Interdisciplinary Research: Challenges and Opportunities presentation slides
Join ORSP for our Colloquium Series event featuring Dr. Nitin Agarwal and Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm in Ottenheimer library room 535 on March 30th from 11 a.m. – noon. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
This program will feature an informal presentation by Dr. Nitin Agarwal from the Department of Information Science and Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm from the School of Public Affairs on the joys, challenges, and opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Key topics will include examining the challenges of interdisciplinary research, bridging theoretical and methodological divides, and evaluating interdisciplinary research for tenure and promotion. They will also share their experiences with approaching funding opportunities at various agencies. Open discussion will follow the presentation. ORSP encourages any faculty, staff, and students working on or interested in sponsored programs to attend. ORSP Pre- and Post-Award grant managers will be on hand to answer questions.
Nitin Agarwal is the Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Dr. Agarwal is the director of the Collaboratorium of Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS). His research interests include social computing, (deviant) behavior modeling, group dynamics, influence, trust, collective action, social-cyber forensics, health informatics, data mining, and privacy. He has published widely in top-tier forums with several best paper awards and nominations. From Saudi Arabian women’s right to drive cyber campaigns to Autism awareness campaigns to ISIS’ and anti-West/anti-NATO propaganda campaigns, at COSMOS, he is directing several projects that have made foundational and applicational contributions. His research is supported by grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Dr. Agarwal obtained Ph.D. from Arizona State University with outstanding dissertation recognition in 2009. He was recognized as one of ‘The New Influentials: 20 In Their 20s’ by Arkansas Business in 2011. He was recognized with the University-wide Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Endeavors in 2015. Dr. Agarwal received the Social Media 2015 Educator of the Year Award at the 21st International Education and Technology Conference, Hong Kong SAR, China. Dr. Agarwal was nominated as International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA) Fellow in Winter 2016/Spring 2017. Visit https://ualr.edu/nxagarwal/ for more details.
Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm is Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His research interests include transitional justice (TJ), human rights, post-conflict reconstruction, and democratization. In particular, he is interested in the evaluation of TJ mechanisms, the political economy of TJ, and the role of diaspora groups in TJ processes. His most recent book, Truth Commissions and Transitional Societies, was published by Routledge (2010). Eric is also the author of several book chapters and his articles have appeared in journals such as the International Journal of Transitional Justice, Journal of Human Rights, and International Studies Perspectives. He is currently Co-PI on a Norwegian Research Council-funded project entitled “Beyond Words: Latin American Truth Commissions’ Recommendations” that is tracing the implementation record of 13 commissions in the region. He also is Co-I on a project to develop a “Strategic Network on Justice, Conflict and Development” that is being funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. Eric served as a volunteer with the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Diaspora Project between 2007 and 2009. Between 2008 and 2010, he conducted research on comparative labor and employment law for the consulting firm AON Hewitt. Eric earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
