UMaine Research News

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Nurturing tomorrow’s researchers: UMaine’s postdoctoral engagement

The National Postdoctoral Association has designated a week each year to recognize the invaluable contributions of postdoctoral scholars. Formally acknowledged by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, this week, commencing this year on September 18, presents a unique occasion to celebrate the impact of postdoctoral scholars. A postdoc is often a short-term position that […]

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Forest Bioproducts Research Institute welcomes Wheeler as Director

Clayton Wheeler has been appointed as Director of the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) effective July 1, 2023. Wheeler, a distinguished figure in the field, is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maine. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining UMaine, he gained industrial […]

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Aquaculture Research Institute hosts 39th Annual Fish Feeds and Nutrition Workshop

Article updated August 10, 2023 The Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) hosted the 39th Fish Feeds and Nutrition Workshop from July 11 to 13 at the University of Maine. The conference brought together industry experts, researchers, and professionals in the field of aquaculture, providing a platform to explore the latest advancements in fish nutrition and feed […]

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ORD introduces new calendar of professional development opportunities

Reposted July 18, 2023 As part of its core mission to enhance the research environment, the Office of Research Development (ORD) offers professional development workshops and training programs tailored to meet the needs of University of Maine System (UMS) faculty, staff, and graduate students.   We are excited to announce ORD’s new calendar of offerings listed […]

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The Portland Gateway connects, convenes and converges

Established in Portland by the University of Maine to provide a one-stop point of access to the vast array of innovative research, education and outreach resources, programs and services at the state’s research university, the Portland Gateway is now a flourishing place with seemingly limitless possibilities.  In just over two years since it was founded, […]

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UMaine Graduate School Centennial Update

Community Letter from the Dean of the Graduate School It was last January when with great joy and excitement I invited you to join us for a year-long celebration of the centennial anniversary of the creation of the Graduate School at the University of Maine. Since 1923 the Graduate School has been at the forefront […]

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UMaine hosts Postdoc Spring Social and Faculty Panel

On May 19, 2023, several University of Maine postdoctoral research associates, faculty, and other members of the broader UMaine community gathered at the Wells Conference Center in Orono for a Postdoc Spring Social and Faculty Panel, sponsored by the Office of Research Development and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of […]

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University of Maine System Request for Ideas internal grant awards announced

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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2023 Faculty Research Funds Award recipients announced

The Faculty Research Fund provides support to faculty to establish, maintain, or advance high-quality research, scholarly, and creative activity programs. Awards are made once a year through a competitive process managed by the Office of Research Development and funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School (OVPRDGS).  […]

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The Center for Undergraduate Research welcomes Howell as Associate Director

Caitlin Howell has been appointed as Associate Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) effective March 1, 2023. Howell is an associate professor of Bioengineering in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering. Before joining UMaine, Howell worked as Technology Development Fellow with Joanna Aizenberg […]

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EMPOWER mentoring program application for fourth cohort now open

The Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER) is a mentoring program that supports faculty in their quest to achieve significant professional growth and advancement, including attaining success in research and scholarly activities. There is particular interest in supporting faculty who are women and/or from underrepresented groups. The EMPOWER program […]

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Spotlight: UMaine’s 2022 NSF Career Award Recipients

The year 2022 marked a first for UMaine, as five faculty members were selected in the same year for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, a premier early career funding mechanism, which is intended to support enduring success in scholarship, teaching, and public service. The National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, is considered […]

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Enhancing the quality of life of older adults

In March 2022, UMaine achieved full membership to the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network. The AFU initiative aims to expand age-friendly inclusiveness throughout higher education. The new designation is a culmination of two decades of extensive work and progress, brought about by the Center on Aging. The Center on Aging (CoA) at the University of […]

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UMaine Graduate School celebrates 100 years of excellence

Community Letter from the Dean of the Graduate School With great joy and excitement, I would like to invite you to join us for a year-long celebration of the centennial anniversary of the creation of the Graduate School at the University of Maine.   The university has granted graduate degrees since 1881, when the first […]

