Lindenwood University named Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Robert Smith as a recipient of the 2026 President’s Research, Innovation, and Development toward Excellence (PRIDE) Fund. The grant is designed to launch projects that shape student experience, embed Lindenwood in the community, and promote interdepartmental collaboration.
Smith’s project will study how age affects nerve and muscle development in soccer players. The research will involve male and female athletes from Lindenwood and local high schools while giving undergraduate exercise science students firsthand experience with sports performance research.
For Smith, the student experience is central to the project’s mission. “My agenda is my students’ learning,” Smith said. “I want the students leading the project.” While Smith intends to guide the students in the right direction, he calls for hands-on decision making to shape the learning. Beyond data collection, he expects students to draw conclusions that lead to recommendations or further research.
The PRIDE Fund plays an important role in launching Smith’s project. Smith said the fund will help purchase equipment that students will be able to use for years to come. The award will also create student experiences outside of the classroom with funds designated for student travel to regional and national conferences to present their research.
“I’m grateful that this is available for faculty, especially at an institution of this size,” Smith said. The PRIDE Fund allows him to “do the things I want to do: help students out and teach them skills they wouldn’t learn elsewhere.”