External Awards Received
The UM-Dearborn Office of Research is pleased to congratulate the following faculty members on receiving external funding for their research projects as follows:
U-M Principal Investigator: Zhen Song
Project Title: Robin Roots
Direct Sponsor: Henry Ford Learning Institute
Award Amount: $21,000
RobinRoots turns schoolyards into living science classrooms where students learn about nature through sound. Using Robin—a free, AI-powered mobile app that identifies birds by their songs—students can discover and track local bird species in real time. The program combines hands-on conservation projects, like building bird feeders, with interactive learning through voice-guided technology that supports all learners, including those with visual impairments. By connecting technology, curiosity, and the outdoors, RobinRoots helps young people explore science, protect their environment, and experience the joy of learning from nature.
U-M Principal Investigator: Wencong Su
Project Title: Microgrid AI-Powered Energy Management Tools Development
Direct Sponsor: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA)
Award Amount: $600,000
In this project, Su received funding to develop an AI-powered suite of energy management tools. Beyond its engineering applications, this research addresses critical challenges in energy systems, including the efficient scheduling and deployment of energy resources, dynamic energy pricing, and real-time demand-response management.
U-M Principal Investigator: Jacob Napieralski
Project Title: Environmental Interpretive Center Inclusive Signage Project
Sponsor: DTE Foundation
Award Amount: $20,000
This grant will support a complete overhaul of the EIC’s outdated indoor and outdoor signage to improve accessibility, inclusivity, and educational engagement, with the goal of an increase in foot traffic and diversity of visitors, as well as increasing environmental literacy in Metro Detroit. The new signage will share Indigenous history and ecological knowledge, with Arabic and Braille translations, to support our birding programs for the visually impaired; and strategically inform and welcome visitors to our trails, waterways and habitats
Announcements
Temporary pause on pickup of HSIP gift cards from Wolverine Tower
Effective Dec. 12, the option to pick up Human SubjectsIncentive Program gift cards from Wolverine Tower will be temporarily paused, due to the decommissioning of Wolverine Tower and relocation of HSIP staff. This change ONLY affects the pick up of physical single-use prepaid gift cards for in-person distribution, and the following options are still available:
- Cash picked up at the U-M Ann Arbor Cashier’s Office
- Physical gift cards mailed directly to participants
- Virtual gift cards emailed to participants
- Checks mailed to participants (or the research team to be converted to cash or used to purchase third-party gift cards)
Please review your IRB-approved study documents, as an amendment to your IRB application may be required before you implement a new payment type if it impacts informed consent language, recruitment materials, confidentiality, data collection, or participant expectations. For additional information, please contact the IRB office overseeing your study.
The UM-Dearborn Office of Research will work with the HSIP office to provide you with updates and alternative payment options as they become available.
Reminder of Updated PEERRS Requirements for Researchers
Due to new federal regulations, new requirements have been added under the University’s Program for the Education and Evaluation of Responsible Research and Scholarship (PEERRS.) Most notably:
- anyone (faculty, student, or staff) named on a proposal submitted for external funding must have completed the Research Security Training module prior to submission, and in order for any award to be processed
- all personnel on an externally funded award are required to complete DOJ Bulk Sensitive Data Regulations Training and Research Administration modules
- anyone engaged in U-M research or scholarship activity (regardless of internal or external support) must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research & Scholarship training
Any questions about PEERRS requirements should be directed to the PEERRS training group at [email protected].
Research Events
IRB-HSBS, IRB On-the-Road Drop-In Session for UM-Dearborn
Elizabeth Molina, the UM-Dearborn Health and Services and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB-HSBS) liaison will offer the last virtual “IRB On-the-Road” session for the year for any Dearborn study team members who would like to have a one-on-one discussion about any questions they may have about the IRB process. Join her on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2-3:30 p.m., virtually.
ORD; Grant Prix Seminar Series - Fall 2025
Join the OVPR Research Development team for their Fall Grant Prix Seminar Series, designed to enhance your grant writing skills and boost your chances of securing funding! Held every month on Friday at 12pm via Zoom, these seminars provide valuable insights and practical strategies for developing successful research proposals. Register here for Friday, Dec. 19, noon: DOE 101. After you sign up, a calendar invite will be shared with a zoom link.
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Statewide Mobility Challenges
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is a new mobility frontier, presenting an opportunity for Michigan to demonstrate next-generation industrial leadership in commercializing unmanned aircraft systems technologies, strengthening critical supply chains and reducing dependence on foreign manufacturing. The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification is seeking proposals for transformative projects that will solve key challenges.
- Department of Transportation: MDOT aims to deploy a next-generation road intelligence platform that leverages connected vehicle data and drone observation to provide real-time situational awareness across road networks. The platform will enable near-miss evaluations and predict crash risks by integrating aerial and ground monitoring. Attend the info session on Dec. 3.
- Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy: EGLE safeguards public health and natural resources, but today's monitoring network has critical gaps. EGLE seeks AAM solutions that expand real-time air and water sensing, add flexible on-demand deployments after incidents, and automate data collection to improve coverage, speed and decision readiness across Michigan. Attend the info session on Jan. 5.
Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)
This limited submission opportunity is designed to support highly integrated research teams of three to six Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) to address ambitious and challenging research questions that are within the mission of NIGMS. Project goals should not be achievable with a collection of individual efforts or projects.
Dec. 8, 2025: Internal Deadline
May 27, 2026: Sponsor Deadline
Funding: see linked solicitation
Apply to OVPR
NSF Computer and Information Science and Engineering: Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) program
The new NSF Future CoRe program supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through the following Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) programs. Funding amount: up to $1 million. Proposals due: Feb. 5, 2026
ONR Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) Education and Workforce Program
The ONR STEM program supports STEM education programs and activities, which are formal or informal education primarily focused on physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics disciplines, topics, or issues. Funding amount: up to $1 million per year. Proposal due: June 30, 2026.
