Siloes Give Way to Creative Multidisciplinary Collaborations (It's About Time!)

U-M to tweet on research prizes

By David Jesse Free Press Staff Writer

   It’s not unusual to see University of Michigan students monitoring Twitter on their iPhones during classes.

   This morning, a few professors might join in.

   That’s because U-M will announce 50 winners of research project funding on Twitter at 10 a.m. Each winner will get $60,000 to hire student or postdoctoral workers for projects.

   It’s the first wave of funding from the university’s MCubed program, a $15-million pilot program aimed at jump-starting innovative interdisciplinary work. MCubed is part of the broader Third Century Initiative, a $50-million, five-year plan to develop innovative, multidisciplinary teaching and scholarship at U-M.

   To qualify for funding, three researchers from at least two academic disciplines have to join together on a project.

   “Some of the most important ideas are at the interfaces of traditional fields,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate dean for entrepreneurial programs in the College of Engineering.

   There have been 127 projects submitted, including doctors and biologists teaming up to look for a pill that could mimic some benefits of exercise.

   To see the results, follow @UmichResearch or #mcubed on Twitter.