Research & Innovation Magazine by University of Memphis

R ESEARC H + I N NOVATION

For more information regarding Research and Innovation at The University of Memphis, email research@memphis.edu or visit memphis.edu/research.

The University of Memphis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University. It is committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body.

Looking like a bird ready to soar, a neuronal cell is growing two long extensions on opposite sides of the cell body. The confocal scanning laser fluorescence microscopy image reveals the DNA (blue) in the cell body and the two scaffolding proteins, actin (green) and synemin (pink), in the cellular extensions. Images such as this one are instrumental in helping understand the role of scaffolding protein in producing the neuronal extensions along which electrical signals travel in the brain. The image was produced at the Integrated Microscopy Center at the University of Memphis (pg. 6).

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The greatest discovery of all just might be the one you are making right now. If this is your first exposure to the cutting-edge research and innovation taking place at the University of Memphis, welcome. With $65.6 million in research expenditures, record-setting patent and licensing activity, and groundbreaking new partnerships announced in 2018, the momentum is building and the secret is out. From leading the global discussion on civil rights to advancing breakthrough nanomaterials, the UofM serves as a hub of research, enlightenment and cuttingedge innovation that’s transforming how people live, work and thrive—not only here in the Mid-South, but around the world. Here, we nurture a unique, interdisciplinary research culture that involves gifted scholars in disciplines spanning the humanities and sciences, strong community and corporate partnerships, and the FedEx Institute of Technology where today’s emerging technologies become tomorrow’s patented solutions. Keep reading. Your great discovery starts now.

Jasbir Dhaliwal Executive Vice-President, Division of Research & Innovation The University of Memphis

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Research Highlights 04

New inroads in additive manufacturing promise to revitalize manufacturing in a wide variety of industries.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering is finding new ways to promote healing and bone regeneration using sugars obtained from the shells of crustaceans.

Wearable health sensors create not only opportunities to improve personal health but also big data for breakthrough health care research.

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The university’s MAP901 Team is using specialized 3D visualization and mapping technologies to help emergency first responders navigate the city’s buildings to save time and lives.

The UofM’s iIMPACT and the Urban Child Institute fight the traumas that can devastate children in poverty.

Fresh sunflower genome sequencing data blooms in the journal Nature.

It is only fitting that a place called Memphis should be a leader in Egyptian Art and Archeology.

Fifty years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the University of Memphis, in partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum, becomes the epicenter for civil rights reflection, conversation and action.

Chosen for the National Drones Testing Program, Memphis Airport Authority and the UofM’s FedEx Institute of Technology are studying ways to safely integrate manned and unmanned aircraft.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

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M AT E R I A L M AT T E R S

From 2D structures to 3D additive manufacturing, the UofM is bringing new dimensions to physics and materials science research and engineering.

Additive Value

Transforming manufacturing through 3D printing The technology of 3D printing, also called “additive manufacturing,” is progressing rapidly. Recent advances in engineering and materials are now making it possible to use high-energy lasers to precisely deposit and fuse powder materials composed of metal, plastic and biocompatible materials layer by layer into all kinds of products, from auto parts to biomedical devices, directly from computer design files. Such capabilities are revitalizing manufacturing in a wide variety of industries.

Test objects produced with metal additive manufacturing process

UofM’s Additive Manufacturing Initiative and Research Cluster, led by Dr. Ebrahim Asadi and Dr. Gary Bowlin, is leading the way in research in this area. Supported by the FedEx Institute of Technology and external grants, our researchers are studying new applications of Additive Manufacturing. Because it eliminates many steps in traditional manufacturing and is extremely

precise, additive manufacturing promises greater efficiency and cost savings. It can also enable cost-effective small-batch or as-needed manufacturing.

“It was unimaginable a decade ago,” Asadi says, “but today, nearly any three-dimensional object can be fabricated using this technique.”

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Support To support this work, the University of Memphis invested $2.1 million toward equipment and laboratory infrastructure. The new, state-of-the-art lab makes the UofM the first academic institution in the Mid-South to have 3D metal printing capabilities. Robust industry collaboration and our dedicated team of faculty researchers, puts UofM at the cutting edge in this high-growth research arena and positions us as a critical provider of new educational opportunities for students.

and develop new solutions. As 3D printing grows in prominence across industries, the Additive Manufacturing cluster will open new avenues for projects and collaborations that advance next generation science and offer practical solutions to industry needs in areas as diverse as logistics, aerospace and medical devices.

