10/14/10

Research Spotlight: Sy Banerjee, School of Management

Join us next Wednesday, October 20th at noon for our second Research Spotlight! For this month’s spotlight, we focus on School of Management Marketing professor Sy Banerjee, as he discusses the area of his research interest: Mobile Commerce. Sy has been working on several projects as he studies the changes brought to shopping, marketing practices and society at large through mobile devices.

The talk will take place in the Office of Research Seminar Room, Room 536 French Hall. Come hear about is research endeavors, network with other researchers on campus. This event is free and open to all interested faculty, staff and students, and refreshments will be served.

10/12/10

First UM-Flint Student Presents at SACNAS

From the desk of Mel Serow, University Relations

University of Michigan-Flint senior Cameron Waites recently returned from one of the largest scientific conferences for undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S. The 2010 SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) National Conference was held in Anaheim, California.

Waites is the first UM-Flint student to ever present a poster at the conference, and this year, was the only representative from any University of Michigan campus. His presentation was based on research he did while at the NIH (National Institutes of Health) this past summer.

“While a scholar in the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program, I worked in the lab of Helene Rosenberg, M.D., PhD. My research project was titled Developing a qPCR assay for Influenza A/FM/1/47-MA: Cloning of the Mouse-Adapted Influenza M1 Gene,” said Waites. “During this project, I learned many molecular and microbiology techniques, and completed the basis for future work in the lab that will allow us to assess the amount of influenza virus in various tissues.”

For Waites, participating in the conference was critical in making the most of his undergraduate education, and remaining an active participant in research will assist him to reach his future goals of becoming a physician-scientist.

While having the opportunity to participate in various programs, including the recent conference, Waites has developed additional knowledge and skills in the area of cultural competency.

“As I reflect on my cultural competency interests at UM-Flint, and the internship experience as a Michigan in Washington Program participant in Washington D.C., I recognize the need for increased participation and representation of Persons of Color in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, and being able to gain further experience through personal relationships, networks, and conversations at SACNAS has further enriched my understanding of these issues.”

This isn’t the only time Cameron has represented UM-Flint as a first. In 2009, he was also the first UM-Flint to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Way to go, Cameron!

10/8/10

UM-Flint to be Part of Advanced Nursing Education Expansion

From the desk of Mel Serow, University Relations

The University of Michigan-Flint will receive $1,425,600 to help with expanding Advanced Nursing Education. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, both D-Mich., announced $13,322,537 in grants for nine projects across the state to train primary health care workers in Michigan. The funding was made available through the Prevention and Public Health Fund under the Affordable Care Act.

UM-Flint is one of just 26 schools of nursing to be selected for the grant to increase full-time enrollment in primary care nurse practitioner (NP) and nurse midwife (NMW) programs. It is projected that over 1,300 primary care nursing stipends will be supported through this five-year program.

“This award will directly support 30-60 graduate students who wish to become Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (NPs). NP’s are cost-effective, and part of the solution to the shortage of primary care providers,” said Director of the Graduate Nursing Program Constance Creech.

“This funding will support students who want to study full time, but could not afford it previously.”
According to Creech, the average Nurse Practitioner student leaves the UM-Flint graduate program with nearly $42,000 in student loans.

“By providing a stipend of $22,000 per student per year for up to two years, this funding will reduce the financial burden of attending school full-time, and help to accelerate graduation rates to increase the number of advanced practice nurses,” said Barbara Kornblau, dean of the School of Health Professions and Studies.

“The Affordable Care Act will give more families access to quality, affordable health care. These funds will help make sure there are enough doctors and nurses available to treat those new patients,” Stabenow said. “These investments in our health care workforce will create new, good-paying jobs and will ensure that Michigan families continue to have access to the medical care they need.”

“Six months after the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Michiganians are starting to see the very real improvements that health care reform will bring to their lives,” Levin said. “These funds are just a beginning in the investments we will be making in Michigan’s health care, training new primary care doctors and nurses to help Michigan families.”

Congratulations to the staff and faculty in both the School of Nursing and the entire School of Public Health and Health Sciences!

10/7/10

New Interim Dean of SHPS

From the desk of Gerard Voland, Provost:

Professor Donna Fry has been named the Interim Dean of the School of Health Professions and Studies, effective immediately. Dean Barbara Kornblau has resigned from the position, and I thank her for the contributions that she has made to the School and the University of Michigan-Flint.

Dr. Fry is an esteemed colleague and scholar. She has served in numerous capacities at UM-Flint since she first came to campus as a lecturer in 1987. Most recently, she was the Director of the Department of Physical Therapy. Professor Fry has played a major role on many committees over the years, including Faculty Council, Chair of Academic Affairs Advisory Committee, Budget Priorities and Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, Institutional Review Board, NCA/HLC Accreditation Chairs Committee, General Education Design Team Steering Committee as well as several others. She has an extensive list of published works to her credit as well. I am appreciative of Professor Fry’s willingness to accept this role and confident that she will be a strong leader for the School of Health Professions and Studies.

A national search for a new dean will begin shortly. I will be working closely with all SHPS faculty to assist with this leadership transition.

Thanks to Dr. Kornblau for her valuable service and congratulations to Dr. Fry on the new appointment!

