The Digital Health Co/Lab at the University of Kansas (KU) is pleased to offer a one-year fellowship for the 2026-2027 cycle to foster the development of trainees interested in digital health research and commercialization. Digital Health Co/Lab serves faculty from all KU campuses with focused support and expertise in developing advanced diagnostic tools, evidence-based therapeutic interventions, and innovative solutions to empower health care providers with cutting-edge technology that can improve patient care.

Applicants for the one-year Staudacher Fellowship must be either: a KU predoctoral student enrolled at any KU campus in a full-time PhD or MD program; OR, a recent graduate of a doctoral-level degree program within one-year of degree conferral. Applicants will be accepted from the fields of medicine, nursing, health professions, public health, psychology, computer science, bioengineering, or another digital health-related field. The position provides salary support, fringe benefits, and protected time for digital health-related research. Applicants enrolled in predoctoral programs must seek permission to apply from their training program’s Department Chair (or for medical students, the School of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs) prior to applying for the fellowship. The position start date is negotiable, with an anticipated start in summer/early fall of 2026.

The applicant must identify a faculty member with a primary full-time appointment at KU Lawrence or KU Medical Center with an active laboratory/research program, and a demonstrated history of successful past/current research funding and trainee mentorship, to serve as their primary mentor. KU faculty study many facets of digital health and innovation, including (but not limited to): health app development, artificial intelligence, big data, biosensors, medical devices, robotics, internet interventions, text messaging, virtual reality, and wearable devices. Dr. Frank T. Materia (Co/Lab Associate Scientific Director), Dr. Anthony Sung (Co/Lab Scientific Director), or Mr. Chris Rehkamp (KU Innovation Park Director of Business Services) will serve as a secondary mentor, with matching based on project topic and proposed goals. Candidates who are interested in applying for grants to fund their research and are interested in future academic faculty positions are highly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following documents to Jennie Andra at jandra@kumc.edu: 1) A cover letter indicating: interest in the fellowship, qualifications, specific digital health research interests, preferred primary mentor and their history of successful funding and mentorship, and goals for the fellowship year; 2) a current curriculum vitae; 3) names and titles for 3 references; and 4) for current full-time KU graduate or medical students, evidence of predoctoral program Department Chair’s, or School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs, permission to participate in the Fellowship. The final application deadline is 5:00pm CDT on March 27, 2026. Co/Lab leadership will review applications and interviews will be scheduled with a final decision announced in May  2026.

The Staudacher Fellowship is made possible by generous donors that invest in the future of medicine. At the Digital Health Co/Lab at the University of Kansas, we are dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovators through education and applied experiences at the intersection of digital health research and commercialization.

Introducing Our 2025-26 Staudacher Fellow: Joo Hyun Lee

Joo Hyun Lee
2025-26
Staudacher Innovator
Research Fellow

April 2025

Digital Health Co/Lab at the University of Kansas is excited to welcome Joo Hyun Lee, a student in the Rehabilitation Science PhD program in the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training, as our next 2025-2026 Staudacher Fellow in Digital Health Research and Commercialization. Joo Hyun is a Graduate Research Assistant under the mentorship of Dr. Linda D’Silva in the Vestibular & Balance Rehabilitation (STABILITI) Laboratory.

With a background in sports science and biomechanics, Joo Hyun’s research focuses on using mobile health applications to enhance rehabilitation outcomes. In collaboration with industry, the lab has developed VestRx, a mobile app that gamifies vestibular exercises to boost engagement and adherence. The app is currently being trialed with individuals experiencing dizziness and imbalance to study its impact on mobility improvements.

During his Fellowship year, under the guidance of Dr. Linda D’Silva, Dr. Jake Sosnoff and Dr. Carl Luchies from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Joo Hyun aims to explore how digital technology can improve mobility in both controlled lab settings and real-world environments. He will also deepen his knowledge in machine learning and AI analytics to better understand the potential of mobile health technology in enhancing recovery.

We look forward to the innovative contributions Joo Hyun will bring to the field of digital health research and commercialization during his fellowship year. 

Past Staudacher Fellow

2024-2025: Angela Kaczorowski-Worthley
Learn more about Angela's work as a Staudacher Fellow (PDF).