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External Awards Received

U-M Principal Investigator: Finn Bell
Project Title: Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project
Direct Sponsor: National Endowment for the Humanities (via Michigan Humanities Council)
Awarded Amount: $20,000
The  is a community-driven, public digital humanities archive that is housed at the Ypsilanti District Library. The project provides a platform for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and/or working-class farmers and gardeners in Ypsilanti to tell their own stories in their own words, thereby connecting the public to often ignored cultural heritage. The stories illuminate cultural resilience, land justice and the importance of growing food in this time of climate crisis. Michigan Humanities funding will allow us to continue the project by: a) convening a community advisory board to guide the project; b) recording 10 more oral histories; c) exhibiting the project to reach audiences beyond Ypsilanti, and d) conducting a participatory evaluation.
 

U-M Principal Investigator: Doohyun Kim
Project Title: Experimental Characterization of T-GDI Engine for Development of CFD model
Direct Sponsor: Aramco Services Company
Awarded Amount: $53,532.00
Optimization of various engine-operating parameters, such as spark timing and valve timing, is required to fully realize the potential for emission reductions while maintaining fuel economy. 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling of the engine is an effective predictive tool to guide the optimization process. This project aims to experimentally characterize a modern gasoline engine with variable valve duration system, generating a dataset necessary for development of a CFD model. Measurements include temperatures and pressures along the air path, high-speed dynamic in-cylinder pressure for combustion analysis, and emissions.
 

U-M Principal Investigator: Joan Remski
Project Title:  Accelerating STEM Success at the University of Michigan-Dearborn
Direct Sponsor: U.S. Dept of Treasury (via State of Michigan Dept of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential)
Awarded Amount: $319,746.00
This project proposes to intentionally transform the experience for first-time college students majoring in STEM by improving teaching and learning in several highly enrolled gateway courses. In addition to the redesign of curriculum, the project plans to provide these students with a personalized and scalable digital coaching platform that has been proven to enhance both academic performance and persistence. These outcomes will be achieved by engaging STEM faculty with course redesign programming through the Gardner Institute and by working with the Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to implement the learning tool ECoach on the ������-Dearborn campus. Coordinated by the Office of the Provost, the campus has a dedicated, diverse and engaged group of faculty and staff members, with a strong track record of student-centered innovative practices, who are eager to complete this transformational work.
 

U-M Principal Investigator: Mathumai Kanapathipillai
Project Title: Novel bioinspired nanoformulation to treat oxidative stress associated NETosis
Direct Sponsor: American Heart Association
Awarded Amount: $200,000
Neutrophils are a vital part of the body’s immune system. During immune defense they release web-like structures that are termed as neutrophil extracellular matrix (NETs). Under stress, neutrophil extracellular matrix formation has been shown to play a major role in pathogenesis of organ injury. Among the diseases associated with oxidative stress and NETosis, we focus on pulmonary hypertension (PH) as a disease model. PH is a life-threatening pulmonary vascular disease. Recent therapeutic approaches for PH only partially improve symptoms and survival. Targeting NETosis with novel PH drugs could help PH patients. In this proposal, we propose a novel approach to treat PH. We will use novel drug molecules inspired by nature, and nanotechnology to package the identified drugs. First, we will test the drug molecules in healthy and PH patient cells. Next, we will form nanoparticles with effective drugs and test the efficacy and safety in a mouse PH model at our collaborators lab at Wisconsin Medical College. Students will visit our collaborator’s lab to learn and participate in the PH model studies. The project could have a positive impact on the treatment of PH.

Announcements

Tracking Federal Funding Updates
The U-M Office of the Vice President for Research has created a webpage where researchers and administrators can track updates related to new federal directives that may impact research and federally sponsored projects. Everyone is encouraged to visit this page periodically to view the most recent updates and recommendations from OVPR: 

The National Science Foundation has also created a webpage dedicated to the .

Virtual Gift Card Option for Human Subjects Payments
The Human Subjects Incentives Program has added an option for virtual gift cards that can be e-mailed to subjects. Researchers who have IRB approval to provide gift cards to research participants can submit their requests through our  to obtain such payments, including electronic gift cards. 

Call for Nominations: OVPR Research Faculty & Staff Awards
The Dearborn community is strongly encouraged to consider nominating ������-Dearborn staff and faculty for the annual OVPR Research Faculty & Staff Awards.

Research staff and faculty play a critical role in supporting and advancing university operations. OVPR is seeking nominations for its series of awards to recognize members of its the ������ research community whose work helps advance knowledge, solve challenging problems, create new products, and enhance quality of life.

are open to all regular non-faculty staff members employed by any unit of the University of Michigan’s three campuses. Students, tenured/tenure track, clinical track and research track faculty are not eligible for these awards. Submit your nominations by Feb. 12.

To honor the scholarly work of research faculty, OVPR also encourages nominations for its Collegiate Research Professorship Award, Research Faculty Achievement Award and Research Faculty Recognition Award. The newly established Research Faculty Mentor Award has been created to recognize the outstanding research faculty who have demonstrated excellence in mentoring and celebrate the crucial role that mentorship plays in the professional and personal development of emerging researchers. Learn more and submit your nominations by Feb. 19.

