Office of Research & Economic Development

Stories of support, collaboration, research and community engagement

Professor Mihai Burzo: The Autonomous Vehicle

Posted by & filed under Artificial Intelligence, Award, Computer science, Demography, Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Motor life, Research Matters, Spotlights, Student Research Spotlight, Technology, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow Professor Mihai Burzo, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan Flint, is delving into the future of automotive technology with his groundbreaking work on autonomous vehicles. Born in Transylvania and armed with a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University, Professor Burzo’s expertise spans microelectronics, computational dynamics, and mechanical engineering,

A Journey of Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation

Posted by & filed under Award, Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Research Matters, Spotlights, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow Mark Simon, the esteemed director of the Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Michigan-Flint, is set to retire this year. With a career spanning ventures in wilderness canoe trips, import-export businesses, and educational product development, Simon’s entrepreneurial journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Born into a family

Interdisciplinary Innovations in Community Revitalization: Collaborative Approaches to Design, Environmental Justice, and Education in Flint

Posted by & filed under Art, Award, Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Justice, Societal, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow Benjamin Gaydos is a nationally recognized designer and associate professor of Art and the University of Michigan-Flint.   He holds an MFA in Visual Communication/Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is co-founder of the social impact design studio, goodgood, with offices in Boston and Detroit, and is the driving force behind the

CIT event: Rod Reid an entrepreneur of an IndyCar racing

Posted by & filed under Motor life, Physics.

Daba Coura Mbow When discussing the future of motorsports, professionals often highlight the challenge of engaging young enthusiasts. Beyond the hefty costs associated with vehicles and equipment, there exists a significant experiential investment required for meaningful participation in any aspect of racing. This hurdle is particularly daunting for young individuals with limited financial resources. On

Dr. Shirl Donaldson: Bringing STEM Education to Life with Donk Racing

Posted by & filed under Faculty Profiles, Motor life, Physics, Research Matters, Societal.

Daba Coura Mbow Dr. Shirl Donaldson, a passionate educator from Detroit, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Flint. She grew up in metropolitan Detroit where cars are more than just machines; they’re a way of life. Growing up in an automotive family, Dr Donaldson knew that the “motor life” was her destiny. As a professor

IST: Examining the Societal Impact of Technology

Posted by & filed under Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Research Matters, Societal, Technology, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow Jacob Lederman, associate professor of sociology, is the driving force behind the newly established Institute for Society and Technology (IST) at the University of Michigan-Flint.  IST emerged from a discussion during the pandemic about the growing relationship between technology and society. Lederman, with a deep-rooted curiosity about the relationship between changes in

Decoding Emotion: Enhancing Human-Computer Interaction through Emotional Understanding

Posted by & filed under Artificial Intelligence, Computer science, Student Research Spotlight, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow As a senior pursuing a degree in computer science, Allison Gaspard has been deeply engaged in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan Flint.  She has been involved in a project led by Dr. Mark Allison for the past two years. The work focuses on computationally analyzing the intricate

Persistence and Mattering in Undergraduate Education

Posted by & filed under Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Research Matters, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow A group of educators from different departments at U-M Flint has joined forces to enrich undergraduate education. As part of a joint research effort known as the PMUE (Persistence and Mattering in Undergraduate Education), Kazuko Hiramatsu, Stephanie Roach, Jennifer Alvey and others have been working on teaching methods that help students think

Mapping the Health of Flint River: Bridging Data and Ecology for Ecosystem Preservation

Posted by & filed under Biology, Computer science, Data science, Ecosystem, Faculty Profiles, Flint community, Research Matters, Student Research Spotlight, UM-Flint Research.

Daba Coura Mbow A key project for IDEAS (the Institute for Data Engineering, Analytics, and Science) this fall, explains its Director Cam Mcleman, associate professor of mathematics, connects UM-Flint’s wildlife biology faculty with scientists at the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC). Joining ongoing efforts to monitor the river’s health, looking at organisms inhabiting the watershed,

Exploring Flint River’s Aquatic Ecosystem: Nicklas Smith’s Journey in Wildlife Biology

Posted by & filed under Biology, Ecosystem, Flint community, Research Matters, Student Research Spotlight, UM-Flint Research.

Nicklas Smith, a third-year student majoring in wildlife biology, is from the Genesee County area, with a strong connection to Flint. Last summer, he was inspired by Larissa, a graduate student working as a lab assistant from a previous biology class. When Nicklas expressed his interest in field research, Larissa told him to reach out