an eye out for overlapping ideas and opportunities to connect teams across submissions. Reviewing all the proposals as a group gave us a bird’s-eye view of common threads that individual PIs or teams might not see on their own. In addition, we have extended the full proposal deadline to 9:00AM February 2, 2026. Many of the notices that went out this week invite PIs to work together to build proposals that weave together new ideas, multiple perspectives, and integrated research approaches. I hope you’ll see these as invitations—small reminders that collaboration can help us think even bigger. Much like that handwritten card that started my week, each collaborative step you take is its own message of appreciation—proof that our collective efforts are stronger than any of us working alone.
As we look toward the final proposals early in the new year, I’m energized by the possibilities ahead. I’m continually thankful for the spirit and excitement you bring to this community, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas grow as we move ahead together.
Kim Christen
Vice President for Research
Upcoming Events
Skagit Watershed Studies Webinar: An Estuary, a Tributary, and the Groundwater
Washington State Representative Debra Lekanoff and Senator Keith Wagoner, former co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Task Force (Task Force) on Water Supply, are convening a presentation and discussion focused on three Skagit Basin water supply studies identified by the Task Force. Research teams will share their findings:
Skagit River Basin Groundwater Study
Study Lead: Chad Wiseman, Washington Fisheries Program Lead at HDR
Hydrologic Study of the Skagit Estuary
Study Lead: Correigh Greene, Skagit River System Cooperative and Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries (retired)
Skagit River Tributary Instream Flow Habitat Assessment Study Associates Environmental Consultants
This research was facilitated by the State of Washington Water Research Center in conjunction with the Washington State Academy of Sciences. It was funded through a contract with the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The event is free but registration is required.
Date: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 10:00 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Skagit Watershed Studies
Spring 2026 Fundamentals of Grant Writing Across Disciplines
Led by proposal development specialist Lydia Baxter-Howard from Advancement & Strategy in the Office of Research, this series consists of five weekly sessions that provide grant-writing tools for faculty in any discipline, plus an as-needed prerequisite session for finding funding. The 1.5-hour sessions include presentations, group discussions, take-home assignments, and peer review/feedback of proposal drafts.
Interested faculty members are invited to visit the workshop program page for more information and to submit an application, including a letter of support from their chair or director, by February 1, 2026.
Funding Opportunities
Supplemental Research Funds
There are frequently needs for research and creative work that are difficult to fund because they fall outside of projects that are supported by external funders, or because they are ancillary to core research and creative work. The Supplemental Research Funds program may provide partial support for costs related to research and creative activity that fall outside of regular funding streams. This funding should be used in addition to other internal and external sources of funds and travel is not an eligible use for these funds.
Deadline: January 31, 2026 Find out more information and how to apply at: Supplemental Research Funds.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Spotlight
Compound developed at WSU could aid apple growers and defeat superbugs
A compound developed by researchers shows strong effectiveness against destructive pathogens in apple and pear orchards, including the disease Fire blight. Unlike traditional antibiotics, the compound is heat-stable and remains effective even against drug-resistant strains, potentially offering growers a powerful new tool for crop protection. The WSU team hopes to partner with commercial growers to bring the compound out of the lab and eventually making it available for real-world orchard use. Read more here: Compound developed by researchers
WSU Global Campus Society of Distinguished Alumni: New Inductee
Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, an awarding-winning children’s author and Washington State Global Campus alumna, was inducted into the WSU Global Campus Society of Distinguished Alumni. Each year the Society inducts a small number of graduates whose professional success, leadership, or contributions reflect the high standards of the Coug network. Read more here: Distinguished Alumni