09/20/10

Research Spotlight: Joseph Sucic, Biology

You are invited to join us for the first of our new monthly Research Spotlight events. This month the spotlight shines on CAS Biology professor Joe Sucic and his novel cancer research. Come hear about is research endeavors, network with other researchers on campus, and have a nice snack!

The talk will take place on Tues, Sept. 28th at noon in the Office of Research Conference Room (536 French Hall). This event is free and open to all interested faculty, staff and students, and refreshments will be served.

09/20/10

Request for Proposals (RFP): Bryer Medical Research Fund

Proposals are now being accepted for the Dr. Ben F. Bryer Foundation Medical Research Fund Fall for 2010.

The Fund was established by the family of Ben F. Bryer to encourage and support the medical research endeavors of University of Michigan-Flint faculty. This research fund honors the accomplishments of Ben Bryer, surgeon, scientist, educator, author, and humanist, in his pursuit of medical knowledge. Special gratitude is extended to Dr. Bryer’s sister and foundation trustee, Bess Hurand, and her husband Arthur for making this fund possible.

Funding is available, on an application basis, to full-time faculty of the University of Michigan-Flint to provide support for medical and biomedical research, with a priority given to research related to cancer.

Proposals are due in the Office of Research by Friday, October 29, 2010 at 5:00 pm. Proposals will be reviewed by the Research and Creative Activities Committee with funding decisions announced in mid-November. Please note that all proposals must be submitted in hard copy and electronically.

Please follow the guidelines located at http://www.umflint.edu/research/faculty_funding/bryer.htm. Please review the guidelines carefully. If you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to contact the Office of Research, 762-3383.

09/13/10

New NSF Program Aims to Accelerate Innovation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships has issued a new solicitation “to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem.” Accelerating Innovation Research offers two options for applicants:

The Technology Transition Plan competition will encourage the translation of the numerous, technologically-promising, fundamental discoveries made by NSF researchers, while drawing upon and building the entrepreneurial spirit of the researchers and students. Proposals will include a Preliminary Technology Translation Plan, which will be reviewed by a panel of academic and business experts. Awards of up to $300,000 (with a third-party, one-to-one match required for awards over $150,000) will be made based on merit and the achievement of defined milestones. Awardees will later deliver a Final Technology Translation Plan that requests up to $50,000 and includes a technology demonstration suitable to attract subsequent funding for further development and commercialization.
Research Alliance awards of up to $1 million each over two years will accelerate the innovation of a product, a process, or system. This activity will foster connections between an existing NSF innovation research alliance (including consortia such as Engineering Research Centers, Industry University Cooperative Research Centers, Partnerships for Innovation, Science and Technology Centers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers, Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers grantees) and other institutions, whose complementary focus will spur the development of discoveries into innovative technologies through synergistic collaboration.

Letters of intent for either type or proposal are required by December 1, 2010. Full proposals should be submitted between January 1 and February 1, 2011. A webinar for potential applicants will be held September 13, 2010, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern. Contact Rathindra DasGupta at 703/292-8353 or [email protected] for additional information.

09/13/10

Call for Proposals: Research and Creative Activity Awards

The Office of Research and The Research Creative Activity Committee (RCAC) would like to announce the Fall 2010 Call for Proposals! Proposals are due in the Office of Research by Friday, October 29th at 5:00 pm.

Please note that all proposals must be submitted in hard copy and electronically.

Please follow the guidelines located on our website at the following address: http://www.umflint.edu/research/faculty_funding/RCAC_guidelines.htm. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact the Office of Research, 762-3383.

09/7/10

Faculty Awards

Congratulations to the following faculty:

Rajib Ganguly, Assistant Professor of Physics, CSEP who recently received a grant from The Smithsonian Institution for the following project: “Testing the Radiative-Driving Hypothesis of Quasar Outflows” $ 74,257

Marge Andrews, Director and Professor of Nursing, who recently received a grant from the State of Michigan, Department of Community Health for the following project: “State of Michigan Bureau of Health Professions Nursing Scholarship” $ 8,000

09/7/10

National Science Foundation Proposal Preparation Basics, Part 1 and 2

The Office of Research will be hosting free National Science Foundation webinars, themed “Proposal Preparation Basics 1 & 2” on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The schedule for the day is below. All sessions will be held in the Office of Research Seminar Room, 530 French Hall, and are free to all interested faculty and staff.

NSF Proposal Preparation Basics, Part 1 (90 minutes) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This first session will provide an introduction to the National Science Foundation, its mission, organization and overarching policy requirements. We will also delve into the proposal preparation process as outlined in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) including the types of funding opportunities used by NSF, components of an NSF proposal, budgetary guidelines and more.

Break (90 minutes) 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

NSF Proposal Preparation Basics, Part 2 (90 minutes) 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

This second session will cover the merit review process at NSF which ensures that proposals are submitted and reviewed in a fair, competitive, transparent and in-depth manner. This session will also cover much of what you need to know when it comes to managing NSF awards including situations that require NSF approval, reporting requirements as well as other administrative, statutory and regulatory requirements.

Instructors: Jean Feldman, Head, Policy Office, Division of Institutional and Award Support; Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management

Content Geared Towards: Anyone in research administration wanting to learn the basics of preparing a proposal for the NSF.