The project focuses on developing socio-computational methods to strengthen community resilience against cognitive attacks. These attacks include coordinated online efforts to manipulate beliefs, influence behavior, and spread harmful narratives through social media and digital platforms. The research builds on nationally recognized work underway at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, which Agarwal founded and directs.

The COSMOS Research Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock conducts interdisciplinary research focused on social computing, AI-enabled socio-cognitive threat mitigation, narrative analytics, online behavioral modeling, and cognitive security.

The award was championed through support from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who highlighted the importance of the research to national security.

鈥淚 am pleased to support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies,鈥� Boozman said. 鈥淭his award recognizes the significance of this program to our national security. The important research conducted here will enhance our ability to counter the use of novel social media tactics by foreign extremists and terrorist groups threatening the United States and our allies.鈥�

Agarwal said the funding will allow researchers to continue developing advanced tools and capabilities to better understand how online narratives influence behavior and how communities can build resilience against coordinated manipulation efforts.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful for the support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock leadership and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for championing this vital research,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his funding allows the COSMOS Research Center to continue advancing analytical capabilities that strengthen our nation’s defense against cognitive threats.鈥�

As social media platforms increasingly shape public discourse, coordinated influence operations have emerged as a growing challenge for governments, organizations, and communities. The project seeks to provide science-driven approaches for detecting harmful narratives, understanding how they spread through online networks, and informing effective intervention strategies before they result in real-world consequences.

鈥淪ocial media has evolved into a contested cognitive battlespace where narratives can be weaponized to manipulate beliefs, sow discord, and influence collective behavior at unprecedented speed,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his project aims to strengthen community resiliency by developing computational methods that help identify harmful narrative dynamics early, understand how they spread across networks, and inform effective intervention strategies.鈥�

The project will advance research in six key areas, including narrative and network modeling, toxicity in online communities, mob dynamics, churn analysis, contextual network characterization, and large-scale data collection and dashboarding.

Researchers will develop new methods to analyze how narratives emerge and evolve across digital ecosystems, examine how online communities amplify coordinated campaigns, and adapt epidemiological modeling techniques to better understand the spread of toxicity in online environments.

In addition to advancing research, the initiative will support workforce development and training opportunities in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and security applications, helping prepare the next generation of AI and cybersecurity professionals in Arkansas and beyond.

The award continues a longstanding partnership between the COSMOS Research Center and the U.S. Department of War in advancing research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, social computing, and national security.

With this award, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock continues to expand its national research footprint, leveraging expertise in artificial intelligence and social computing to develop solutions that strengthen communities and enhance security in an increasingly connected world.

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Through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, participants will learn how to collect and analyze digital evidence, using the same tools and techniques as cybersecurity professionals.

The weeklong camp is open to students in grades 7-12 and is led by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cybersecurity Club, directed by Becky Passmore, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Sandra Leiterman, director of cybersecurity education and outreach. Club members have dedicated months to planning activities, developing lessons, and designing hands-on challenges to introduce participants to cybersecurity and digital forensics.

Operation Cyber Sleuth is supported in part by the Dr. Charles and Betty K. Hathaway Summer STEM Scholarship Program, which promotes educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Camp sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day on the fourth floor of the Engineering and Information Technology Building (EIT).

鈥淔or me, cybersecurity camps are essential,鈥� said Leiterman, director of cybersecurity education and outreach. 鈥淲e’ve hosted a camp every year since 2021, and one of my favorite parts is watching confidence grow in everyone involved.鈥�

Throughout the week, students will collaborate with club members to learn how digital evidence is collected, analyzed, and used to resolve cyber incidents. The camp will conclude with a digital capture-the-flag competition, giving students the opportunity to apply their new skills.

A highlight of the camp will occur on Thursday, June 25, when members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation鈥檚 Evidence Response Team (ERT) visit campus to lead activities. Participants will rotate through DNA, fingerprint, and trace evidence stations, gaining practical experience with investigative techniques. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from FBI professionals and understand how forensic science supports investigations.

