In October 2022 the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, invited faculty and staff across the University of Maine System (UMS) to put forward their ideas for research, innovation, and development that could be supported or further developed by internal and external funding and/or the formation of collaborative intercampus teams. The UMS Request […]
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Gabrielle Hillyer, a Master’s student in oceanography and marine policy, is putting her marine science education into practice by researching water quality issues within the Gulf of Maine in the hopes to improve the solvency of the soft-shell clamming industry. Hillyer studies the impact of bacteria in mudflats on the Medomak River in Waldoboro, Maine […]
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Some people consider themselves to be a numbers person, more than a creative type. Others feel drawn to the artistic side of life more than the analytical. Since the 1960s, when Nobel-prize winning research painted a picture of a human brain split straight down the middle – it is believed that humans are either right […]
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A multi-disciplinary team of 16 University of Maine System researchers and faculty traveled to southwest Greenland June 21-29 to address 21st century challenges throughout the Arctic, North Atlantic and Maine by experiencing the impacted region first-hand. “Just reading about complex issues is not enough to fully grasp and attempt to develop solutions to the challenges […]
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Six Maine Business School students interned this summer at Hannaford Bros. in Scarborough as part of an innovative program designed to address the needs of the state’s economic community and the needs of scholars. The Corporate Classroom is an internship program supported by the Professional Development Center (PDC), which provides consulting services, professional development education […]
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Interdisciplinary multi-institution research collaboration, stakeholder engagement through Western Passage project The Western Passage – located between Eastport, Maine and Canada – is a highly turbulent, biologically active, and socially relevant ecosystem in Eastern Maine considered one of the best locations for tidal power nationwide. Kristina Cammen, assistant professor of marine mammal science, works alongside a […]
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Graduate Student Spotlight: Gabrielle Hillyer, Diana Davis Spencer Scholar Gabrielle Hillyer is a duel-degree major in oceanography and marine policy. With support from the UMS Research Reinvestment Fund she has focused her research on the Medomak river estuary and its multiple impacts on local clamming. Her innovative research aims to understand the ability of the […]
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Maginnis Lab supports student research from undergraduate through graduate careers More undergraduate students at the University of Maine have the opportunity to take part in innovative research. This experience carries through into their graduate studies and careers. The Maginnis Lab has students who started their research as first-years and continue it as graduate students. Melissa […]
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Neuropathy research leads to cutting-edge medical device development Neuropathy (or the dying-back of nerve fibers) affects roughly 20 million people in the United States. Unfortunately, most people do not realize they have the disease until they experience symptoms such as pain, numbness and loss of limb control. In many cases, amputation can result. Current methods […]
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We would like to congratulate these newly announced Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) awardees. Terry Shehata, Planning for Wraparound Services that Support the Growth of Maine’s Craft Beer Industry Owen Smith, Pilot project for development of Maine Medical Arts (MEMA) MA degree Brian Beal, Planning for the future: UMM’s Marine Science Field Station Niclas Erhardt, MBS […]
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A research project aimed at providing healthcare providers with tools to prevent patients from falling has grown to include the detection of biomarkers associated with diseases such as pancreatic cancer. John Vetelino, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is the principal investigator for the RRF (Research Reinvestment Fund) project “Sensor Development/Adaptation to Improve Healthcare: A […]
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As we head into 2019, we look at the impact funding programs have on university research endeavors. The Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) has been established by the University of Maine System Board of Trustee’s in an effort to grow research, development, and commercialization activities in Maine. The RRF program has several competitive grant programs, such […]
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A monitoring app for greenhouse agriculture in Maine. New media undergraduates at 91¸£Àû are developing an innovative monitoring app, MAGAPP, to serve local Maine greenhouses for the Sustainable Year Round Agriculture Cluster Initiative by the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society.  Joline Blais, associate professor of new media, and Bill Giordano, SYRA data coordinator, are overseeing research […]
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91¸£Àû researchers Bridie McGreavy and Darren Ranco; students Tyler Quiring, Brawley Benson, and Nolan Altvater; and partners in the Natural Resources Department in the Penobscot Nation including Jan Paul, Angie Reed and John Banks are investigating an issue that impacts us all: how news media coverage can shape the public understanding about important science issues. […]
