Month: January 2010

01/22/10

Online Writing Tutoring

From the desk of Jacob Blumner, Director of the Marian E. Wright Writing Center:

This message is for faculty teaching fully-online courses.

Colleagues,

The Marian E. Wright Writing Center is now offering online tutoring for students in fully online courses. We are trying to meet the needs of our students and we are proud to roll out this new service. Students will need to submit papers in Microsoft Word format and will receive feedback using the Comment and Track Changes features of Word. Students are also encouraged to attach an assignment sheet if you have one.

The form students fill out is available on our website, www.umflint.edu/writingcenter. Here is the direct link to the online tutoring form for paper submission: https://www.umflint.edu/formassembly/forms/view/562.

We try to respond to papers within 3 business days, and often it is quicker. Students can also request you be notified via email.

If you have any questions, please email me or call me at 762-0655.

01/12/10

Summer Research Internship at UM-Ann Arbor’s Survey Research Center

Applications are being accepted for the Survey Research Center’s (SRC) Summer Internship Program. The program is a 10 week, 20 – 40 hour per week paid position for undergraduate (completion of sophomore year or greater) and graduate students with an interest in social science research.  Interns typically will be assigned to an ongoing research study, attend appropriate seminars/courses on principles of survey research, and participate in a research symposium focusing on one of the research methodologies learned and/or the project in which they worked. The overall intent is to provide all interns with exposure to many facets of the survey process. Interns will be encouraged to apply for full-time positions upon completion of their internship or degree program.

The deadline to apply for this program is Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010.

If you would like an application, contact Andre Louis at [email protected] or stop by the Office of Research in 530 French Hall.

For additional information about the program, please contact George Myers at (734) 615-4883 or via email at [email protected]. Also, visit the website for more details: http://sites.isr.umich.edu/DNN/Default.aspx?alias=sites.isr.umich.edu/dnn/sip

01/12/10

Undergraduates Sought for Nanoscale Device Research

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking applications for the 2010 Nanotechnology Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program. Applications are due by February 28, 2010. Selected students will spend 10 weeks, from June 1 to August 1, 2010, engaged in cutting-edge nanoscale device development research projects with faculty mentors and graduate student lab mates.

Funding from the National Science Foundation provides each student with a $3,400 stipend, lodging, travel to campus, and a number of activities and events outside the lab. Women and persons from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact the SURE program director at [email protected].

01/12/10

New NIH AREA Program Announcement Released

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published new guidelines for the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program. AREA awards support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs. The AREA program is a research grant program, not a training grant or fellowship program. However, the active involvement of undergraduate (preferred) and graduate students in the proposed research is highly encouraged, and reviewers will consider whether a project will expose students to meritorious research. Applications are due by February 25, June 25, and October 25 annually.

The new guidelines include several changes:

  • The maximum award has increased to $300,000 in total direct costs over three years.
  • The eligibility threshold has increased to campuses that have received no more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in each of four or more of the last seven years.
  • The Research Strategy section may not exceed 12 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts.
  • Applicants requesting more than $250,000 in annual direct costs must complete and submit budget requests using the Research & Related Budget component

Applicants are strongly advised to review the AREA program website and direct questions to one of the AREA program representatives listed. NIH applications undergo two steps of review: peer review and institute/center (IC) review. While peer reviewers evaluate an application, the IC funds it, so early program officer contact is an important factor in application development, especially where a new program announcement is concerned.

01/11/10

Director Search Update

From the desk of Chris Waters, Acting Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Programs:

I am pleased to announce the Director of Research Search has been successfully completed. Very soon, on January 19th, Dr. Terry W. Van Allen will assume the duties of Director of Research at the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Van Allen comes to us with 11 years experience as Community Builder and Operations Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Previous to that he was Director of the Office of Research Administration, Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Programs at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Dr. Van Allen’s PhD is in Public Administration and Policy and he also holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. He has held faculty positions at a number of institutions. I am sure he will be eager to begin the process of knowing us and helping us identify and capitalize on funding for our research and creative activities.

Many thanks to the Search Committee, headed by Dr. Marianne McGrath and supported by Mary Deibis. Other committee members included, Dr. Judith Ablesser, Dr. Quamrul Mazumder, Dr. Seyed Mehdian, Dr. Constance Creech and Joel Rash.

01/6/10

Funding awards

Congratulations go out to Peggy Kahn of Political Science and Tendaji Ganges of Educational Opportunities Iniative.

Tendaji Ganges; Director of Educational Opportunity Initiatives was awarded two grants from from the State of Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. He received $145,000 for “Bridges to Success – Year 4” and $124,349 for “Transitions Program – Year 4.”

Peggy Kahn, Associate Professor of Political Science received a $750 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint for the following project: “The Status of Women and Girls in Genesee County.”

Congratulations to our recepients!