UNLV Sports Innovation Institute and the Office of Economic Development (OED) are pleased to announce this year’s Catalyst Grant Recipients. This year’s winning proposals include a principal investigator (PI) and co-principal investigator (Co-PI) from five colleges across UNLV and represent a broad range of expertise within those areas. The 13 team members selected are from Integrated Health Sciences, Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education, Hospitality, Journalism and Media Studies, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The awards were generously funded by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (“GOED”) through its Knowledge Fund initiative.
The total amount awarded for this cycle of Catalyst Grants is: $264,731
2024 Catalyst Grant Awards – Interdisciplinary Teams
Proof of Concept
- PI, James W. Navalta, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services, Co-PI, Dustin Davis: “Development of Inclusive Algorithms for Estimating Energy Expenditure with Wrist-Worn Wearable Technology Devices” ($25,000)
- PI, SJ Kim, Entertainment Engineering and Design: “Advancing Visual Perception in Sports Through Augmented Reality: An In-Depth Exploration in the Context of Golf Putting” ($25,888)
- PI, Minkyo Lee, Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management, Co-PI, Bumsoo Park, Journalism and Media Studies: “The Future of Officiating: Assessing Fan Reactions – An Interdisciplinary Examination of Fan Responses to Artificial Intelligence (AI) versus Human Referee Calls” ($24,990)
- PI, Shengjie (Patrick) Zhai, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Co-PI, Ming Zhu, Electrical and Computer Engineering: “An Adaptable and Cost-Effective Framework for Personalized Healthcare E-Butler in Parkinson’s Disease and Rehabilitation Management” ($24,990)
- PI, Kara Radzak, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services: “Decision tool-based guidance for returning to physical activity postpartum” ($24,975)
Product & Service Development
- PI, Kasra Ghaharian, International Gaming Institute, Industry Collaborator, Playtech: “BetterBettor” ($50,000)
- PI, Julia Freedman Silvernail, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services, Industry Collaborator, Incrediware: “Walking gait and balance response to Trampwall exercise and without a semi-conductive beanie recovery protocol” ($13,888)
- PI, Christopher Cain, Resort, Gaming and Golf Management, Co-PIs, Junghoon Lee, Resort, Gaming and Golf Management, Brooke Conway-Kleven, Sports Innovation Institute, Industry Collaborator, Skill Money Games: “Skill Money Games and the Effects Golf Gaming has on Anxiety, Performance, Sociability and Quality of Life” ($25,000)
- PI, Brooke Conway-Kleven, Sports Innovation Institute, Industry Collaborator, PGA of America and PGA Hope: “PGA Hope: A Pilot Study Evaluating Programmatic Efficacy of Golf for US Military Veterans” ($50,000)
The awards start on July 1, 2024, for a one-year performance period. The Catalyst Grant program is for all fields of research in which the proposed project fulfills the goals and funding priorities of the program and which are identifiable to the OED as commercially relevant sports innovations.