Center of Excellence. Subsequently joined with engineering and technology nonprofit EWI, this successful partnership will work to develop new standards and conduct research that advances the field, with UofM as the lead partner for biomedical device efforts. Long used for prototyping of biomedical devices, new research will soon enable use of this emerging technology for In 2018 UofM announced a collaboration the manufacture of innovative, high-quality, between the Herff College of Engineering and Auburn University to pursue designation finished products for safe and effective use as the NASA/ASTM Additive Manufacturing in patients. ◆

Collaboration Already, FedEx, Medtronic, NASA, Naval Air Systems Command and others are partnering with UofM to advance research

Grand opening of the Metal Additive Manufacturing Lab brings researchers and scholars together for new collaboration.

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Thinner Winner

Grant Awarded for 2D Materials Science Research As the technology and devices that we use everyday become smaller and smaller, materials science is pushing innovation into new approaches for microsizing. Thin, sheet-like materials composed of one or a few layers of atoms are called 2D or two-dimensional materials. They often display properties dramatically different from the same materials in bulk form. To further understanding of a new

and promising 2D material called silicon telluride, Dr. Xiao Shen and Dr. Jingbiao Cui of the Department of Physics and Materials Science have recently been awarded a 3-year NSF grant to support their project entitled “Silicon Telluride, A 2D Material with Unique Variable Structure.” Silicon telluride is expected to make a significant impact on the field of low

dimensional materials and electronic and optoelectronic industry. To develop this new material, the research team is combining theoretical and experimental studies to achieve a fundamental understanding of the unique phenomenon in silicon telluride that makes it so promising and to develop 2D materials with desirable properties. ◆

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MATERIALS SCIENCE

Nanoscale Research. Large-Scale Impact. Controlled Light Emission study nets NSF Grant New ways to enable controlled light emission at the nanoscale level will impact everything from communications to lasers, and its future depends on creative experimentation. That’s why physicist and experimentalist Dr. Thang Ba Hoang has recently been awarded an NSF grant to support his project titled “Directional Superradiant Light Emission from Epsilon-Near-Zero Plasmonic Nanochannels.” The project utilizes experimental and theoretical approaches to help realize new materials and structures that enable controlled light emission for use in next generation energy efficient electronics, such as nanoscale lasers, as well as advanced optical communications and sensing technologies.

Hoang directs the Electronic and Photonic Materials Research Lab at the UofM, where research interests span the broad areas of materials science, nanophotonics and plasmonics. Projects include using linear and non-linear optical spectroscopies to study opto-electronic properties of novel materials and structures at the nanoscale and combining the miniaturized dimensions of novel materials with the high-speed data rates and enhanced bandwidths achieved by photonic and plasmonic devices. This work will lead to the practical implementation of ultra-broadband optical communications, optical processing and sensing and efficient energy-harvesting devices. ◆

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Regenerating Hope: Applying Polymeric Biomaterials Tissue regeneration is essential for healing, but for many kinds of wounds, the body could use some help. Gary Bowlin, professor and Chair of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering, is focusing his research on wound healing and tissue regeneration using a variety of approaches and biomaterials—some you might expect, such as harnessing the body’s own white blood cells to drive regeneration, and others you might not, such as the use of honey.

In one promising study, Bowlin is using a nanofiber additive manufacturing process called 3D near-field electrospinning to construct a biomimicking, biodegradable polymer vascular graft that can function as a temporary blood vessel to promote regeneration. The idea, according to Bowlin, is that “in six months’ time, the polymer fabricated graft will dissolve slowly, be gone and a new, functional blood vessel will be in place.” ◆

CORE FACILITY

Magnifying the Advantages The Integrated Microscopy Center Having the best, up-to-date equipment is essential for advancing research, but it is expensive and not always practical for every department. At the University of Memphis, the Integrated Microscopy Center (IMC) enables the broader university research community to share state-of-the-art, high-end instrumentation, technical support and education on a fee-for-service basis. With light and electron microscopy, histology, and materials fabrication and characterization facilities and equipment, the IMC serves researchers in chemistry, earth sciences, life sciences, physics and engineering. Having a shared facility not only increases the value gained from high-tech investments, it also fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as academic and industry partnerships. ◆ 6

Scanning electron micrograph of an air-impedance electrospun micro-fiber tissue engineering template. This process creates unique structures with higher porosity than traditional electrospinning to enhance cellular infiltration without compromising mechanical properties.