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UMaine Space Initiative establishes pathways for enhanced partnerships

The University of Maine has a long history of space-related research and development activities dating back to the early 90s.  Supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC), our fellowship and scholarship programs have been running continuously for over 32 years, training the future workforce, generating intellectual property, […]

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Brian Beal: Supporting the local economy through research

Professor of Marine Ecology Brian Beal has been a leader of marine research throughout the state of Maine and the University of Maine community for over 30 years. Growing up in Jonesport, Beal developed a deep connection with the sea that has fueled a lifelong interest in marine science. In the mid-1980s as local fishermen […]

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New UMaine PFAS+ Initiative strives to address forever chemicals crisis

The University of Maine has established the PFAS+ Initiative, a university-wide multi-disciplinary effort to address the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution crisis and its cascading environmental and societal impacts. The new initiative is led by a steering committee made up of four members including Onur Apul, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, Jason […]

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Current Job Openings in Research at UMaine

Apply Now to Build a Meaningful and Successful Career in Research at the University of Maine! Interested in joining a vibrant research community at UMaine? There are a number of job openings across various disciplines from postdocs to administrative staff to engineers and more! Join the team, make a difference and help propel our research […]

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Portland Gateway welcomes Anne Heberger Marino as Associate Director

Anne Heberger Marino has been named Associate Director of the University of Maine’s Portland Gateway. Portland Gateway provides a one-stop connection and point of access to UMaine’s vast array of innovative research, education and outreach resources, programs and services.  Heberger Marino has spent most of her career focused on supporting researchers addressing scientific and societal […]

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UMaine’s EMPOWER program enters second year with new cohort

The University of Maine is pleased to announce the successful launch of the third cohort of the Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER). This initiative supports UMaine and the University of Maine at Machias faculty at multiple career stages.  EMPOWER is a mentoring program that supports faculty in their […]

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Urcuqui-Bustamante strives to reduce tick-borne diseases through landscape management

Andrés Urcuqui-Bustamante, postdoctoral fellow in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine, is working to address one of the greatest challenges that our state faces: ticks and tick-borne diseases.  His work integrates data from forest ecology, social science and medical entomology to identify landscape management solutions that could reduce tick-borne diseases like […]

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ARCSIM’s Laura Jackson named NSF ACCESS Campus Champion

Laura Jackson has been named an Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) Campus Champion.  The ACCESS program is a virtual collaboration funded by the National Science Foundation that facilitates free, customized access to advanced digital resources, consulting, training and mentorship. ACCESS helps the nation’s most creative minds discover breakthroughs and solutions for some […]

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UMaine’s research enterprise success continues with another record-setting year

Dear Colleagues, For the third consecutive year, UMaine’s research enterprise has achieved all-time high record levels in growth and impact, as measured by multiple indicators, including R&D funding generated and expended. In the fiscal year 2022, the total R&D funding generated from external sources has been determined to be $147.8 million, as compared to $133.6 […]

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UMaine MARINE welcomes Kelly Cole as coordinator

Kelly Cole, UMaine assistant research professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been named Coordinator of UMaine’s Marine Aligned Research, Innovation, and Nationally-recognized Education (MARINE) initiative.  Founded in early 2021, the UMaine MARINE initiative pulls together researchers from across the state to engage in innovative and interdisciplinary research, education and outreach related to the marine […]

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Pete Avis appointed as new UMaine CORE Director

Pete Avis, UMaine cooperating professor in the School of Biology and Ecology, has been named the Director of Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE).  The CORE unit’s mission is to serve as UMaine’s central repository for major research equipment and facilities, for the purpose of advancing research and development, enabling internal and external users to have […]

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Prentice studies the role of genetics in disease outbreaks among wild animal populations