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For the past few years, residents of southern Maine’s coastal communities have observed green slime growing on their shores during the spring and summer months. The question is: is this slime, known as an algal bloom, the result of population growth or a natural phenomenon? In order to answer this question, one crew at 91¸£Àû’s […]
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Principal Investigator: Heather Leslie (Marine Sciences, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Jake Ward (Economic Development, 91¸£Àû) Abstract: Researchers, industry professionals, and other stakeholders will meet to assess current and future needs for shoreline infrastructure at the Darling Marine Center (DMC), within the context of the University of Maine (UMS) system. As University of Maine’s marine laboratory, the DMC is a vital […]
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Principal Investigator: Paul Rawson (Marine Sciences, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Carrie Byron (Marine Science, University of New England); Chris Davis (Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center) Abstract: Maine’s oyster culture industry has grown substantially since its inception four decades ago. Continued growth of the industry will rely on increasing the efficiency of production through improved and more uniform growth of […]
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Principal Investigator: James Weber (Food and Agriculture, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Ian Dickey (Eastern Maine Medical Center); David Neivandt (Chemisty & Biological Engineering, 91¸£Àû); Anne Lichtenwalner (Food and Agriculture, 91¸£Àû) Abstract: This project will complete a controlled in vivo study of University of Maine-designed medical implants in a porcine model of skin healing. If successful, the proposed study would […]
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Principal Investigator: Ian Bricknell (Marine Sciences/ARI, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Deborah Bouchard (Cooperative Extension/ARI, 91¸£Àû); William Wolters (USDA National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center/NCWMA); Leighanne Hawkins (Cooke Aquaculture) Abstract: This project will investigate a novel approach to mitigating superchill in cultured Atlantic salmon. Superchill is a physiological collapse in salmon occurring during periods of extremely cold weather in Maine’s […]
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Principal Investigator: Andrei Alyokhin (Biology and Ecology, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Tap Pryor (Acadia Harvest, Inc.); Michael Peterson (Mechanical Engineering, 91¸£Àû); Edward Bernard (Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, 91¸£Àû) Abstract: Maine’s aquaculture industry is the largest in the U.S. and is growing rapidly. However, it currently relies on aquafeeds made with fish meal and fish oil from wild-caught small fishes, […]
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Principal Investigator: Peter Van Walsum (Chemical & Biological Engineering/FBRI, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Balunkeswar Nayak (Food Science and Nutrition, 91¸£Àû); John Belding (Advanced Manufacturing Center, 91¸£Àû); Daniel Martinez (Environmental Science, USM) Abstract: Seaweed aquaculture is a global activity with an annual worth of $5.65 billion. We propose to investigate Energy Recovery DeHumidification (ERDH) as a highly energy efficient means […]
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Principal Investigator: Heather Hamlin (SMS/ARI, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Deborah Bouchard (Cooperative Extension/ARI, 91¸£Àû); Jean McRae (Civil & Environmental Engineering, 91¸£Àû); Benjamin King (Regenerative Biology, MDI Biological Laboratory) Abstract: Marine invertebrates, such as lobster, support valuable commercial fisheries in Maine valued at nearly $457 million in landings, and have a 3x to 5x multiplier on the total dollar […]
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Principal Investigator: Mehdi Tajvidi (Forest Resources, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Douglas Bousfield (Chemical and Biological Engineering, 91¸£Àû); John Hunt (Forest Products Laboratory, USDA) Abstract: This project involves a collaboration between several 91¸£Àû units and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory on the production of a novel fire-resistant fiberboard building material that can be sourced solely from deadwood and other wood […]
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Principal Investigator: Laurie Connell (Marine Sciences, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Rosemary Smith (Electrical Engineering, 91¸£Àû); Jason Perkins (Allagash Brewing) Abstract: The goal of this project is to develop a new handheld instrument, called the InstaProbe, which will provide the only near-instantaneous solution to detect certain environmental microbes from a complex matrix with minimal sample preparation. The proposed instrument is […]
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Principal Investigator: Douglas Gardner (ASCC, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Yousoo Han (Advanced Structures and Composites Center, 91¸£Àû); Steve Ruell (Innovasea); Duncan Mayes (Stora Enso) Abstract: The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the potential of a structural wood plastic composite material (WPC) technology for use in marine applications; more specifically, its application in fish cage pens. Aquaculture […]