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MATERIALS SCIENCE

Sweet Healing: Using Chitosan-Based Materials Through scientific innovation, researchers can create new materials that encourage a more rapid recovery time following surgery and a more full restoration of the quality of life. To make this happen we turn to the sea. Chitosan is a sugar obtained from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish. A natural polysaccharide that is similar to polysaccharides found in the extra-cellular matrix of many tissues, chitosan is being used to advance biomedical implant therapies and in healing and regenerating tissues. Dr. Joel Bumgardner’s lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering is leveraging a $1.9 million NIH grant to produce nano-sized fibers to fabricate chitosan membranes that can reduce inflammation, promote healing and enhance the regeneration of bone in oral and maxillofacial tissues. Patients with craniofacial injuries or periodontal disease leading to tooth loss often also experience bone loss resulting in the diminished ability to chew, altered speech and aesthetics that affect health and the ability to function in society. These patients can benefit from dental implant procedures but need restoration of lost or missing bone for the implant procedures to be successful. More than 2 million individuals in the U.S. require dental bone grafting annually. One of Bumgardner’s goals is to use chitosan as a coating to enhance integration of dental implants into bone and to incorporate and deliver therapeutic compounds from the coating to enhance local healing. “This award is important in our efforts to significantly advance and improve bone healing and regeneration over current therapies,” said Bumgardner. “The grant will provide us the resources to understand the mechanisms of how the technology will work, and to continue to build our team for developing the technology and exploring additional avenues of research such as orthopedics, where treating large traumatic injuries is still a challenge.” ◆

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A L L T H I N G S D AT A

More and more, big data is driving daily life. At the University of Memphis, researchers are driven to make the most of it.

DATA SCIENCE

Health Sense An interview with Santosh Kumar

Dr. Santosh Kumar is director of the NIH-funded Center of Excellence in Mobile Sensor Data-to-Knowledge (MD2K) as well as the Lillian & Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence in Computer Science at the University of Memphis. We asked him about the work MD2K does with mobile sensor big data and its impact on health research and outcomes.

AutoSense is a chest-worn sensor suite that can measure cardiorespiratory parameters via ECG and respiration, and movement of the torso via accelerometers.

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What was the original inspiration for MD2K?

How is the mPerf project progressing?

MD2K was launched in 2014 with a vision of developing mobile sensor big data technologies and software platforms for wearable sensors, smartphones and the cloud. MD2K platforms are now used to collect, analyze and interpret hundreds of terabytes of mobile sensor data. These data are used by scientists to monitor daily health and behaviors to improve stress management, regulate overeating, aid smoking cessation and manage heart failure and other conditions in the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural environment. Mobile sensor big data collected by MD2K platforms are uploaded and archived in a digital biobank. A biobank allows researchers to go back to the data collected and reapply it in new ways to pursue scientific discoveries not possible at the time of data collection. MD2K technologies are currently used in 10 field studies supported by 13 federal grants from NIH, NSF and IARPA, involving 20 universities. It is headquartered right here at the University of Memphis.

In the past year, we completed a large field study (led by Dr. Deniz Ones at University of Minnesota), where we collected 2.7 trillion data points from 380 employees, working in 100+ different organizations in three states. These participants wore the sensors for 10 weeks during all awake hours to capture their daily work and off-work behaviors.

Tell us about digital biomarkers. A digital biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological state or risk factor. We use biomarkers in our data to identify the presence of, or potential for, a disease, to identify significant changes in health or personal habit, or to even detect changes in risk factors in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment. MD2K has developed wearable sensors (that are optimized for research usage), a suite of smartphone apps we call mCerebrum and cloud software we call Cerebral Cortex. Together, they enable us to receive, store and analyze hundreds of gigabytes of mobile sensor data per day from hundreds of participants across the nation. From this, we derive digital biomarkers that can help us assess and understand the role of daily behaviors in health outcomes of participants. What are some health issues you are currently investigating? Right now, mobile sensor data collected by MD2K platforms are being used to study congestive heart failure (Ohio State); smoking cessation (Rice, Utah, Vermont); stress and smoking (Moffitt Cancer Center); smoking and overeating (Northwestern); oral health (UofM, UCLA); cocaine use detection (Johns Hopkins); behavior change (Dartmouth) and workplace performance (UofM, Minnesota). Workplace performance? Yes, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to be working on that here in Memphis. The center led a six-university team to objectively assess everyday job performance using passively collected sensor-based markers of task performance, personality, cognitive ability, workplace behaviors and context. We call the project mPerf.

