- U of M to host new research center for organ and tissue preservation.
- Features: Women and work: Challenges; Baboons behaving badly.
- Awards and Recognition: Tanisha Fazal has been named a 2021 Andrew Carnegie Fellow; and more.
U of M to host new research center for organ and tissue preservation
The University of Minnesota is one of two institutions in the United States to host a new center established by the Biostasis Research Institute aimed at creating human organ banks through the cryogenic storage of organs donated for transplantation. The center will be housed within the U of M Institute for Engineering in Medicine.
Women and work: Challenges
In a study of faculty experience during the pandemic, Carlson School of Management faculty members Colleen Flaherty Manchester and Theresa Glomb have found that the pandemic is exacerbating gender disparities, and the impacts may echo for years. See a companion piece to this story titled Women & Work: Opportunities.
Baboons behaving badly
In some mammals, notably lions, invading males induce lactating females to return to a receptive state—estrus—by killing their cubs. In baboon troops, however, incoming males don’t so much invade as immigrate. Many resident males will defend their offspring against infanticide by newcomers, so immigrant males must pursue a different strategy to create mating opportunities. In a new study, U of M researchers have discovered strong evidence that immigrant male olive baboons akin to human social climbers—“rapidly rising males”—benefit from inducing miscarriages.
Awards and Recognition
Tanisha Fazal has been named a 2021 Andrew Carnegie Fellow; Carolyn Bramante has received the 2021 Outstanding Trainee: Early Career Development Award from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science; U of M President Joan Gabel was recently named the new university vice chair for the Council on Competitiveness; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media. Awards and Recognition
U of M and Launch Minnesota create Discovery Launchpad MN startup incubator
The University of Minnesota and Launch Minnesota announced a new startup incubator program that provides one-on-one coaching to help accelerate the growth of early-stage companies. Discovery Launchpad MN, operated by the U of M Technology Commercialization Venture Center and funded by the state’s Launch Minnesota program, offers a unique opportunity for startups that have previously received an Innovation Grant from Launch Minnesota to set their companies up for greater success.
Teaching with Technology Retreat
Vice Provost Rebecca Ropers and Academic Technology Support Service invite instructors to attend one or more sessions of the Teaching with Technology Retreat in this short video (2:57). The retreat’s half-day online workshops are informed both by Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design and insights learned from faculty and student focus groups asked about their experiences teaching and learning remotely since March 2020. Topics will showcase successful practices and provide strategies to implement in summer or fall courses. See retreat topics and enroll in one or more sessions.
New findings suggest organ tissues become increasingly immune throughout life
A study by University of Minnesota Medical School researchers offers new ways to think about the immune system. The research, which indicates organ tissues become increasingly immune throughout life, may begin to alter fundamental ideas regarding the rules of vaccination and the immune system’s function within the body.
Microglia, Stockholm syndrome and miraculous cures in glioblastoma patients
Despite access to some of the best possible medical care in the world, Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy both died within 18 months of their diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. While this deadly outcome typifies the nature of this disease, some glioblastoma patients see exceptional benefits from chemotherapy and survive beyond expectations. Why this happens has been revealed in a new study by University of Minnesota researchers.
M Simulation partners with Howard University to further DEI efforts in standardized patient training
M Simulation is collaborating with Howard University to implement and study the effectiveness of a multi-site DEI training program for standardized patients (SPs). Their goal is to raise awareness of SPs implicit bias as a beginning step in creating processes that include a DEI lens on simulation-based health professional education.
Plugging the ‘leaky pipe’ in primary care
The “leaky pipe” in primary care is not unknown to the healthcare industry. A study revealed that of 17,000 medical degree graduates, 41 percent matched into primary care—but only 22 percent of those followed through to the field. Six graduating residents—all of whom will remain in Minnesota to pursue careers in primary care—share what inspired them during their training at the U of M Medical School.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute seeks student instructors
Each year, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies offers paid, short-term teaching opportunities for University of Minnesota graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The OLLI Scholars Program is currently accepting applications for the 2021-22 academic year. Faculty and staff are invited to encourage interested students to apply. The application deadline is May 25.
Research Brief: Improving drug efficacy against prostate cancer and related bone growths
Researcher Hongbo Pang has led a study on improving the efficacy of nucleotide-based drugs against prostate cancer and bone metastasis. Pang and his research team looked at whether liposomes, when integrated with the iRGD peptide, will help concentrate antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) into primary prostate tumors and its bone metastases. Additional recent Research Briefs include "New method preserves viable fruit fly embryos in liquid nitrogen" and "Star employees and high performers positively impact peers up to a point."