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Principal Investigator: Frank Drummond (Biology and Ecology, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Scott Dobrin (Biology, UMPI); Ron Butler (Biology, UMFA); Joseph Staples (Environmental Sciences, USM); Christopher Lage (Biology, UMA) Abstract: The goal of this project is to investigate the ‘health’ of Maine bumble bees in light of their critical importance to Maine commercial businesses. Since 2006, global concern has emerged […]
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Principal Investigator: Parinaz Rahimzadeh (Forest Resource, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Aaron Weiskittel (91¸£Àû), Peter Nelson (UMFK), David Maclean (University of New Brunswick), Daniel Kneeshaw (University of Quebec) Abstract: This research is on developing a practical, rapid, and cost effective method to detect annual spruce budworm (SBW) defoliation in Maine at a broad spatial scale using advanced technologies in […]
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Principal Investigator: Carl Tripp (Chemistry, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Joshua Henry (Maine Maritime Academy), Robert Lad (91¸£Àû) Abstract: Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have attracted much interest because of their potential for converting waste heat from power sources to useful electricity. This technology is especially important for Maine’s future marine industries, where energy recovery from on-board ship engine heat will […]
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Principal Investigator: Erin Simons-Legaard (Forest Resource, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Kasey Legaard (91¸£Àû), Aaron Weiskittel (91¸£Àû), Dave Struble (Maine Forest Service), Ryan Hanavan (US Forest Service) Abstract: An intense outbreak of eastern spruce budworm expanding south from Quebec is without question a leading threat to Maine’s forest economy. We propose to develop a web-based resource mapping system to support […]
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Principal Investigator: Rosemary Smith (Electrical Engineering, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Scott D. Collins (91¸£Àû), Douglas Sawyer (MMC/MMCRI) Abstract: Each year, nearly one million Americans have a heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI). Patient outcomes are highly variable, but all suffer some loss of cardiac function due to permanent tissue damage. This seed project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University […]
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Principal Investigator: Rick Wahle (Marine Science, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Brian Beal (UMM), Damian Brady (91¸£Àû), Burton Shank (NOAA/NMFS) Abstract: The goal of this proposal is to enhance and broaden the impact of the American Lobster Settlement Index (ALSI) as a stock assessment and forecasting tool for the US Northeast lobster fishery, the largest economic, and most geographically […]
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Principal Investigator: Susan Brawley (Marine Science, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Luz Kogson (91¸£Àû), Sarah Redmond (91¸£Àû Marine Extension Team/Maine Sea Grant), Shep Erhart (Maine Coast Sea Vegetables), Seth Barker (Maine Fresh Sea Farms), Phil Harrington Bait (Wholesale Marine Worms), J. West (Commercial Fisherman) Abstract: Interest in sea vegetables as a healthy superfood was one of the top food trends […]
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Principal Investigator:Â Thomas Abbott (UMA) Partners:Â Col. Daniel M. Leclair (Civil Air Patrol, Northeast Region), J. Gregory Jolda (UMA) Abstract: This project will be the first step in establishing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) training and education center at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). Furthermore, the larger goal of this project is to demonstrate that […]
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Principal Investigator: Caitlin Howell (Chemical Engineering, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Philseok Kim (SLIPS Tech, Inc) Abstract: Durable fouling-resistant materials are highly sought after as solutions to a wide range of problems in both medicine and industry. We propose to apply a new bio-inspired approach utilizing immobilized liquid layers. We will develop and validate rapid, low-cost, and easily adaptable methods […]
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Principal Investigator: Harlan Onsrud (Computing & Info Science, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Susan McKay (91¸£Àû), Constance Holden (UMA), Richard Corey (91¸£Àû), Torsten Hahmann (91¸£Àû), Reinhard Moratz (91¸£Àû), Silvia Nittel (91¸£Àû), Michael Scott (91¸£Àû), Roy Turner (91¸£Àû); computing faculty from other UMS campuses to be invited. Abstract: The bulk of STEM jobs in the U.S. are in computing and this […]
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Principal Investigator: Michelle Smith (Biology & Ecology, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Mindi Summers (91¸£Àû), Eric Jones (UMM), Jason Johnston (UMPI), Joseph Staples (USM), Judith Ladd Roe (UMPI), Karen Pelletreau (91¸£Àû), Kim Borges (UMFK), Larry Feinstein (UMPI), Lisa Moore (USM), Nancy Prentiss (UMF), Peter Nelson (UMFK), Sandra Haggard (UMA), Sherrie Sprangers (UMM), Theresa Theodose (USM), Charles Wray (The Jackson Laboratory), […]
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Principal Investigator: Willhelm Friess (Mechanical Engineering, 91¸£Àû) Partners: Michael Davis (USM), Shari Templeton (UMA), Luke Shorty (Maine School for Science & Mathematics), Mohamad Musavi (91¸£Àû), Craig Mason (91¸£Àû), Betsy Webb (Bangor School Dept.), Shari Templeton (ME Dept. of Ed), Tony Paine (Kepware Technologies) Abstract: The vast majority of all jobs are created by the STEM-trained, and most […]
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