Melanie Prentice, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Maine’s Kamath Laboratory, came to UMaine to study the resistance and susceptibility of host species to pathogens. Her research interests center around landscape genetics and genomics. In her research she integrates large spatiotemporal, ecological and genetic datasets to address questions concerning the demographic and evolutionary […]

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ORD introduces new standing due dates for internal grants and calls for concept papers

The Office of Research Development (ORD) managed nearly a dozen intramural grant competitions in FY 2022 to provide seed funding for R&D initiatives, student research learning experiences, and research collaborations within the University of Maine System and beyond. Each of these competitions had separate proposal guidelines, multiple due dates spanning the academic year, and peer […]

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Maine Environmental DNA initiative advances coastal ecosystem sustainability

University of Maine researchers and collaborators are leading the way in an emerging field that combines environmental science and genetics, revolutionizing how scientists understand and monitor our state’s 3,500 miles of coastline that our marine ecosystems depend on. Through a $20 million EPSCoR Research Infrastructure (RII) Track 1 award from the National Science Foundation in […]

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Settele discusses strategy and tactics in the Russia-Ukraine War

In this first article of a three-part series, we ask researchers and experts at the University of Maine to weigh in on the conflict unfolding in Ukraine.  Just a few days before the announcement of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech claiming territorial rights over Ukraine. He gave viewers an […]

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Peary studies changes in physical activity strategies in schools during the pandemic

Winning a fellowship award from the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) led to the “defining moment of my undergraduate career,” says Alexandra Peary, a senior nursing student at the University of Maine. Peary, a Cumberland, Maine native, is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. She decided to use her fellowship to research how physical activity […]

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University of Maine Arts Initiative (UMAI) Seed Grant RFP

The University of Maine Arts Initiative (UMAI) is pleased to announce another round of competitive seed grants to create and enhance collaborations across the arts at the University of Maine (UMaine) and University of Maine at Machias (UMM). The purpose of the UMAI seed grant program is to encourage innovative and interdisciplinary collaborations that seek […]

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Team of UMaine Students place second at the Northeast Bioengineering Conference

UMaine students Jacob Holbrook, Dominic Kugell, Margaret McCarthy, and Basel White have had a busy semester. The team of undergraduate students presented their senior capstone project at the Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC), where they placed second overall out of the 44 undergraduate poster presentations. Supervised by Professor of Practice Robert Bowie, and mentored by Professor […]

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José Luis Colón Quintana: Researching large-scale additive manufacturing

José Luis Colón Quintana has a passion for life. Born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, he has traveled extensively, recording much of it on his vlog. You might also find him flying drones or picking up new musical instruments to learn. His excitement for discovering and learning new things led him to the University […]

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UMaine EMPOWER program hosts workshop

The Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER) held a workshop for mentors and mentees, and other UMaine faculty interested in serving as mentors under the program on May 20, bringing to a conclusion the program’s inaugural year. Adapted from a similar program developed and successfully implemented at Indiana University […]

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2022 Faculty Research Funds Announcement

The Faculty Research Fund program aims to support faculty in establishing or maintaining high-quality research programs and other creative achievements. Competitions are held annually and funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School through a review and nomination process by the Faculty Research Fund Committee.  This year […]

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Update regarding research activity and research-related travel guidelines

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School no longer requests notification of research activity for faculty, staff, and students, except in cases where the research involves travel to countries with a US State Department Travel Advisory Level of 3. Moreover, no Level 4 travel is allowed by UMS.Steps to request an […]

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Winners of the 2022 Faculty Mentor Impact Awards announced

UMaine aims to recognize exceptional faculty mentors who have an important impact on their students. Each year, the Office of the Vice President of Research and the Dean of the Graduate School solicits nominations for outstanding faculty mentors from undergraduate and graduate students. Nominees and their students are invited to attend the Faculty Mentor Impact […]

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Faculty Research Fund Program 2022 now accepting submissions

