Academic Drug Discovery Symposium Set by MichBio, URC

ANN ARBOR — Michigan’s second event to showcase the state’s academic drug R&D activities will be held Tuesday, Oct. 10 and hosted by Wayne State University.

The “Cutting Edge Drug Discovery & Development in Michigan Symposium” will feature how new therapeutic entities are being discovered and advanced from idea to clinical proof-of-concept at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University, which make up the University Research Corridor (URC).

MSU uses grant to improve search & rescue missions with humans and robots

EAST LANSING — Equipped with a $750,000 grant, Michigan State University researchers hope to save more lives with more efficient underwater search-and-rescue missions through the joint efforts of humans and robots.

Smart hearing aids: MSU researchers helping filter out unwanted noise

EAST LANSING — For hearing aid users, a conversation in a busy restaurant often includes a menu of unwelcome sounds. Turn the hearing aid up and the unfiltered environment becomes a symphony of unwanted voices and annoying disturbances.

A team of electrical engineers and computer scientists at Michigan State University has put together a machine learning-based solution to end this common headache, and in real-time.

At MSU, engineers help fight antibiotic resistance

EAST LANSING — Scientists have recognized the threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens for a long time, but more recently the call for action has arrived on the doorsteps of government and academia. Among the professionals joining in the worldwide battle are engineers.

Earlier this month, MSU hosted the Fourth International Symposium on the Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance (EDAR) for 250 participants from 30 countries.

MSU Unveils New Materials Simulation Lab

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University celebrated the opening of a new lab space for the Materials Simulation Laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Monday, Aug. 7. The lab is located in Room 1105 on the first floor of the College of Engineering Building.

MSU researcher wins American Chemistry Society grant

EAST LANSING — Research into stopping the degradation and failure of offshore oil transportation systems has earned Roozbeh Dargazany of Michigan State University an American Chemistry Society Petroleum Research Fund doctoral new investigator grant.

Nexteer, MSU To Offer Master’s of Electrical Engineering in Midland

SAGINAW – Nexteer Automotive, the Chinese-owned auto supplier, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Michigan State University to offer a master of science degree in electrical engineering program in Midland, beginning in September. The partnership is aimed at increasing the availability of advanced graduate-level engineering education in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

“In support of our local communities, we seek qualified talent in close proximity to our global locations,” said Robin Milavec, senior executive director of current product engineering at Nexteer. “There’s a continuing need in the Great Lakes Bay Region, including at our Global Technical Center in Saginaw, for individuals fluent in advanced electrical engineering. We believe the availability of a local graduate program backed by MSU will be a great draw for the region.”

The electrical engineering program is open to all qualified applicants and will focus on building graduate students’ competencies in the growing field of automotive electronics, particularly in the areas of vehicle safety, advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving technologies. The program and its curriculum were developed in conjunction with MSU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the College of Engineering.

With two degree tracks available, the plan replicates MSU’s standard electrical and computer engineering M.S. program requiring 30 credit hours for completion. MSU will offer five graduate courses per year to meet these requirements. As a partner, Nexteer will provide program content recommendations and encourage eligible employees to take part in the educational program.

“We are pleased to partner with Nexteer Automotive in expanding higher education in the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Leo Kempel, dean of the College of Engineering, Michigan State University. “The company’s commitment to the region has aided us in crafting a program that will further STEM education and meet the area’s intellectual needs. It also affords the opportunity for joint research and innovation as part of the economic development of the region.”

The program, which will be based at an MSU academic center in Midland, will commence with the fall 2017 semester. For more information about the program, including curriculum, application, admission requirements and tuition, visit the MSU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website at ece.msu.edu/midlandms.

Nexteer has a global work force of more than 13,000 that serves more than 50 customers in every region of the world. The company has 25 manufacturing plants, five regional engineering centers and 11 customer service centers in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, PSA Group, Toyota and Volkswagen, as well as automakers in India and China. More at www.nexteer.com.

The Michigan State University College of Engineering has nine academic programs serving 6,400 students, including more than 5,600 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college’s research focus is on innovation in automotive, composite materials, energy, health care technologies, pavement preservation, and security. The college is the home of two new academic departments — the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering and a partner in MSU’s new Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering. A new $60 million Bio Engineering Facility opened in 2016 for interdisciplinary basic and applied research at the interface of life and physical sciences, engineering, information science, and math. More at www.egr.msu.edu.

MSU Engineering researchers turn a flag into a loudspeaker

EAST LANSING — A paper-thin, flexible device created at the Michigan State University College of Engineering not only can generate energy from human motion, it can act as a loudspeaker and microphone as well, nanotechnology researchers reported May 16 in the scholarly journal Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15310).

The audio breakthrough could eventually lead to such consumer products as a foldable loudspeaker, a voice-activated security patch for computers, and even a talking newspaper.

Feds Give U-M $20M For Great Lakes Research Institute

ANN ARBOR — The University of Michigan has been awarded a five-year, $20 million grant from the federal government to form a research institute focused on sustainable management of the Great Lakes.

The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, which will be hosted by UM and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, represents a partnership between nine universities across the Great Lakes region, as well as multiple nonprofits and businesses.

MSU Names New Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Chair

EAST LANSING — Donald Morelli, who has been interim chair of the Michigan State University Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science for almost two years, has been named chair of the department following a national search. His appointment is effective June 1.