For Hongyu Xiao, Ph.D., DISC seed funding provided more than financial support for his research. It created opportunities to advance interdisciplinary work, share research with broader audiences, build collaborations, and develop his path as an early career researcher.
Xiao, a geophysicist and research scientist with the Oklahoma Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma, works at the intersection of seismology, machine learning, and edge computing. Through DISC seed funding, he was able to support research-related travel, participate in scientific meetings, and disseminate his work to academic audiences and stakeholders.
One of those opportunities was presenting his research at the Seismological Society of America Annual Meeting, where he was able to receive feedback from researchers and connect with others working across seismology, machine learning, and data science.
“Presenting the research at academic meetings increased my visibility within the research community and helped me connect with researchers working across seismology, machine learning, and data science,” Xiao said.
The funding also supported opportunities to mentor students, helping Xiao strengthen his skills as an early career researcher while engaging students in interdisciplinary research.
Beyond the direct financial support, Xiao said the guidance and conversations provided through DISC were also valuable. Brainstorming discussions and consultations about future funding strategies helped him refine research ideas, identify potential opportunities, and think more strategically about building a sustainable research program.
“These conversations helped me refine research ideas, identify opportunities, and develop a clearer strategy for building a sustainable research program,” Xiao said.
For Xiao, the combination of funding, intellectual guidance, and opportunities for academic engagement helped expand his research network while creating a foundation for future research.
“Overall, the DISC funding and guidance supported my development as a researcher and expanded opportunities for academic engagement, collaboration, and future research,” Xiao said.
Xiao’s experience illustrates the broader impact of DISC seed funding: providing researchers with the resources and connections needed to develop interdisciplinary ideas, pursue new opportunities, and build momentum toward future research.
Interested in learning more about DISC seed funding and how it supports interdisciplinary research at OU? Learn more about DISC.