The Faculty Research Fund Program assists faculty in establishing or maintaining high-quality research programs and other creative achievements. The Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School provides funds for this program and proposals are reviewed by a panel of faculty peers.  Eligibility is limited to full-time UMaine and UMM faculty, which includes tenured, tenure-eligible, and soft-money faculty for whom research is an expected component of their appointment.  There are three competitive […]

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The IMRC Center expands support for research innovation

Since transitioning to a unit under the Coordinating Operating Research Entities (CORE) in 2020, the Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center or IMRC Center, has embraced new opportunities to support research initiatives, academic curricula, and external commercial projects with access to resources and services. The 2021-22 academic year has seen a 100% increase in IMRC […]

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Graduate School sets records for Academic Year 2021

In spite of the continuing pandemic, the University of Maine’s graduate enrollment has consistently increased over the past few years, setting records in the 2020-21 academic year, and then breaking those records this fall term. A total of 2,542 graduate students were enrolled in classes for the 2021 fall semester, surpassing the previous record enrollment […]

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Abedi elected Vice President of IEEE’s Council on Radio Frequency Identification

Ali Abedi, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Associate Vice President for Research has been elected as the next Vice President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Council on Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID) for 2022-2023 term. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE, is the largest technical professional organization in […]

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ORC launches new Research Compliance Newsletter

The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) invites you to subscribe to the new Research Compliance newsletter. Compliance is a critical component of all research conducted at UMaine. The Office of Research Compliance provides the resources and support necessary to assist researchers with conducting ethical research and to ensure that all members of the university community […]

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UMaine celebrates highest number of NSF CAREER Award Recipients in 2021

The year 2021 marked a first for UMaine, as four faculty members were selected in the same year for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, a premier early career funding mechanism, which is intended to support enduring success in scholarship, teaching, and public service. This prominent award recognizes the exceptional potential of the […]

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UMaine and Beyond: The UMaine MARINE Initiative

The state of Maine has 3,500 miles of beautiful coastlines and many other inland waterways. And thriving spaces for outdoor recreation and tourism. Maine’s marine environment is also home to an essential fishing and aquaculture industry.   The University of Maine MARINE initiative began as a series of small conversations and meetings between researchers across UMaine […]

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UMaine Research announces staff promotions

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School is pleased to announce recent office staff promotions. Kevin Wentworth has been promoted to Assistant Director of Advanced Research Computing, Data Security, and Information Management (ARCSIM), effective June 1st. Rebecca Kennedy has been promoted to Senior Financial Manager in the Office […]

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New USDA grant builds on Aquaculture Research Institute partnerships to advance sustainability in land-based salmon aquaculture

The University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) in collaboration with the lead institution University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) has been awarded a $10 million U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to research land-based salmon aquaculture. The Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon project, also known as SAS2, brings together several academic and federal […]

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COVID-19 Research Continuity Update

Dear Colleagues, Due to the ongoing pandemic conditions, researchers are asked to continue to follow all UMS, State, and CDC guidelines. Moreover, current guidelines do NOT require approval for domestic in-state or out-of-state travel. International travel for research continues to be restricted per UMS guidelines. Please note that research with human subjects also continues to have some restrictions, detailed on the Office of […]

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University of Maine research productivity at all-time high, despite the pandemic

Dear Colleagues, While fiscal year 2021 will be marked by COVID-19 and the considerable challenges that come with a global pandemic, it will also be marked by the great accomplishments and the inspiring collaborations, teamwork, and resilience that have taken place at the University of Maine. As Maine’s research university, its research impacts all areas […]

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UMaine launches new mentoring program for researchers

A new initiative to support UMaine and University of Maine at Machias faculty at multiple stages of career development was launched earlier this year. This new program is offered by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School in partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice President for […]

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UMM Downeast Documentary crew reveals local and global stories

Creative Arts Faculty Alan Kryszak and his film students at UMaine Machias are drawing critical acclaim for their latest feature “Privacy & The Power of Secrets”. The documentary shows different perspectives around data privacy and surveillance. Investigations into the past and present explore how collecting information affects society. From historical documents to face recognition technology, […]