鈥淥ne of the most rewarding parts of this camp is watching students realize that they can do this,鈥� Passmore said. 鈥淏y learning directly from FBI Evidence Response Team members and working through hands-on investigations, they gain confidence, ask bigger questions, and begin to envision themselves as the next generation of cybersecurity and forensic professionals.鈥�

Operation Cyber Sleuth combines hands-on activities from club members, university mentors, and FBI professionals to give participants real-world experience in cybersecurity and digital forensics. Attendees will gain practical investigative skills and a deeper understanding of the vital role cybersecurity professionals play in protecting information and addressing cyber threats.

鈥淥ne of our club鈥檚 core values is giving back to our community,鈥� said Monica Procknaw, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cybersecurity Club. 鈥淲e believe in investing our time and resources to help students explore new opportunities and discover what鈥檚 possible through education. Through Operation Cyber Sleuth, we hope to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and show students the many educational and career pathways available to them right here in Arkansas.鈥�

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By the end of the AI Hackathon and HealthTech at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, they had become teammates, budding entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers, developing innovative solutions focused on dementia care, maternal health, insurance access, mental health, and patient services.

Resonate Wins $10,000 Grand Prize

The hackathon’s top honor and $10,000 grand prize went to Resonate, a music therapy platform designed to improve access to music therapy for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The idea was inspired by a story shared by a dementia care professional who described a patient who began humming along to a familiar song after years without speaking. The experience demonstrated how music can help unlock memories and create meaningful connections for people living with dementia.

The Resonate team developed a platform that creates personalized music playlists based on a patient’s preferences and uses AI-powered voice analysis to help caregivers identify emotional states and recommend music that may provide comfort and support. The team focused particularly on making music therapy more accessible and affordable for families in rural and underserved communities.

“The question is not whether music therapy works, but rather how to make it accessible and affordable,” the team told judges during its final presentation.

Team Resonate included Aras Erdag and Brodie Smith of Little Rock; Cami Gonzalez, Satya Achanti, and Shreyan Movva of Bentonville; Joshua Davis of Conway; Koree Arndt of Bella Vista; and Tanvi Virani of Lamar.

Team members said collaboration played a major role in their success throughout the week.

“This experience was really fun,” said Satya Achanti. “We learned a lot of different things from different workshops, and we had a lot of teamwork and a lot of dedicated time that we spent. We stayed up late many nights, and we’re very happy that we won.”

Shreyan Movva credited the team’s ability to work together throughout the competition.

“Overall, team contribution and team cooperation helped us a lot, and it feels great to win,” he said.

For Koree Arndt, one of the most valuable aspects of the experience was the opportunity to collaborate with students from across the state.

“My team’s amazing. I’ve met so many amazing people, and I’ve loved the chance to work on leadership, work on developing my skills in tech, and just building things, because I love to build,” Arndt said.

InsuraMatch Earns Second Place

The second-place prize of $5,000 went to InsuraMatch, a platform designed to help users better understand and navigate health insurance options.

The team focused on addressing the confusion many consumers face when selecting healthcare coverage. Their platform uses conversational AI, educational resources, and cost-comparison tools to help users understand insurance terminology and identify plans that best fit their needs.

The InsuraMatch team included Blessing Itodo of Little Rock, Dilasa Yaman of North Little Rock, Eric Wang of Cave Springs, Ishmam Solaiman of Little Rock, Krish Mehta of Conway, Pfeiffer Slaveski of Centerton, and Yogi Patel of Little Rock.

Materna Takes Third Place

The third-place prize of $3,000 went to Materna, a wearable health monitoring platform designed to support pregnant women in rural Arkansas

Combining a wearable bracelet, mobile application, and AI-powered monitoring tools, Materna allows healthcare providers to remotely monitor patient vital signs and identify potential health risks. The team developed the project to address transportation barriers, healthcare deserts, and limited access to prenatal care in many rural communities across the state.

The Materna team included Ali Rizwan of Cabot, Alyson Chapman of Centerton, Sach Gulmammadov of Jonesboro, Isidora Adeloa and Ivonne Barbosa-Melgarejo of Little Rock, and Kshitiz Khatiwada and Pronita Ghimire of Monticello.

Students Tackle Diverse Healthcare Challenges

Other teams also developed solutions addressing a wide range of healthcare and wellness concerns.