Campus Grants Updates
Open Invitation: The Open Invitation Campus Grants are now closed because funding for the FY25 cycle has been exhausted. Funding for the next fiscal year is anticipated to be announced in July 2025. 

Competitive: The winter cycle of the Office of Research Competitive Campus Grants is now open for applications, with a submission deadline Monday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. 

The Competitive Campus Grants below are available to all ������-Dearborn tenured/tenure-track faculty. We regret to inform you that due to budgetary constraints, we will not be able to reopen the Thematic Research Planning Grants during the FY2025 Winter Cycle.

Research Initiation and Development (RID) Grants aim to assist faculty and research staff with the development of innovative, collaborative research proposals that will advance the ������-Dearborn mission. The program supports proposals which will help place the principal investigator (PI) and the research team in a strong position to receive additional, external funding from federal agencies, foundations, and/or industry.

Budget floor: $10,000; Budget ceiling: $20,000

Scholars (SCH) Grants support research, scholarship, and creative activities in the arts. This program is intended for projects with funding needs not usually addressed by other support programs within or outside the University.

Budget floor: $6,000; Budget ceiling: $10,000. 

More information about the campus grants programs including eligibility,  and  can be found on our . For additional questions, please email [email protected].

Research Events in January

• NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Seminars
  • The Ann Arbor Office of the Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering is hosting an NSF CAREER seminar series and has extended an invitation to interested Dearborn faculty to join. Registration is required- register for individual events using the links below.
  • - Thursday (2/13) 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
  • - Thursday (3/13) 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
  • - Friday (4/4) 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - 3336 Duderstadt or Robotics
  • - Thursday (4/10) 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
  • NSF Panel TBD - Thursday (5/8) 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Ford Library
     
• IRB-HSBS,  
  • Elizabeth Molina, the ������-Dearborn Health and Services and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB-HSBS) liaison will be resuming the virtual “IRB On-the-Road” sessions once a month for any study team members who would like to have a one-on-one discussion about any questions they may have about the IRB process. 
  • Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2-3:30 p.m., virtual
  • Wednesday, March 19, 2-3:30 p.m., virtual
  • Wednesday, April 16, 2-3:30 p.m., virtual
     
• • The Office of Public Engagement and Research Impacts is hosting a Winter 2025 Focused Intensive, composed of four virtual learning experience sessions between Feb. 21 and Mar. 21 on planning and managing projects for public impact, including designing, implementing, evaluating, and closing projects and partnerships. Participants will explore and apply frameworks, resources and best practices in equitable, collaborative project planning and management to an initiative of the participant's choosing. All U-M faculty, research trainees and research support staff are welcome to apply. Faculty are eligible for $500 in research discretionary funds after completing the final session. 
    • Session 1: Developing a Collaborative Guiding Vision & Strategy; Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 - 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., virtual
    • Session 2: Elements of an Effective and Equitable Project Plan; Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 - 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., virtual
    • Session 3: Keeping Your Project on Track (or Changing Course if Necessary); Friday, March 14, 2025-10 a.m. -11:30 a.m., virtual
    • Session 4: Transitioning and Wrapping up for Impact; Friday, March 21, 2025 - 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., virtual
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  • ������-Ann Arbor Office of Research Development (ORD) has launched a seminar series on research proposal development, featuring a range of topics designed to boost grant writing expertise. View previous sessions on the ORD YouTube. Grant Prix will continue every third Friday of the month at 12:00 p.m. starting in February: 
    • Feb. 28: NIH 101, virtual
    • March 28: Budgeting for large-scale proposals, virtual
    • April 25: NIH Updates to the Biosketch (and using SciENcv, virtual
    • May 23: Broadening participation and inclusive excellence in grant proposals, virtual
  • for an opportunity to elevate your grant writing skills!
     
• MICHR, 
  • Collaborative Research, which includes Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Community Engaged Research (CEnR), is a process to address community priorities and issues such as health disparities. After participating in this session, attendees will be able to discuss:
    • the rationale for this type of research
    • the continuum for community engagement
    • phases for partnership formation, maintenance, and sustainability
    • the benefits and challenges of conducting collaborative research
  • Thursday, Feb. 6, 2-5 p.m., virtual

Research Resource Highlight: Tracking Federal Changes 2025

Every month, the Office of Research features a resource and/or tool for ������ researchers. This month we are featuring the OVPR update webpage . 

On the Tracking Federal Changes page, the OVPR will convey new information about changes that affect research funding at federal agencies. This page includes links to relevant executive orders and communications from individual agencies, e.g.OMB Memo M-25-13: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance. See the  for all updates.

The OVPR has also set up a new email address to improve information sharing. It is <[email protected]>. All ������ researchers and staff can use it to send questions about agency changes. If you have information about federal funding changes from which other members of our community can benefit, please consider sending this information to the email address so that OVPR can share it effectively.

Upcoming Funding Opportunities

The Office of Research maintains a list of selected funding opportunities, organized by college on our website under Announcements. In addition, yearly grant calendars organized by subject area provided by Hanover Research are available there as well. 

Please refer to the Research Resource Highlight section above for more information and updates related to the Trump administration's changes to federal research funding.

Use the updated  to look up internal (to U-M) funding opportunities and Limited Submission opportunities open to Dearborn researchers.

Contact the ������-Dearborn Office of Research if you would like more information about submitting a proposal to any of the programs.