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CUGR video spotlight features summer fellows

A new video promoting the Center for Undergraduate Research features students awarded Summer Fellowships and MSGC Research Experiences. The students including Morgan Oehler, Rose Thayer, Sara Loiselle, Aldous Hofmann, and Basel White worked throughout the summer in labs and in the field around campus. The video was supported by the Office of the Vice President […]

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Vinzani makes an impression, at UMM and far beyond

Bernie Vinzani’s love of teaching the art of printmaking began when he delivered a hands-on lesson to his peers in an undergraduate speech class at Indiana State University. He demonstrated how to make a print using a piece of cardboard and a potato. Now, Vinzani is a professor of art and book arts at the […]

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2021 Faculty Research Fund Awards announced

The Faculty Research Fund program aims to support faculty in establishing or maintaining high-quality research programs and other creative achievements. Competitions are held annually and funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School through a review and nomination process by the Faculty Research Fund Committee. Regular Faculty […]

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UMaine Arctic initiative announces inaugural Seed Grant awardees

The UMaine Arctic initiative is pleased to announce winners of a new competitive seed grant program, created to facilitate research collaborations across Arctic research disciplines. The purpose of the UMaine Arctic initiative is to bring together people across the UMaine and UMM campuses with an interest in the high latitudes and, additionally, develop and strengthen […]

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EPIC students create affordable crop monitoring system for small farms in Maine

A team of students making up the first cohort at the UMaine Experiential Learning Innovation Central (EPIC) engineered a low-cost monitoring system for local farmers. Guided by mentors Peter Schilling, Sean Taylor, and professor Ali Abedi, the multidisciplinary team included junior in civil and environmental engineering Kettie Cormier, first-year mechanical engineering student Camden Sawyer, and […]

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Bock uses virtual reality to improve mathematics education

Camden Bock is a Ph.D. candidate in the STEM Education program at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. Bock looks at how technologies, like virtual reality, can be used to analyze three-dimensional objects and researches how these technologies can be used to help students understand three-dimensional mathematical objects in three-dimensional space. […]

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Institute of Medicine Internal Seed Grant awardees announced

The Institute of Medicine at the University of Maine coordinates and supports the research and public outreach efforts of some of the state’s leading experts, whose research and scholarly work at UMaine advances rural health care, diagnostic medicine, immune system diseases and disorders, and medical humanities. In March 2021, The Institute of Medicine (IoM) requested […]

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From grassroots to global: the evolution of the UMaine Arctic initiative

UMaine Arctic began as a movement to connect researchers on campus who were interested in the region. Today, the initiative is one of the most interdisciplinary projects on campus, with membership spanning across 20 different departments and schools. The idea for UMaine Arctic spurred from a program that was launched at the University of New […]

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How Research Data Management benefits everyone through open access

Research Data Management (RDM) is a systematic and planned approach to the entire life cycle of scholarly data: from the collection, creation, and/or observation to documentation, storage, and sharing. All researchers engage in RDM in some capacity, but the better a project’s research data is managed, the better the impact the project will have beyond […]

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EPIC students redesign lobster traps to save right whales

A team of students making up the first cohort at the UMaine Experiential Learning Innovation Central (EPIC) redesigned lobster trapping mechanisms in order to protect right whales. Guided by faculty mentors Jason Bolton, John Belding, and Ali Abedi, the team included Hannah Milne, a first-year chemical engineering student; Alexis Bader and Benjamin Swanson, students both […]

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UMaine researcher studies conflict and violent extremism around the world

Bill Farrell looks at the dynamics of conflict and violent extremism. He has conducted field research in countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus region, and Africa. He has met with government officials, community leaders, stakeholders, and an array of people who have had family members and friends mobilize to violent extremism. Farrell is an assistant […]

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Landazuri helps translate the first recorded accounts of El Niño

