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Meet the Spring 2026 PREP Program recipients

Now in its fourth year, the Preparing Your Research for an Extramural Proposal (PREP) Program supports Virginia Tech faculty in the social sciences, with an emphasis on those new to grant writing or who have faced challenges with past proposals. This spring, the 2026 cohort developed competitive proposals through hands-on training, focusing on non-federal funding opportunities, including the Spencer Foundation, W.T. Grant Foundation, Graham Foundation, and the U.S.-Japan Foundation.

The 2026 ISCE PREP Program Cohort includes (from left): Lia Kelinsky-Jones, Pipiet Larasatie, Gonzalo Muñoz-Vera, and Jenn Engelke.

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"Lived Experience" in Neurorehabilitation , redirect
A recent Virginia Tech News video highlights the work of Netta Gurari, an assistant professor in biomedical engineering, and her course, "Perspectives in Neurorehabilitation," which connects students with brain injury survivors, care partners, and healthcare professionals to better understand the complex realities of rehabilitation. With support from the Dana Foundation and ISCE, the course helps students integrate technical expertise with human-centered design and care while learning directly from those most affected by brain injury.
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Recording Now Available: ISCE/CLAHS Information Session for Just Tech Fellowship , redirect
The recording of the ISCE and College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences information session on the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) Just Tech Fellowship, held May 28, is now available to watch. The fellowship welcomes applicants from a wide range of fields and supports rigorous, original, and community-grounded work that addresses pressing questions about how technology shapes society and public life, providing fellows with a one-year unrestricted award of up to $60,000. The session included an overview of the fellowship and application requirements, remarks from Fernanda Ribeiro Rosa, a Science, Technology, and Society faculty member who recently completed a Just Tech Fellowship, and a Q&A. Applications for the fellowship are due June 28.
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Curious Conversations Podcast: Ben Katz Talks About Lifestyle Choices and Brain Health , redirect
Virginia Tech researcher Ben Katz joined the “Curious Conversations” podcast to discuss how lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, sleep, time in nature, and social connection can support brain health and cognitive function. Katz, an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and previous recipient of Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment support, studies interventions designed to improve executive functioning and cognition.