The team behind Mind Bloom created an AI-powered student wellness platform designed to help schools identify and support students experiencing stress and mental health challenges. Team members included Anay Pandit of Benton, Hannah Robertson, Jake Hu, Luke Wang, Rudra Pratap Mukherjee, and Vishak Meenachi of Little Rock, Joel Johnson of Bentonville, and Tanisha Virani of Lamar.

Another notable project, Bro 2 Bro, focused on improving mental and physical health outcomes among Black men by connecting users with support groups, healthcare resources, mentors, and community organizations through trusted spaces such as barbershops and churches.

Students also developed Sirona, a solution aimed at reducing emergency room wait times and improving patient flow.

While the projects varied in focus, they shared a common goal: using technology to address real-world healthcare challenges affecting Arkansas communities.

Over the course of the week, students transformed ideas into prototypes, business plans, and presentations evaluated by healthcare and industry leaders. In the end, 30 students won a combined $20,000 in prize money, but, more importantly, demonstrated what can happen when some of Arkansas’s brightest young minds spend a week reimagining healthcare.

“What I was most excited about coming into this event was to meet the people,” Arndt said. “I’ve met so many amazing people, and I’m just so grateful to have the opportunity to be here and do what I love.”

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The Little Rock native graduated this spring with a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering after years of involvement in research projects, student leadership, and outreach initiatives across campus.

McNerny said he chose 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock because of its strong academic environment and mentorship opportunities.

鈥淭he graduate school at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is world class in terms of research, mentorship, and furthering education,鈥� he said.

During his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, McNerny balanced advanced research with service that extended beyond the university to the broader community. At the Cyberspace Operations, Research and Education (CORE) Center, he designed virtual reality simulations of industrial control systems for the Consortium for Cyber Innovation. The work is supported by a grant from the Department of Energy focused on protecting critical energy infrastructure from cyberattacks.

He also used his interest in technology to improve public safety on campus. Drawing on his professional experience as a traffic safety specialist, he developed a technology designed to make crosswalks safer for pedestrians and wildlife.

His research explored how signals from vehicles and mobile devices could be detected near intersections, allowing the system to warn pedestrians and drivers of one another’s presence before they come into view. McNerny says these technologies could help reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians and wildlife regardless of visibility, weather conditions, or existing safety infrastructure.

In addition to his research, McNerny has mentored fellow students and held leadership positions as chair and secretary of the Association for Computing Machinery student chapter.

His passion for technology education also led him to teach virtual reality and cybersecurity summer camps for K-12 students. Through programs hosted by the Emerging Analytics Center and GenCyber, McNerny introduced students to emerging technologies while encouraging thoughtful discussions about their ethical use.

鈥淚 am inspired by seeing how excited students are when they try VR for the first time,鈥� McNerny said. 鈥淓mpowering them with the tools to make their own worlds and seeing their creativity blossom is a reward in itself.鈥�

One of McNerny’s favorite college memories, he said, came during a trip to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he and fellow students showcased an augmented reality game they developed called 鈥淪pook Splat.鈥�

While he has enjoyed opportunities to present projects and lead student organizations, some of his most meaningful experiences happened behind the scenes in the lab.

鈥淭hose quiet hours in the lab, not knowing if the project I had been working on for months would actually work,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen resting on it and finding out how to fix the problem immediately the next day. Those moments are rare and meaningful.鈥�

After graduation, McNerny plans to pursue a career in engineering while continuing his research at the CORE Center. 

鈥淚f my work helps people feel safer and improves their quality of life in any way, I have made an impact,鈥� he said.

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The program, created by the Arkansas Research Alliance and AR-NETWORK, provides funding, mentorship, and professional development support to faculty researchers across Arkansas.

The ERL Program provides $30,000 annually for up to two years along with professional development opportunities such as mentorship and proposal development training. The grant is designed to strengthen Arkansas researchers’ competitiveness for external funding and help grow sustainable research programs within the state.

Siraj said the award will play an important role in advancing her research program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淩eceiving the ERL award is deeply meaningful to me and to the research program I am building at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淚 believe this opportunity will significantly strengthen my leadership capacity, proposal development skills, and ability to build and manage high-performing research teams.鈥�

Siraj鈥檚 research spans areas such as nanomedicine, lithium energy storage, and flexible electronic technologies. She plans to use the funding to support student researchers, expand research collaborations, and enhance the university鈥檚 research capabilities through new equipment and resources.