Examining history can reveal some of the same problems faced today, along with how to cope with them. On the northern coast of Peru, a hot spot for El Niño events, Andean indigenous groups adapted for thousands of years through methods like cycling farming to higher ground. Some of these agricultural methods were previously revealed […]

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New research computing initiative combines services across UMaine

Launched in Spring 2019, the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) initiative was created to support the unique research computing needs of faculty and other researchers at the University of Maine. With ARC’s successful track record over the past two years in addressing these needs, and in an effort to create even greater synergy and coordination, ARC […]

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UMSpaceSafe app for documenting research space use to be discontinued

With the recent changes to UMS COVID-19 guidelines, the UMSpaceSafe app is being decommissioned. UMSafeSpace was a tool to document research space use for the purpose of managing and mitigating hazards, including potential COVID-19 exposure. The Office of the Vice President of Research and Dean of the Graduate School requested during the academic year 2020-2021 […]

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UMaine announces new Portland Gateway, names Alice Veazey director

Portland, Maine — A new Portland Gateway for the University of Maine has been established to provide a one-stop connection and point of access to the vast array of innovative research, education and outreach resources, programs and services at the state’s research university in Orono and its facilities statewide. The Portland Gateway offers opportunities for […]

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UMaine announces new Assistant Vice President for Research

Sandra De Urioste-Stone, associate professor of nature-based tourism in the School of Forest Resources has been named Assistant Vice President for Research at the University of Maine starting June 1st. De Urioste-Stone received her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho. Prior to joining the University of Maine in 2012, she served as department chair, instructor […]

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COVID-19 Research Continuity Update

Effective immediately, all research activity will now require notification versus approval, unless it involves domestic out-of-state and international travel, which is currently prohibited unless an exception is sought and granted.   Researchers are still asked to follow all UMS, State, and CDC guidelines. Currently, these guidelines require approval by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of […]

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First cohort of EPIC completes course, advancing experiential learning, research and innovation

When students from varying disciplines work together to solve real-world problems, they gain research and collaborative skills through the experience. The earlier the foundation can be laid to build these skills, the better-prepared students will be when they enter the workforce. The UMaine Experiential Learning Innovation Central (EPIC) offers exactly this preparation, seamlessly blending learning […]

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UMaine researchers look at tidal energy in the Western Passage through an interdisciplinary lens

A team of students and researchers, led by Kristina Cammen, participated in the development and implementation of interdisciplinary methodologies in environmental science. Their findings, recently published in Oceanography, outline methods to provide undergraduate students with research experience, using an interdisciplinary framework for training, research and communication. The team used a case study focused on the […]

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Schild examines impact of icebergs on ocean circulation, climate, coastal communities

Kristin Schild, a physical glaciologist at the University of Maine, broadly studies interactions between ice and the ocean. Her research has taken her all over the world, including to Greenland and Patagonia, at the southern tip of South America. Schild became interested in glaciology through physics. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology, with physics […]

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Coronavirus, COVID-19

COVID-19 Research Continuity Update

April 2, 2021: The following is an update on the University’s Plan for Phased Continuity of the Research Enterprise and also, an update regarding the submission and approval of research and scholarly activity requests for Spring and Summer 2021. We have been in Phase 3 of the Phased Research Continuity Plan since August 1, 2020, and […]

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NSF EPSCoR RII Track-4 Office Hours Announcement

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is hosting virtual office hours to share information about the Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-4: EPSCoR Research Fellows solicitation. This opportunity provides awards to build research capacity in institutions and transform the career trajectories of investigators and to further develop their individual research potential through extended collaborative […]

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Perera discovers potential coating agent for textiles that decomposes sweat

Duwage Charitha Perera is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Chemistry. Her key research interest is to study the catalytic behavior of small metal clusters using density functional theory or DFT. She is originally from Sri Lanka. Most graduate students embark on a single research project, but Perera decided to finish the work she […]

