The Wellness Communication Research Center at Florida State University has awarded nearly $24,000 in funding through its 2026 Assistant Professor Seed Grant Competition to support emerging research examining the ways communication shapes health, wellness, and human experience.

The seed grants support innovative research addressing emerging issues in wellness communications while helping faculty develop projects that can lead to future external funding opportunities. This year’s funded projects include researchers from multiple disciplines across FSU.

Dr. Elizabeth Ray received funding for her project, “Wellness After Crisis: Trauma-Informed Public Communication.” Ray is partnering with Dr. Lyndi Bradley from the Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies at FSU to examine communication approaches related to wellness following crises and trauma.  

Dr. Pengfei Zhao received funding for “From Assistant to Ally: How Functional AI Use Transforms to Social and Relational Engagement?” The project examines how the use of artificial intelligence may influence social and relational engagement, exploring the ways AI can move beyond functional tools and become part of people’s interactions and relationships. 

Drs. Yin Yang and Braidyn Lazenby received funding for their project, “Digital Health Communication and Menstrual Well-Being: A Multi-Method Investigation to Understand Online Community Interaction and Communication Strategies.” Partnering with Dr. Subhasree Sengupta( FSU School of Information and the Learning Systems Institute) as well as Dr. Laurie Abbott(FSU College of Nursing), the projects will explore how people communicate about menstrual health and wellbeing in online communities and how digital communication strategies may influence these conversations. 

The funded projects will run from August 2026 through April 2027. Together, the awards reflect the Center’s mission to advance interdisciplinary research, examining how communication shapes health, well-being, and human experience. Award recipients will use the seed grants to develop their research programs and pursue related external funding opportunities.