Siraj said she hopes the program will help her build stronger partnerships across Arkansas while advancing workforce development and innovation.

鈥淭hrough the ERL Program, I hope to build strong partnerships with state agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure that our research contributes meaningfully to Arkansas鈥檚 economy,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淚 believe the program will provide an important platform for developing competitive research proposals and translational research strategies through interdisciplinary collaboration across Arkansas and other states.鈥�

Looking ahead, Siraj hopes her research will contribute to the development of sustainable energy technologies and support economic growth in Arkansas and beyond.

鈥淭hrough ERL mentorship and training, I aim to further mature this technology, strengthen federal grant proposals, and secure sustained external funding that will support continued research development, workforce training, and future commercialization efforts,鈥� she said.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students and Donaghey Scholars Honors Program members Zane Austin and Nistha Neupane are bringing national attention to campus innovation after winning a competitive startup pitch event through America250, an initiative marking the United States鈥� 250th anniversary. Their nanotechnology-based company, NanoLit, earned both national recognition and funding through the event.

The competition, , invited student teams from colleges across the country to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Out of applicants nationwide, only 30 semifinalist teams were selected to travel to California鈥檚 Bay Area for in-person pitching and evaluation.

NanoLit was designed to address the harsh side effects of chemotherapy by creating a more targeted treatment approach that reduces damage to healthy cells.

鈥淭he hair loss, nail bed damage, and loss of immune function that we see in cancer patients are due, at least in part, to the effect of chemotherapy,鈥� Austin said. 鈥淏y formulating a drug that is highly selective towards tumor cells, we can mitigate these dangers without compromising the efficiency of the drug, and overall improve patient outcomes鈥�

Their goal is to develop a drug that maintains treatment effectiveness while reducing harm to healthy cells, potentially improving patients鈥� quality of life during cancer care.

For Neupane, the research carries personal significance.

鈥淥ncology is a field I have dreamt of being in for so long,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the opportunity to get to know the field of oncology from the clinical setting for two years, and from behind the fume hood for four years. On top of that, I went through my own tumor operation that put many things into perspective for me.鈥�

The startup grew out of years of undergraduate research in Dr. Noureen Siraj鈥檚 lab at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, where both students worked on nanotechnology-related projects and developed the foundation for NanoLit.

The competition itself was unlike anything the students had ever experienced before. Throughout the event, participants were filmed as part of the competition experience while pitching and networking with fellow founders and judges.

鈥淔rom day one, we were taken on a full filming set, had our hair and makeup done, and had microphones placed on us,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淚t was like our own small moment of being on reality TV, undergraduate Shark Tank edition.鈥�

The judging panel included high-profile figures such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, the CFO of OpenAI, and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios along with other prominent entrepreneurs and investors.

Austin and Neupane said the experience felt surreal, as it gave them the opportunity to present their work to entrepreneurs and innovators who have played major roles in shaping technological and financial innovation in the United States over the past several decades.

鈥淚 was entirely starstruck when we had the opportunity to meet individuals like Rosie Rios and Tim Draper,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淭o have such influential people be so interested in our startup felt like we had stepped into an entirely different world 鈥� the world of entrepreneurs.鈥�

Austin said the experience also reinforced the value of the work the team has been pursuing in the lab for years.

鈥淭his was the pinnacle of my undergraduate career, that鈥檚 for certain,鈥� Austin said. 鈥淭his experience meant seeing that what we鈥檝e been doing in the lab actually matters.鈥�

Competing alongside students from institutions such as Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Pennsylvania initially felt intimidating, the students said, but the experience ultimately reinforced their confidence in the research happening at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 

鈥淏eing able to put 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock on the map and have students from universities like Johns Hopkins and Stanford be so impressed by our work puts into perspective how well we have done on our journey so far,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淚t became so clear to me why Dr. Siraj has pushed us so hard the past few years to prepare us for opportunities like this.鈥�

The team ultimately advanced as one of 10 finalists and received $25,000 in grant funding to continue developing NanoLit.

Part of the awards package was a scholarship to Draper University, an entrepreneurial training program founded by venture capitalist Tim Draper, which Austin plans to attend. 

鈥淚 will be taking this opportunity over the summer to go and learn everything I can about building a business from the ground up,鈥� he said.

Neupane, a graduating senior, said this experience highlighted both the potential of NanoLit and the opportunities still ahead for the company. Meeting entrepreneurs and professionals from a wide range of fields also gave her a new perspective as she prepares to begin medical school at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine as part of the Class of 2030.

鈥淭his gave me a different type of passion and respect for the role that business and marketing play in medicine, and it is certainly something I hope to learn more about going into medical school and beyond,鈥� she said. 

Both students said they believe their success came down to a combination of passion and communication.

Neupane said their willingness to openly share their ambition for advancing oncology research helped set them apart, noting that judges described their pitch as 鈥渋nsane鈥� in the best way.

Austin added that a key part of their training in Dr. Siraj鈥檚 lab was learning how to make complex science accessible. He said being able to clearly communicate their ideas to judges without a technical background ultimately played a major role in their success.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 afraid to show them our big dreams and passion for this field,鈥� Neupane said.

From the research lab to the national stage, Austin and Neupane鈥檚 journey showcases how 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students are transforming big ideas into meaningful change.

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At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, psychology researchers are exploring these questions through a growing network of labs focused on sleep, cognition, and human-AI interaction.

Across three specialized lab spaces, faculty and students are examining how biological, cognitive, and technological forces intersect to shape human behavior. From tracking brain activity during sleep to modeling how stress affects memory and studying how people interact with AI systems, their work is helping answer questions that are increasingly relevant in everyday life.

Measuring Sleep and Its Consequences

In the department鈥檚 Biobehavioral Laboratory, often referred to simply as the sleep lab, Dr. David Mastin studies how sleep and sleepiness affect everyday life.

Sleep affects nearly every aspect of daily functioning, from reaction time and memory to mood and overall health. According to Mastin, many people operate at a deficit without realizing it.

鈥淎lmost everyone carries a sleep debt,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like being overdrawn in your checking account. You owe your body sleep.鈥�

He also notes that modern life makes that debt difficult to avoid, as artificial light, technology, and constant stimulation can disrupt natural sleep patterns and keep people from getting the rest they need.

That deficit can have serious consequences. Even one night without sleep can significantly impair performance.

鈥淚f you pull an all-nighter and we put you on a driving simulator, you would make as many mistakes as someone who is legally drunk,鈥� Mastin said.

The space is equipped with tools designed to measure brain activity, including electroencephalography (EEG), which tracks brain waves during different stages of sleep. A nap bed and observation room allow researchers to monitor eye and body movement without disturbing participants, while biofeedback equipment measures the body鈥檚 physiological responses to different stimuli.

Beyond these tools, the lab also relies on controlled sleep tests that measure alertness and fatigue, providing objective data that can be compared with how participants report feeling.

Much of the lab鈥檚 research extends beyond campus. Mastin and his students frequently work in the community. Right now, for instance, they are studying firefighters to better understand how sleep impacts performance in high-stakes environments. 

As part of this research, Mastin and his students attended a firefighter convention in Hot Springs to interview participants about their sleep habits. The next step is to digitize the survey to reach firefighters across different regions and cultures, with the goal of improving both their well-being and performance. 

Students play an active role in the research process, contributing to ongoing studies and developing their own projects under faculty guidance. Through this work, the lab connects physiological measurement with real-world behavior, bridging psychology with biological and health sciences to show how sleep quietly shapes nearly every part of daily life.

Understanding How We Think Under Stress

Just down the hall, Dr. Colton Hunter鈥檚 cognitive psychology lab focuses on how stress shapes the way people process and remember information.

Hunter鈥檚 research centers on working memory, the short-term ability to hold and manipulate information. Specifically, he studies how socioeconomic status influences cognition, examining how stress from factors such as income, education, and environment contribute to changes in how people process and recall information 鈥� highlighting how psychological processes are shaped by broader economic and social forces.. His primary research examines the effects of financial worry on working memory.

鈥淭he idea is that your financial problems might be occupying mental resources,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the equivalent of having too many tabs open on your computer. It鈥檚 going to slow down performance.鈥�

In one common task used in his lab, participants are briefly shown a set of colored squares before the image disappears and reappears. They are then asked to determine whether anything has changed. While the task appears simple, it allows researchers to measure how much information a person can hold in mind, how accurately they respond, and how quickly they process what they see. 

These tasks are paired with socioeconomic survey data and written responses in which participants reflect on financial stressors, personal challenges, and neutral daily experiences. Hunter鈥檚 research explores whether financial stress uniquely impairs cognitive performance compared to other types of stress.

鈥淭he idea is that for participants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, writing about financial worries would potentially take away from their working memory performance more than a neutral event, but also more than any other type of stressor,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something special about financial stress.鈥�

A key feature of the lab is a high-powered computing system that allows Hunter to run complex statistical models and analyze large amounts of data quickly 鈥� work that would otherwise take days or even weeks.

The lab integrates students into every stage of the research process. Undergraduate participants contribute to ongoing studies as participants, while others serve as research assistants through independent study, gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. This approach also allows Hunter to examine how financial worry affects cognition specifically within the student population.

Studying the Future of Human-AI Interaction

In the department鈥檚 newest lab, Dr. Mohsen Rafiei is exploring one of psychology鈥檚 quickest evolving frontiers 鈥� how humans interact with artificial intelligence.

Rafiei鈥檚 lab focuses on human-AI interaction, examining how people use, interpret, and trust increasingly sophisticated systems. 

鈥淲e are trying to understand how people interact with AI,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e want to understand how you as a human being interact with a smart system so we can learn to optimize that system for you.鈥�

One current project looks at how students use AI in their daily lives, including whether they trust the results from their questions 鈥� and whether or not that trust is warranted.

鈥淎I systems are probabilistic, which means there is always a good chance they are wrong,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any students don鈥檛 know this and trust whatever answer they are given. Our goal is to learn how to optimize this so we can address this problem.鈥�

To study these interactions, Rafiei鈥檚 lab is equipped with advanced tools that allow researchers to observe both behavior and brain activity in real time. Eye-tracking technology reveals where users focus their attention on a screen, while EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems measure which areas of the brain are active during interaction. Virtual reality headsets allow researchers to build immersive environments 鈥� such as a classroom with an AI assistant 鈥� and study how people respond in more lifelike scenarios. 

The lab also houses an incredibly powerful computer, known as an AI cluster, that allows researchers to run and customize AI models locally. By operating outside of internet-based systems, the lab can test models in a controlled environment without privacy concerns, giving researchers the ability to study how people interact with AI systems specifically designed for the experiment.

Together, these tools allow Rafiei and his students to examine not only what people do when interacting with AI, but also what is happening in their minds as they do it.

The work is inherently interdisciplinary, combining psychology with neuroscience, computer science, and physiology to better understand how humans engage with increasingly intelligent systems.

Students play a key role in that process, gaining hands-on experience working with AI models and advanced research tools. Skills gained in this lab prepare them for emerging careers in human-AI interaction.

鈥淭his is a new field,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e know about human cognition and perception, but how do we interact with another intelligent system? We don鈥檛 even know all the questions we need to ask yet.鈥�

As AI systems become more advanced and increasingly human-like, the challenge becomes even more complex.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like interacting with a tool,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more like interacting with another intelligent being. And there are still so many open questions we need to answer.鈥�

Looking Ahead: Expanding Innovation in Psychology

Across all three labs, a common thread is clear: the future of psychology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is increasingly hands-on, interdisciplinary, and grounded in real-world impact.

For Dr. Sherwin, chair of the Department of Psychology, the new labs mark a turning point in the department鈥檚 identity.

鈥淩esearch has clearly become more prominent,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e intentionally building a department that is more uniformly engaged in research.鈥�

That shift is being driven in large part by new faculty hires, whose work is expanding both the scope and scale of research opportunities available to students. In the past, demand for research experience often outpaced availability. Now, that dynamic is reversing.

鈥淲e went from having more students than research opportunities to suddenly being in the opposite situation,鈥� she said.

As the department grows, so does its emphasis on preparing students for careers beyond the classroom. Through lab work, students gain practical experience in skills Sherwin says are valuable across industries such as data analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

To support that growth, the department is also introducing a new 鈥淩esearch Experience鈥� course this fall, designed to give students earlier and more accessible entry into lab work. The course allows students to begin developing research skills before moving into more independent, advanced projects.

鈥淧eople don鈥檛 always realize how marketable research skills are,鈥� Sherwin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really where our discipline shines at the undergraduate level 鈥� teaching students how to manage and present data, think critically and analytically, and answer questions effectively.鈥�

As psychology continues to intersect with fields like artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and data science, the work happening at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is positioned at the forefront of that shift.

With new labs, advanced technology, and a growing emphasis on student-driven research, the department is not only keeping pace with the future of the discipline 鈥� it is helping define it.

The post Exploring the Human Mind: Inside 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Innovative Psychology Labs appeared first on News.

Originally from Nigeria, he began his academic career at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he built a strong foundation in chemistry. At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, his work began to shift, and he developed his skill in multiple scientific disciplines.

鈥淐ompleting my master鈥檚 degree in chemistry means a lot to me, both academically and personally,鈥� Afolabi said. 鈥淚t shows how far I鈥檝e come, from building my foundation in Nigeria to developing my research interests at a more advanced level.鈥�

He found a new direction combining chemistry with technology after seeing the limits of more traditional approaches.

鈥淚 saw how time consuming, and sometimes subjective, those methods could be,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what pushed me to explore more data-driven approaches.鈥�

That shift became central to his work in the lab.

鈥淪tephen has been in my research group for about two years,鈥� said Dr. Jerry Darsey, professor in the School of Physical Sciences鈥揅hemistry and director of the Center for Molecular Design and Development at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淎lthough he chose to pursue a master鈥檚 degree rather than a Ph.D., he accomplished some very interesting and useful work for our center.鈥�

Darsey said Afolabi developed a software program that allows the lab鈥檚 spectral data to be used in its artificial intelligence research. The spectrometer produces data in one format, and before it can be used in AI models, it has to be converted into another.

鈥淪tephen wrote a program to make that conversion possible,鈥� Darsey said. 鈥淗e also built a bridge between our quantum simulation program and the data processing system. That kind of work makes our research more efficient and more connected.鈥�

The program was written in Python, making it compatible with many of the lab鈥檚 existing research tools.

He also started working on ways to make it easier and faster to identify compounds using infrared (IR) data.

鈥淔or me, it wasn鈥檛 just about learning new tools,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was about finding better ways to understand the data and make the process more efficient.鈥�

Afolabi sees this work as part of a broader shift in how science is done.

鈥淭hey can help us test ideas faster, handle large amounts of data, and find patterns we might miss otherwise,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 replace chemistry, they make it stronger.鈥�

That sense of growth hasn鈥檛 just happened in the lab. Moving to the United States meant adjusting to a new culture and academic system.

鈥淭hat experience pushed me to become more independent and more confident in myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 always easy, but it helped me grow.鈥�

He also found value in working with students from different backgrounds, which helped him see problems from new angles.

His academic path has also shaped that perspective. Along with chemistry, he holds a Certificate of Achievement in Geology, which has influenced how he approaches scientific problems.

鈥淚t helps me look at problems in a more complete way,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot just at the molecular level, but also how those ideas connect to real-world systems.鈥�

Graduate school helped him grow into a steady, collaborative and persistent leader.

鈥淟eadership isn鈥檛 always about being in charge,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 about staying committed, helping others, and working through challenges together.鈥�

He said studying in both Nigeria and the United States shaped how he understands science and the way he approaches problems. His early education focused on theory, while his graduate studies emphasized research and application.

鈥淏oth experiences shaped me in different ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow I feel more prepared to approach problems from different angles.鈥�

After graduation, Afolabi plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and continue working in computational chemistry and machine learning, with the goal of using his research to solve real-world problems in the environment and industry.

鈥淚 want my work to make things more efficient and more accessible 鈥� to help turn complex data into something useful,鈥� he said.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has been part of that same progression.

鈥淚鈥檓 ready to keep growing and take on new challenges,鈥� he said.

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Two ceremonies will take place throughout the day.

Undergraduates from the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (DCSTEM) and the College of Business, Health, and Human Services (CBHHS) will participate in the 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Doors for guests will open at 8 a.m.