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Ishaq links gut health to social equity, advocates for policy discussion

Gut microbial communities are found throughout the digestive tract of all humans, animals and insects. As a human host to these living microbes, our diets, lifestyles and environmental factors recruit different microbes into our gut and retain them, or make circumstances hospitable.  The lack of consistent access to fresh and nutrient-dense foods can compound unhealthy […]

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UMaine aquaculture researcher receives funding for COVID-19 relief project

University of Maine aquaculture researcher Meggan Dwyer, one of 10 winners in October’s Maine Sea Grant’s Buoy Maine competition, received $14,000 for her project titled “Can It, Maine! Adding Value and Resilience to Maine’s Shellfish Seafood Sector.” The Buoy Maine competition was developed to strengthen coastal/marine seafood and tourism-related industries, as well as redefining these […]

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UMaine Graduate School records all-time high student enrollment

For the first time in its history, the University of Maine graduate student enrollment has exceeded 2400 students following a record-breaking year of admissions. Scott Delcourt, Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies, noted that “spring enrollment is usually about 10% less than the previous fall’s enrollment, so to set an all-time high graduate enrollment in […]

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UMaine MARINE – Enhancing Social, Environmental and Economic Wellbeing

UMaine MARINE, a new initiative launched by the University of Maine to make Maine a global leader as a marine state. Since its formation in Fall 2017, the UMaine Marine Sciences Advisory Council has supported in a coordinated and synergistic manner the growth and development of research and scholarly activity in marine sciences, and has […]

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New certificate in research, innovation and strategy offers experiential learning opportunities to students

Over the past two years, the Experiential Program Innovation Central (EPIC) committee has developed guiding principles for collaboration among a group of centers and partnered with the Division of Lifelong Learning (DLL) to implement innovative programming across majors. The result has been the creation of the first Certificate in Research Innovation and Strategy (CRIS) with […]

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Maine Port Side

A piece of the puzzle: Lydia Horne’s contribution to Mitchell Center’s community-based climate planning project

Lydia Horne recently graduated from the Ecology and Environmental Sciences program advised by Dr. Sandra De Urioste-Stone. She has since become a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Northern Colorado, but is continuing to collaboratively lead a project with fellow NRT students funded by the Mitchell Center, entitled “Developing a Transdisciplinary Participatory Framework as a […]

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Justin Wolff: Presenting art as a common experience

Justin Wolff is a professor of art history at the University of Maine. He teaches courses on modern, contemporary, and American art as well as art theory and criticism. His research focuses on 19th and 20th-century American art and culture. Wolff’s new book titled “Rufus Porter’s Curious World: Art and Invention in America 1815-1860” was […]

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Search for Assistant VP for Research

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School is currently searching internally for one or two Assistant Vice Presidents for Research. The purpose of these positions is to assist the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School (VPRDGS) in the realization of initiatives, programs, and services […]

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Water

Researchers find possible link between drinking water and mysterious kidney disease

UMaine researchers contributed to a March 2020 article that studies the effects of chemicals found in drinking water – and how the combination of certain chemicals could be the cause of a mysterious, chronic kidney disease impacting millions of people around the world. Assistant Professor of Environmental Physiology, Nishad Jayasundara, and doctoral candidate Remy Babich, […]

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Graduate School Reaches Record-High Enrollment

The University of Maine Graduate School reports its highest enrollment numbers since 2010. In 2020, the total number of graduate students enrolled is 2,276 with a doctoral headcount of 517 – the first time doctoral enrollment has ever exceeded 500, and tops the previous high mark of 463 in 2012. “Graduate students contribute significantly to […]

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Faculty Research Fund AY20-21, RRF Program Announcement

Program announcements for the UMaine Faculty Research Funds (FRF) and the University of Maine System Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) have been released and can now be viewed in the InfoReady grant review portal. A listing of available programs and associated due dates are listed below. Please review the program announcements located within InfoReady for more […]

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