Campus Colleagues: Vessela Vassileva-Clarke
UM-Dearborn’s director of research development talks about what’s driving the university’s burgeoning research culture and why she almost became a diplomat....
External Awards Received
U-M Principal Investigator: Hafiz Malik
Project Title: PFI:RP: Reliable Electronic Device Authentication to Protect Supply Chain
Direct Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Amount: $1,000,000
Malik will develop advanced technology to reliably authenticate electronic components — such as Electronic Control Units (ECUs), Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), and sensors, among others — in systems like autonomous vehicles, robots and smart infrastructure in order to create prototypes that verify the integrity of these devices throughout a vehicle's life. He will use unique digital signatures for each device to enhance data traceability and quickly identify faults, which protects transportation systems from cyber threats posed by counterfeit parts.
U-M Principal Investigator: John Chenoweth
Project Title: A More Complete Story of the River Raisin: Phase II of The River Raisin Archaeological Project
Direct Sponsor: National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Award Amount: $169,121
See full Reporter story
U-M Principal Investigator: Zhen Hu
Project Title: Hybrid Modeling for Streamflow Prediction and Machine Learning Model Deployment
Sponsor: Department of Defense via subcontract from Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer Solutions LLC
Award Amount: $254,999
The objective of this project is to develop machine learning models that integrate physics-based simulation with field observation, so that the accuracy of river discharge predictions can be improved. The improved prediction accuracy of river discharge can lead to more effective decision regarding flood mitigation and resource allocation. After the development of the method, the machine learning models will be deployed in real-world applications for testing and demonstration.
U-M Principal Investigator: Areen Alsaid
Project Title: Driver Distraction and Fatigue Mitigation Strategies
Direct Sponsor: MOBIS Technical Center
Award Amount: $58,999
The project will explore real-time mitigation strategies for distraction and fatigue during driving. By investigating innovative solutions — such as conversational agents that act as in-car co-pilots — and implementing subtle, subconscious strategies like adaptive lighting to enhance attention and focus, Alsaid will assess the effectiveness of these interventions and their impact on sustained driving performance over time.
Announcements
Holiday Office Closures — Impact on Timelines
As the holiday season approaches, please be aware of the following campus closure dates and the potential impact on proposal timelines — closure dates do not count in your lead time:
The UM-Dearborn Office of Research will be CLOSED:
- from 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 until 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2
- from 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 until 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2
How will this affect proposals? UM-Dearborn Office of Research will pause work on proposals during the Chancellor's additional time off dates and our staff will not be available during this time. Therefore, the following internal due dates will apply:
- For proposals due to the sponsor between Thursday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Dec. 5, we must receive your final, ready-to-submit proposal by noon on Friday, Nov. 22.
- For proposals due to the sponsor between Thursday, Dec. 26 and Wednesday, Jan. 8, we must receive your final, ready-to-submit proposal by noon on Friday, Dec. 20.
Please plan accordingly. Failure to meet the timelines provided by our office means we may be unable to provide support or services and your proposal may be at risk of not being submitted. Please email our office if you have any questions about timing and deadlines.
Internal Deadlines and Lead-time Reminder
Please review our pre-award timeline and services webpage to ensure you are providing sufficient lead time to receive the services and support you need. Late proposals obstruct our ability to provide services across campus and this can negatively impact your fellow faculty.
Although we request a minimum of 20 work days lead time, complicating factors such as those below create additional complexities and need additional days of lead time to prepare as follows:
- cost sharing requirement – five days for college pre-approval
- subcontracts to other institutions in your proposal – four days per subcontract
- multiple investigators submitting senior personnel documents – three days
- special sponsor forms required (e.g. DOE budget forms, Environmental Questionnaire, non-standard sponsor systems) – five days
- Ann Arbor or Flint personnel included will need their unit review and approval – two days per department
Please help us to provide the best services possible by respecting our request for sufficient lead time and by following the timeline provided by your proposal specialists.
Research Events in November
- Integrating Theoretical Frameworks into Grant Proposals - Hanover Grants
- The integration of theoretical frameworks into a grant narrative can strengthen the rationale and impact of your project. This session will dive into the importance of theoretical frameworks, the selection of the appropriate framework for your proposal, and the art of seamlessly weaving your framework into a proposal narrative.
- Nov. 21, noon; virtual
- Registration required
- The Study’s Funded! Now What? Tips to Navigate Study Start-Up
- In this workshop, you will learn best practices in preparing for a new study before you submit an IRB application or for beginning a new phase of the research. You will get expert tips from an experienced coordinator that will help you save time, effort and money later in your study.
- Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m.-noon; virtual
- Registration required
- How to Organize and Sustain Collaborative Research: Learning from the Program on Women’s Healthcare Effectiveness Research (PWHER)
- IRWG Director Dr. Melynda Price will lead a conversation with members of the Program on Women’s Healthcare Effectiveness Research (PWHER) at Michigan Medicine.
- This session will cover key questions such as: How did your group begin, and how do you sustain an intellectual community? If you have applied for grants, at what point did you know you were ready to take on collective research projects?
- Nov. 8, 2-3:30 p.m.; 2239 Lane Hall
- Registration Required
- IRB-HSBS, IRB On-the-Road Drop-In Session
- Elizabeth Molina, the UM-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, Nov. 20, 2-3:30 p.m.; virtual
- 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.
- NSF CAREER: Project Description Overview, Thursday, Nov. 21, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
- NSF CAREER: Broader Impacts with Impact, Thursday, Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
- Resources for Education, Outreach, Diversity and Evaluation, Thursday, Feb. 13, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
- NSF CAREER: Structuring your CAREER for Reviewers, Thursday, March 13, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
- NSF CAREER: How to Address Reviewer Feedback, Thursday, April 4, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Location TBD
- NSF CAREER: Project Description: The Research Plan, Thursday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Johnson Rooms 3rd Floor LEC
- NSF Panel TBDx, Thursday, May 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Location TBD
- Public Engagement Workshops and Community of Practice
- The Public Engagement and Research Impacts team is hosting a fall workshop series to support researchers in developing public engagement skills to translate their research, scholarship or creative practice for societal impact. Participants will learn about public engagement frameworks, explore how to communicate across disciplines and beyond academia, and gain tools for fostering effective and equitable partnerships.
- Envisioning Impacts: Nov. 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon; Michigan Union, Pond Room
- Storytelling for Community Building: Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m.- noon; virtual
The fall community of practice will focus on research communication – especially communication of research agendas and societal impacts to broad audiences. These dynamic and hands-on sessions will give participants an opportunity to apply new communication skills by drafting and revising a pitch for an explainer or op-ed piece.
- Sticky Messaging and Audience Engagement, Dec. 11, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Research Resource Highlight
Every month, the Office of Research features a resource and/or tool that is available for researchers. This month, we are featuring the Mobile Technologies Core, facilitated by the U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center.
The Mobile Technologies Core provides investigators across the University of Michigan the support and guidance needed to utilize mobile technologies and digital mental health measures in their studies. Experienced faculty and staff offer hands-on consultative services to researchers throughout the University – regardless of specialty or research focus.
Services include:
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
The Office of Research publishes a list of selected funding opportunities, organized by college, every month on our website under Announcements. In addition, yearly grant calendars organized by subject area provided by Hanover Research are available there as well.
Use the updated U-M Research Commons to look up internal (to U-M) funding opportunities and Limited Submission opportunities open to Dearborn researchers.
Contact the UM-Dearborn Office of Research if you would like more information about submitting a proposal to any of the programs.
