OMAHA, Neb.—The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska will fund the early childhood research of three doctoral students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center through its 2026–27 Graduate Scholars program.
The Buffett Institute has invested more than $800,000 through the Graduate Scholars program, now in its 11th year, to fund ambitious research projects by Ph.D. students from University of Nebraska campuses.
The program awards one-year fellowships worth up to $25,000 to a maximum of four NU doctoral students every year. Fifteen students—a new record—applied for the 2026–27 cohort.
“We are proud to support these Scholars as they pursue research that addresses real needs in early childhood,” said Alexandra Daro, the Buffett Institute director of applied research. “The Graduate Scholars program is designed to fund the next generation of researchers, build cross-campus relationships throughout the University of Nebraska System, and encourage collaboration and innovation as we work together to solve the issues that impact children, families, and early educators.”
2026–27 Buffett Early Childhood Institute Graduate Scholars
Marisol Loza Hernandez, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Project Title: A Community-Based Group Training Program for Spanish-Speaking Caregivers of Young Children With Autism: An Evaluation of Effectiveness and Acceptability
- Mentor: Mary Halbur
Rebecca Jack, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Project Title: Afterschool Care and Maternal Labor Force Participation
- Mentor: Brenden Timpe
Paige Wernick, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Project Title: The Work of Teaching Toddlers: Pedagogical Reasoning in Classroom Practice
- Mentor: Amy Napoli
The Graduate Scholars program offers students the opportunity to network with and learn from Institute experts and university leaders across the early childhood field.
“Children and families face complex issues that cannot be answered by one discipline alone. Bringing together students and faculty from across fields and campuses makes our research stronger, more innovative, and more impactful,” said Walter Gilliam, the executive director of the Buffett Institute. “It takes all of us working together to find solutions that lead to real change. The Graduate Scholars program is an outstanding example of the power of research and collaboration, demonstrating the impact of the University of Nebraska.”