Initiatives

Expertise in action

The University of Michigan is famous for its strength across many fields. Engineering is a key component in many initiatives which pull together expertise from across the college and the university.

  

Blue Sky Initiative

Fueling daring ideas

The Blue Sky Initiative gives research teams a chance to try big, daring ideas, show results and build momentum to solve society’s biggest challenges.

American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute

The Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow center, a collaboration between U-M, the Ohio-based manufacturing research nonprofit EWI and Ohio State University, advances the use of lightweight metals in manufacturing.

Contact: Alan Taub, (734) 763-1024, [email protected]


Biointerfaces Institute

Researchers at the Biointerfaces Institute explore the junctures between living cells and other surfaces to develop new technologies for understanding, diagnosing and treating disease.

Contact: (734) 763-7924, [email protected]


Graham Institute for Sustainability

The Graham Institute for Sustainability systematically brings together and harnesses talents across all U-M schools, colleges and units.

Contact: Director Jennifer Haverkamp, [email protected]. Assistant Director Andrew Horning, [email protected].


Healthcare Engineering

The Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS) aims to improve healthcare through a multi-disciplinary, systems engineering-based approach. The center brings together specialists in engineering, medicine, public health, nursing and more to tackle real-world problems. 

Contact: (734) 763-0799, [email protected]


I-Corps

The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) National and Michigan/Midwest I-Corps are transformational training programs that teach how to turn feasible early-stage technology into a commercial opportunity with real-world impact. 

Contact: (734) 647-7460, [email protected]


Manufacturing Research

The S.M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center develops advanced manufacturing and machining techniques, with special focus on microscale systems and machining, intelligent maintenance systems, and the application manufacturing approaches and procedures to healthcare.

Contact: Xianli Qiao, (734) 763-5295, [email protected]


Plasma Science and Engineering

The Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering (MIPSE) brings together teams of plasma researchers to investigate fundamental phenomena and translate advances in plasma science across medicine, manufacturing, microelectronics, medicine, green technologies and space exploration.

Contact: (734) 647-0197, [email protected]


Ultrafast Optical Science

Researchers at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science (CUOS) develop optical instrumentation and techniques to generate, manipulate and detect ultrashort and ultrahigh-peak-power light pulses. 

Contact: (734) 763-4875, [email protected]


U-M Coulter Translational Partnership

The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, in collaboration with Michigan Engineering and the Medical School, created a $20 million endowment for the Coulter Translational Partnership. The partnership supports collaborative research that addresses unmet clinical needs and leads to improvements in health care.

Contact: Thomas Marten, Coulter Program Director, (734) 647-1680, [email protected]


Wireless Microsensing

The Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems (WIMS2) advances the design, fabrication, and applications of microsensors and sensor-driven systems, including:

  • Wearable, implantable and microanalytical devices
  • Chemical and environmental sensors
  • Infrastructure monitoring systems

Contact: (734) 764-6429, [email protected]