Microplastics in baby food. Preschooler vegetable consumption. Intergenerational caregiving.
Across the University of Nebraska System, Ph.D. students are tackling these real-world issues—and more—with support from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute’s Graduate Scholars program.
Each year, up to four doctoral students receive one-year fellowships worth up to $25,000 each.
Since 2016, the program has invested $750,000 in 30 Graduate Scholars from across the University of Nebraska campuses, funding cutting-edge research on issues such as nutrition and mealtimes in child care programs, early math skills, the association between agrichemical mixtures and pediatric health outcomes in Nebraska, and prosthesis use in young children.
Beyond the financial support, the program gives students valuable opportunities to connect with and learn from Institute experts.
Ph.D. students within the University of Nebraska System can now apply for the next round of Graduate Scholars funding. Applications are due April 24.
Learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.
The Institute’s 2025–26 Graduate Scholars—Colman Freel, Rebekah Rapoza, and Ali Shull—answered questions about their research, what they’ve gained from the program, and why their fellow Ph.D. students should consider applying.
These interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Colman Freel
Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Q. What are you studying, and how could it make a difference for young children and/or families?
A. I study how diabetes during pregnancy impacts the long-term risk for cardiovascular diseases in offspring. Evidence suggests that programming of cardiovascular risk begins in the womb and may involve dysfunction of the fetal vascular endothelium, which forms the inner layer of all blood vessels and plays a vital role in controlling blood pressure.
Determining the ways in which the fetal endothelium becomes dysfunctional can help to identify therapeutic targets, like omega-3 fatty acids, which may prevent cardiovascular morbidity and ultimately help children live longer and healthier lives.
Q. How has the Graduate Scholars program supported your growth as a researcher or advanced your dissertation work?
A. The Graduate Scholars program has provided vital funding support to elevate my dissertation research to the next level, allowing me to integrate cutting-edge molecular profiling and high-resolution imaging into my project.
Additionally, the Graduate Scholars program has helped me network with the multidisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, expanding the impact of my work. The feedback I have received through the program has helped to shape the trajectory of my research, and the connections I have formed as a Graduate Scholar will continue to support my growth as a physician-scientist.
Q. Why should other Ph.D. students consider applying to this program?
A. The Buffett Early Childhood Institute Graduate Scholars program is a fantastic opportunity to gain financial support for your graduate research, meet other Scholars with a shared passion for promoting early childhood wellness, and develop lifelong connections with peers and mentors.
There is a deep passion for supporting trainees at the Buffett Institute, and it shows in every aspect of their Graduate Scholars programming, from the project presentation opportunities to the social media scholar spotlights. If you are a Ph.D. student looking to expand the impact of your work, the Graduate Scholars program is an outstanding way to support and amplify your research.
Rebekah Rapoza
Department of Pediatrics at UNMC
Q. What are you studying, and how could it make a difference for young children and/or families?
A. I study how maternal stressors—such as low food security or an income below the federal poverty level—can affect pregnancy and long-term maternal and infant health. I focus on how these stressors can change how certain key genes involved in metabolism are regulated.
This research helps us to better understand the biological effects of these stressors during pregnancy and could inform future programs to support at-risk families and improve child health in Nebraska.
Q. How has the Graduate Scholars program supported your growth as a researcher or advanced your dissertation work?
A. The financial support and access to valuable resources provided by the Graduate Scholars program have allowed me to ask deeper and more nuanced research questions. The program’s collaborative scholarly community also fosters interdisciplinary discussion and meaningful feedback, which has strengthened my scientific communication and helped refine my dissertation research.
Q. Why should other Ph.D. students consider applying to this program?
A. The Graduate Scholars program has strongly supported my professional and personal development. From the beginning, I felt welcomed and encouraged by this community, and I knew I could rely on this incredible network both to help me overcome a roadblock and to celebrate a success.
Ali Shull
Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Q. What are you studying, and how could it make a difference for young children and/or families?
A. My dissertation examines how parenting content on social media influences parents’ stress levels and their sense of parenting self-efficacy. Parents are exposed to a constant stream of advice and highly curated portrayals of family life, which can create pressure to meet unrealistic standards.
My research explores how these comparisons may shape parents’ confidence in their parenting and their interactions with their children. Understanding these dynamics can help researchers and practitioners better support families in navigating digital parenting spaces in healthier, more informed ways.
Q. How has the Graduate Scholars program supported your growth as a researcher or advanced your dissertation work?
A. The Graduate Scholars program has allowed me the financial flexibility to focus fully on completing my dissertation this semester. The staff at the Buffett Institute have been incredibly welcoming and supportive, offering valuable guidance and perspectives whenever questions arise. In addition, the network of peers and mentors in the program has been an invaluable source of encouragement, collaboration, and professional growth.
Q. Why should other Ph.D. students consider applying to this program?
A. Other Ph.D. students should consider applying because the grant-writing process itself is an incredibly valuable professional development experience. Writing the proposal allowed me to practice a different style of scholarly communication in a supportive, student-centered environment. Beyond the funding, the Buffett Institute community has been welcoming and genuinely interested in Scholars’ work, creating a network of support that extends beyond the grant itself.