Online leadership development program for individual contributors
Discover your leadership potential and build your skills through the online Leading on All Levels leadership program. Whether you informally manage projects or are looking to advance your career, this course will help individual contributors systemwide to learn about their strengths and how to use them to progress in their leadership journey. Leading on All Levels consists of six live virtual-learning sessions and begins on June 23. Learn more and apply.
May 5-6 - Best Practices in Health Sciences Education
This annual event brings together educators, administrators, learners, and thought leaders to share cutting-edge best practices and research-based methodologies in health sciences education. The 2021 theme focuses on intersectionality in health sciences education—how faculty, staff, students, and practitioners can be organizational change agents in dismantling privilege in the classroom and beyond. Registration is free and open to all.
U of M featured virtual events
Apr. 29 - Accessible Presentations
May 4 - Money in Elections Matters
May 6 - Build your course: Gradebook
May 6 - Minnesota's Growing Political Diversity
Through June 1 - Online Teaching & Design Program
Through June 14 - Birds of a Feather in the Reedy Gallery at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Through June 15 - Activity kit to go - Let’s Get Growing: Green Thumb Garden Club
Communicating effectively in business
Professor Mark Huglen was featured in a Grand Forks Herald article on "communicating effectively in business." Specifically, Huglen discussed the agricultural communication program at U of M Crookston.
AILRC assistant director hired
Iris Carufel has been named the new assistant director of the American Indian Learning Resource Center (AILRC). Carufel, a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, most recently worked as coordinator of the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point’s Native American Center. She will begin on June 7. Former Assistant Director Lea Carr retired last September.
Craving art?
The 2021 annual student art exhibition is online. The show was juried by artist Ricky Allman and graphic designer Julia Zeitser. Mediums include video and animation, photography, ceramics and jewelry, and more. Be sure to view the page of work that received awards.
‘We Are Water’ video series
Watch the “We Are Water” video series, produced at the University of Minnesota Morris, to learn more about water in our region. We Are Water MN is a program of the Minnesota Humanities Center and partners.
Just Sustainability podcast
The Just Sustainability podcast, with assistant professor of Environmental Studies and student success coordinator Clement Loo, offers an opportunity to listen to curious conversations exploring the intersection of sustainability, equity, and social justice. Recent episodes feature conversations with assistant professor of anthropology Nina Ortiz.
June 3-4 - Higher Education Innovation Summit
Register by May 15 for the Higher Education Innovation Summit, designed to connect creative educators and researchers seeking to transform higher education through innovations that enhance student learning. Keynote speakers include Cathy Davidson, author of the best-selling book The New Education, and Jennifer Sparrow, associate vice president of teaching and learning with technology at Penn State University.
UMR Career Pathways: Health Care Research and Discovery
UMR's innovative degree programs and integrated curriculum provide students with a foundational undergraduate education. Discover how Ben Sawatzky navigated UMR’s many health career pathway opportunities with an individually planned capstone to prepare himself for a research career at Bio-Techne. Learn more about UMR's Pathways.
Nichols publishes new book
Fixing Women: The Birth of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Britain and America, a book written by UMR associate professor Marcia Nichols, has been published by the University of California Medical Humanities Press.
Join the Twin Cities Sustainability Committee
Through the systemwide strategic plan, MPact2025, the University made a commitment to establish goals that build a fully sustainable future. The Twin Cities Sustainability Committee is forming to guide sustainability initiatives like eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from our campus operations and more. Nominate yourself or others to join the committee.
CFANS Diversity Enriched Curriculum to launch in fall 2021
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) will begin its first semester of the Diversity Enriched Curriculum (DEC) initiative in fall 2021. The goal of the DEC initiative is to develop robust diversity learning curricula embedded in CFANS majors. In the early stages, the focus is on course development with the intention of sequencing these courses throughout the undergraduate experience, leading to interculturally competent graduates.
Reflecting on climate change grants
On Earth Day of 2020, the University of Minnesota Medical School awarded two $50,000 grants with the purpose of finding ways to reduce medical system material waste. Learn more about the two selected groups’ work as their projects reach one-year milestones.
Study will examine the effect of police violence on the birth outcomes for Black infants
Black women in the U.S. are twice as likely to experience a preterm birth, a low birth weight infant, or the death of a child before age one compared to white women. Associate Professor Rachel Hardeman has launched a first-of-its-kind study to investigate the association between racialized police violence and the occurrence of preterm birth and low birth weight among Black infants.
Humphrey School student works to connect rural women leaders
After the challenges of the pandemic over the past year, the importance of connecting and empowering women leaders across Greater Minnesota has perhaps never been so evident. For the past year, Humphrey School student Kate Stower has been working to strengthen capacity among rural women leaders with the nonprofit 100 Rural Women, Extension’s Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs.