On September 27, 2019, the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (Detroit URC), Ginsberg Center, Graham Sustainability Institute, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), and Poverty Solutions at U-M, hosted the inaugural Intersections in Engaged Research at Palmer Commons. This event was also co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Office of Research, the Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, and Academic Innovation.Â
We welcomed 88 attendees from all three U-M campuses and community organizations serving Wayne and Washtenaw counties. Academic participants represented over 30 U-M schools/colleges, offices of research, research institutes, libraries, museums, and academic centers, illustrating both the diversity of disciplines and their shared interest in leveraging university resources to maximize public and community impact in research. See photo gallery below.
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This internally funded, half-day event was structured into three distinct sections: lightening talks and TRIZ and Fishbowl which are Liberating Structures. These activities highlighted successful research projects, lessons learned in the field, facilitated conversations on key strategies, and provided various networking opportunities. They also featured a wide range of types of engaged research projects including action-based research, community-based participatory research, and more. See event infographics below for key takeaways from the day.
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Interested in learning more about Intersections in Engaged Research? Contact our team at intersections@umich.edu.
To find internal funding opportunities for your research, visit U-M's Research Commons.
 Dr. Mehdipanah specializes in innovative research methods, including realist evaluations and concept mapping to develop conceptual frameworks linking complex interventions to health. She has published in the areas of urban renewal, housing and policies aimed at eliminating health inequalities.Â
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Prior to joining the faculty in HBHE, Mehdipanah was involved with the SOPHIE project (Evaluating the Impact of Structural Policies on Health Inequalities), funded by the European Community’s 7th Framework Program. Within this project, she led a four-year evaluation of an urban renewal policy and its effects on the health and health inequalities in Barcelona neighborhoods.
Ph.D. University of Pompeu Fabra; M.Sc. University of Waterloo; H.B.Sc. University of Toronto
Paul received his Ph.D. in Health Behavior with a graduate minor in Sociology from the University of North Carolina and his M.P.H. in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University. He has previously worked as a Community Health Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua developing and implementing health programs for youth and also as a consultant on issues related to the social determinants of health for the World Bank and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Currently, his mixed-methods research focuses on the social determinants of health and health behaviors, with a particular focus on developing and evaluating interventions in poor and marginalized communities in Michigan and abroad. In the work he is initiating in Michigan, he uses a community-based participatory approach with Latino immigrants to examine how policies and discrimination contribute to poor physical and mental health outcomes.
She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan with honors in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Zoological Anthropology. She also received her medical degree and master of public health degree in health policy and management from the University of Michigan. Dr. Chang completed residency training and served as co-chief resident in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and is an alumna of the University of Michigan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars program.
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She has received several national awards including the Academy Health Presidential Scholarship for New Health Services Researchers, the North American Primary Care Research Group Distinguished Trainee Award, and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Distinguished Paper Award
Branko Kerkez an associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. His research interests include water, data, and sensors. His group is working to enable smart water systems, which autonomously adapt themselves to changing conditions using real-time data and controls. His research projects have spanned wireless sensing of large mountain basis, real-time flood forecasting, aquatic robotics, and the development of real-time control algorithms for water systems.
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He is the founder of Open-Storm.org, an open source consortium dedicated to freely sharing hardware, software, and case studies on smart water systems. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, all from UC Berkeley. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award and was recognized by the National Academy of Engineering as a Gilbreth Lecturer in 2018.
Researchers and co-investigators from all three U-M campuses were invited to join us for Intersections in Engaged Research. This interactive event brought together researchers and multiple internal sponsor organizations to share and learn how we can leverage university resources to maximize our public and community impact.
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It featured a wide range of engaged research projects, including action-based research, community-based participatory research, community-engaged research, among others, taking place with funding and support through internal U-M award programs.
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Attendees learned more about resources, funding mechanisms, training opportunities and networks that currently exist on campus. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from each other and inform how internal funders support engaged research on campus.
The event highlighted successful research projects, facilitate conversations on key strategies and lessons learned in the field, and include opportunities for networking.
This event was intended for:
- Faculty and co-investigators from multiple disciplines across the university who are interested in exploring internal funding opportunities and support for engaged research
- Faculty grant recipients and co-investigators of internal engaged research funding
- Institutional partners who are interested in supporting engaged research and exploring opportunities for collective impact
Questions? Email intersections@umich.edu
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This collaborative event was jointly hosted by Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (Detroit URC), Edward Ginsberg Center, Graham Sustainability Institute, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), and Poverty Solutions at U-M.
This event is also co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Office of Research, the Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, and Academic Innovation.Â
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