Staff leader essential to success of statewide research initiative
Claudia Bode | Education, Outreach & Diversity Director | Kansas NSF EPSCoR
Undergraduate research experiences are key to a career in academic research. Claudia Bode helps run a program that facilitates these experiences for Kansas students.
Bode is the education, outreach & diversity director at the Kansas National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or Kansas NSF EPSCoR. In that role, she co-developed the program’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), an 8-week summer experience during which students conduct research guided by faculty mentors from either the University of Kansas, Kansas State University or Wichita State University. The program prioritizes Kansas applicants but is open to students from other parts of the country. It prepares students to talk about their work before giving them an opportunity to present their findings. The REU is part of the Adaptive & Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE) project managed by Kansas NSF EPSCoR.
“A similar program for ARISE-related research did not already exist in Kansas, so the team had to create one from the ground up — no small feat,” said Doug Byers, assistant director of Kansas NSF EPSCoR. “With Claudia’s experience and background in this area, she was able to provide immeasurable guidance to co-develop this program alongside faculty at the partner institutions.”
Beyond the REU, Bode oversees other essential elements of Kansas NSF EPSCoR. She helps onboard new faculty across multiple universities to ensure they stay up to date on funding opportunities. She also introduces them to the project handbook and policies and assists with required trainings. Bode takes a lead role in organizing regular project-wide meetings and symposia.
“Claudia takes tremendous initiative in tackling tasks with minimal supervision,” said Belinda Sturm, director of Kansas NSF EPSCoR and professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering. “Most of the time these tasks are created because of her own strategic planning, as she understands how to break down larger initiatives to assess needs.”
Bode’s time at KU began as a doctoral student in the early 2000s. In 2003, she received a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship to research stem cells and teach at Haskell Indian Nations University. In 2006, she joined the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, one of KU’s designated research centers. She transitioned to the EPSCoR office in 2021.
Bode’s successes help keep Kansas higher education institutions on the map among peers.
“Claudia has a very cheerful disposition and looks forward to collaborating on work-related activities,” Byers said. “She is very approachable and always willing to help. Her outgoing nature is part of why Kansas NSF EPSCoR is recognized by peers nationally as a reputable state office.”
