Tag Archives: office of research and economic development

UM-Flint professor creates connections through language and research

Kazuko Hiramatsu uses her expertise in linguistics to empower students with a sense of curiosity about langauge that extends past simple grammar.

Kazuko Hiramatsu is a connector. She is connecting her students with a broad understanding of how they fit into the world. She is connecting professors, linguists and administrators with pathways to more mindful teaching practices. And she is also trying to connect all of us to the understanding of how we make and share meaning[…]

UM-Flint professor uses GIS to research foraging in Detroit

Greg Rybarczyk, assistant professor of geography, is researching foraging activity in urban areas.

If the Earth's population exceeds its carrying capacity during the next 100 years, one of the most important questions will be how to support the food needs of the planet. Greg Rybarczyk, associate professor of geography at the University of Michigan-Flint, is currently investigating that query by researching an often overlooked food resource: edible natural[…]

Young Sharks: Entrepreneurship lessons empower kids to create and innovate

The Junior Sharks (sixth to eighth grade) and Young Sharks (third to fifth grade) programs align economic and innovation lessons with state education benchmarks.

The University of Michigan-Flint's Office of Economic Development (OED) recently completed the 2022 Young Sharks Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation program for area third through fifth graders. The program combines professional development workshops for elementary and middle school teachers, a series of innovation and entrepreneurship lessons for students with an applied learning assignment and a business[…]

Flint Neighborhood History Project continues and expands with ACLS funding

Facilitators in the project meet former residents at home and in the community so their stories can be told.

Associate Professor of English Vickie Larsen and community partners recently received grant funding to launch phase two of the Flint Neighborhood History Project from the American Council of Learned Societies' (ACLS) Sustaining Public Engagement grant program. This urban memory project documents and interprets residents' stories and artifacts to develop a physical and digital archive, create[…]

Flint Community Engaged Research Program enables community, student connection

The University of Michigan-Flint Office of Research has launched an innovative, collaborative new research program. The Flint Community Engaged Research Program (FCERP) enables local nonprofit community organizations to hire students to help with community research projects at $15 an hour up to $1000 per research cycle. This program allows students to become change-makers in the[…]

Research and engineering converge at UM-Flint to help Parkinson's diagnoses

Track My PD is a mobile application designed to track Parkinson's Symptoms.

University of Michigan-Flint professors Nathan Miller, Linda Zhu, and Charlotte Tang utilized their research in cognitive neuroscience, bioengineering, and computer engineering to develop a mobile application that can help Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients and doctors measure the severity of tremors and other symptoms remotely. The app guides patients through measurements of tremors in a variety[…]

U.S. Senator Gary Peters highlights cybersecurity at UM-Flint

On February 14, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, visited the Cybersecurity Training Center (CTC) at UM-Flint in his tour of cyber hubs in Michigan. The visit included a roundtable discussion regarding cybersecurity and workforce development, a cybersecurity training demonstration, and a presentation to highlight the importance of[…]

Professors offer autism spectrum disorder training for police

Assistant Professors Melissa Sreckovic (left) and Christine Kenney (right) worked with Director of Public Safety Ray Hall (center) to conduct a pilot training session with the UM-Flint Department of Public Safety.

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. The CDC estimates there are over 5 million adults living in the United States who have ASD and a 2016 study shows that 1 in every 54 children aged eight has autism. Autistic people often[…]