NLN Announces 2026 Research Grants Winners

NLN Announces 2026 Research Grants Winners

Awards Presentation Set for 2026 Education Summit in Washington, DC

Washington, DC — The National League for Nursing proudly announces the winners of its annual competitive scholarly research grants program, administered by the NLN/Chamberlain University College of Nursing Center for the Advancement of the Science of Nursing Education and partially funded by the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education. Formal presentation to the grant recipients will take place during the 2026 NLN Education Summit in Washington, DC, on Thursday, September 24.

“Today, more than ever, scholarly research is needed to ensure a successful future for nursing education. These studies will guide clinical practice, help shape health policy, and sustain the next generation of nurse-scientists for decades to come. We are proud to support your remarkable accomplishments,” said NLN Chair Yolanda VanRiel, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC, OCN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, chair of the Department of Nursing, North Carolina Central University and patient placement coordinator at First Health of the Carolinas-Moore Regional Hospital.

NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, said, “As the leading voice for nursing education, the National League for Nursing encourages nursing education leaders and faculty to prioritize the science of nursing education, which will strengthen the impact of nursing programs. These research grant award winners represent among the best and brightest nurse-scientists today, whose contributions to nursing scholarship we are delighted to support.”

2026 NLN Nursing Education Research Grants

Nancy Langston Award

Development and Validation of the Integrated Nursing Data-AI Literacy Assessment

Mikyoung Lee, PhD, RN, EBP-C; Lisiane Pruinelli, PhD, RN, FAMIA, FAAN; Ann Wieben, PhD, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA

Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing; University of Florida College of Nursing; University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing

Award: $29,975

Dorothy Otto Research Award

Effects of Self-Practice with AI-Powered Standardized Patients on End-of-Life Communication: Practice Engagement, Performance, and Anxiety

Ike Choi, PhD, MEd; Michael Garbett, MSN, RN, CNEcl; Sejung Kwon, PhD, MEd, MA

Emory University School of Nursing

Award: $29,995

Ruth Donnelly Corcoran Research Award

Eye-tracking Success: Examining Nursing Students’ Situational Awareness, Technology Adoption, Clinical Reasoning, and Skills during State-of-the-Art Immersive Simulations for Medication Administration and Safety

Michael Joseph Dino, PhD, MAN, RN, LPT, CPAHA, CGNC, FFNMRCSI, ANEF, FAAN; Ladda Thiamwong, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, FNAP, FGSA; Rui Xie, PhD, Mindi Anderson, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CHSOS, CHSE-A, ANEF, FSSH, FNAP, FAAN

University of Central Florida Research Foundation

Award: $23,505

NLN Foundation & Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Research Award

AI-Based Simulation Training to Enhance Future Nurse Practitioners’ Competence in Adolescent Suicide Risk Assessment

Teenu Xavier, PhD, RN; Farrokh Alemi, PhD; Pierre Eklou, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

George Mason University School of Nursing

Award: $12,815

Emerging Investigator Research Award

Navigating Identity Transformation and Support Systems in Military-Connected Nursing Students: A Mixed-Methods Study to Inform Educational Reintegration Strategies

Trisha Mims, PhD, MBA, RN, HCM

East Tennessee State University College of Nursing

Award: $5,000

Mary Anne Rizzolo Doctoral Research Award

Learner Reactions and Knowledge Improvement in Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation (iVRS): A Correlational Study

Yunsik Lee, MSN, RN, CNE

The University of Texas at Arlington doctoral candidate

Award: $2,500

Co-Sponsored Awards

NLN/Sigma Foundation for Nursing Diane Billings Research Award

Evaluating the Characteristics, Quality, Impact, and Dissemination Metrics of DNP Scholarly Projects from a Recent Decade

Karen Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CNE, ANEF, FAAN; Karen J. Whitt, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, AGN-BC, FAANP; Brittany Smith, Metadata Specialist

The George Washington University

Award: $5,000

NLN/Southern Nursing Research Society Doctoral Research Award

Psychometric Validity of the Interprofessional Professionalism Assessment Instrument in Nursing Education

Susan Welch, EdD, RN, CNE

The University of Alabama; Mercer University doctoral candidate

Award: $5,000

NLN/Eastern Nursing Research Society Doctoral Research Award

Post-Licensure Nurse Competence from the Perspectives of Hospital Nursing Stakeholders

Jodi “Lea” Brown, MS, RN, NPD-BC

University of Rochester doctoral candidate

Award: $2,500

NLN/Western Institute of Nursing Research Award

Harnessing AI for De-escalation and Therapeutic Communication in Psychiatric Nursing: A Simulation Study with Nursing Students

Babak (Alfred) Saatchi, PhD, RN, PCCN, CNE

San Jose State University

Award: $5,000

For more information about the 2026 NLN Education Summit, visit Summit.NLN.org.