Special guests for the morning ceremony will include Ms. Danyelle Walker, distinguished alumna, member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Board of Visitors, and the first African American president of the Arkansas Bar Foundation. A graduate of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, Walker is a nationally recognized consumer bankruptcy attorney with 30 years of experience advocating for debtor rights and expanding access to justice in Arkansas.

Dr. Dean Kumpuris, chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Board of Visitors, will also participate in the ceremony. A respected cardiologist and civic leader, Kumpuris has long championed educational opportunity, healthcare access, and community engagement in Arkansas. Through his leadership, he has supported initiatives that strengthen student success and advance higher education across the state.

Student Nistha Neupane, recipient of the 2026 Edward Lynn Whitbeck Memorial Award, will be recognized during the morning ceremony. The Whitbeck Award is the university鈥檚 highest honor presented to a graduating senior. Neupane, a biology and chemistry student, has earned recognition for her cancer research, leadership, and advocacy work focused on improving access and representation in medicine.

Undergraduates from the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE), along with all graduate students from the Graduate School, will participate in the 2 p.m. ceremony. Doors for guests will open at 12:30 p.m.

In addition to Walker and Kumpuris, special guests for the afternoon ceremony will include Col. Nathaniel Todd of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Todd is a retired military officer and longtime public servant who has supported education, leadership development, and community engagement efforts across Arkansas through his professional and civic service.

Family members and guests are encouraged to review commencement policies and ceremony details before arriving on campus. A clear bag policy will be in effect at the Jack Stephens Center for all commencement ceremonies.

Live streaming information, parking details, guest information, and additional commencement resources are available at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Commencement Information.

For more information about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock commencement, contact the Office of Records and Registration at (501) 916-3110 or visit 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Commencement.

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When asked about the initial reaction to joining the board, Rafiei described it as both an honor and a responsibility. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a title,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚DSPP is doing important work that bridges research and public policy. The invitation represents an opportunity to contribute in ways that go well beyond traditional academic work.鈥�

IDSPP is an organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between design research, legal reasoning, and public impact. Its broader aim is to support applied design research and ensure that legal and policy discussions are informed by strong evidence. The organization contributes to public discourse through research initiatives, amicus briefs and working papers 鈥� all aimed at integrating scientific understanding of design into real-world contexts.

鈥淭he invitation felt like a natural fit because my work consistently explores the ways research can connect human behavior, design and decision making in practical settings. IDSPP鈥檚 commitment to bringing rigorous design-related research into public and legal contexts is deeply meaningful to me,鈥� said Rafiei.

Design science plays an important role in public policy. Design shapes how people interact with products, systems, and institutions, affecting usability, access, behavior, and decision-making. This means design is not just a creative issue 鈥� it is also a public one. By bringing evidence-based approaches to design-related policy questions, organizations like IDSPP help ensure that legal and policy decisions are informed by scientific understanding. 

Serving on the IDSPP board has already begun to challenge and expand Rafiei鈥檚 perspective as a researcher. 

鈥淚t expands my thinking by pushing me to consider how research can function outside academic settings,鈥� said Rafiei. 鈥淚n research, we often focus on theory, methods and findings, but in a role like this, you also have to think about how evidence is interpreted in broader public, legal and institutional contexts. That is valuable because it pushes me to think more carefully about how research can be communicated, applied and made useful in higher-stakes environments.鈥�

Rafiei also sees the opportunity as one that extends beyond his own work, with benefits for the university community.

He hopes to bring back stronger models for how academic research can translate into real-world impact, particularly in public conversations, policy decisions and interdisciplinary collaboration. For Rafiei, seeing how research is applied in legal and policy contexts reinforces the importance of scholarship that contributes to broader societal discussions.

Personally and professionally, the appointment represents a meaningful milestone for Rafiei, reflecting his commitment to research that extends beyond academia.

鈥淚t reflects the work I care about most 鈥� research that matters beyond academia,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a chance to work alongside experts from different fields, contribute my perspective, and continue growing as a scholar. It鈥檚 about connecting strong research with real-world application 鈥� that鈥檚 the kind of work I鈥檓 most passionate about.鈥�

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