With the addition of work performance monitoring, the MD2K mobile sensors and big data software can now be used to investigate the impact of workplace behaviors on health and wellness and vice versa. How can this study eventually benefit workers and employers? Current workforce evaluation tools include interviews, cognitive assessments and questionnaires, which are helpful in assessing job performance, but do not always accurately reflect how a person is performing on a day-to-day basis. Most people spend a substantial part of their lives at work, which provides meaning and extrinsic rewards and drives human progress. By better understanding work performance, we can help individuals maximize their impact and also help organizations reduce bias in performance appraisals. Since you are dealing with personal health data on a large scale, does cybersecurity become an issue? If so, what are the concerns and safeguards? Privacy and the use of smartphones and mobile sensors are equally important when building mobile health research platforms. That is why MD2K has made privacy an ongoing aspect of its research from Day 1 and developed mSieve, a privacy framework for sharing physiological sensor data. The mSieve framework is a new behavioral privacy network that uses a novel data substitution mechanism to protect behavioral privacy expressed in terms of a whitelist and a blacklist of inferences. Also, the mCerebrum software platform developed by MD2K implements privacy controls that allow study participants to stop data collection temporarily and that use secure encryption. Tell us about some of the mobile sensors you use. Some are common sensors we all use, such as wristbands and chestbands that track heart rate and exercise. But our investigator, Dr. Emre Ertin at Ohio State, developed custom sensors that are optimized for collecting high-rate sensor data, so as to allow creation of a digital biobank as well as to facilitate development and validation of new computational models. An example is a wrist sensor called MotionSenseHRV, which measures gestures via accelerometers and gyroscopes and interbeat intervals via optical sensor for computing heart rate variability indices.

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MD2K data visualization cloud for remotely monitoring study participants’ data and software status

Another sensor called AutoSense, worn on the chest, can measure cardiorespiratory parameters and movement of the torso. Other more sophisticated ones include the EasySense sensor, which can detect heart and lung motion and assess change in the lung fluid level. Another investigator (Dr. Deepak Ganesan at UMass Amherst) developed computational eyeglasses, called iShadow that can monitor the wearer’s eyes for markers of saccades (rapid eye movement), fatigue, pupil dilation, etc., as well as the effects of visual cues on the participant, like exposure to alcohol advertisements. MD2K is also working on something called Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention. Can you explain that for us?

Individuals who download this latest version of mCerebrum and Cerebral Cortex to their smartphones and personal computers will be able to collect data about themselves and run single-patient Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) are mHealth technologies that seek to deliver the right intervention components experiments on that data. The personal version of mCerebrum and Cerebral Cortex comes with the same features and digital at the right times and locations to best support individuals’ biomarkers as the full-scale version of the software. Individual health behaviors.These interventions are adapted to a person’s users will be able to run the same types of analysis on their emotional, social, physical and contextual state, so negative personal computers and retain their privacy because the data outcomes are avoided, and the JITAI promotes the adoption and never leaves their devices. maintenance of healthy behaviors. MD2K researchers are working to determine the best timing of a JITAI to maximize its effectiveness and limit the interruption of the user’s daily life. This is especially important in management of stress, which can contribute to many other health issues. We understand that MD2K is expanding its influence by enabling “citizen scientists” to use its technology. Yes. MD2K has released a personal edition of its software platform that allows individuals — citizen scientists — to install and use MD2K’s software to collect and process their own high-frequency mobile sensor data on an Android® smartphone and analyze it on a personal computer.

Included in Cerebral Cortex Personal Edition are hundreds of markers for activity, posture, mobility behavior, location, smoking, app usage, ambient light, phone calls, SMS messaging and stress. The collected and computed data can be visualized on a personal computer. Information on the personal version of mCerebrum/ Cerebral Cortex, plus a link to download it, can be found at md2k.org/personal. Is this program popular? The software, documentation, videos of lectures and other educational materials posted on the MD2K website and its mHealthHUB are now attracting tens of thousands of viewers from 149 countries. ◆

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DATA SCIENCE

FISC Center: Securing Financial Infrastructure in a Digital World The rapid evolution of technology innovation means a constant stream of new security threats to the financial infrastructure. From the banks we use to the markets where we trade, the integration of cutting edge security is critical to providing peace of mind and confidence in the financial systems that define our world.

“The work of the FISC collaborates with the Treasury Office of Financial Research, Federal Reserve Bank, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commissionis to protect the national financial infrastructure through applied research.” said P.K. Jain, professor of Finance and a FISC faculty member.

The Financial Infrastructure Stability and Cyber-security (FISC) Center at the UofM is solving this challenge by applying big data analytics and advanced statistical techniques to financial data in order to identify systemic threats to financial infrastructure stability and market resiliency.

Their research has shed light on the day trading patterns of crypotcurrency, the systemic risk of high frequency trading and the asymetry of trading with institutional constraints. FISC is a consistent engine of exploration into the most challenging problems facing financial cybersecurity

Other FISC Center projects include:

infrastructure. The FISC team of fulltime faculty and PhD/graduate students in Finance, Statistics and Computer Science processes large datasets, analyzes distributed ledgers generated by blockchain technology and extends this analysis to cyber-security applications. In 2018 the center expanded its work to include cross-disciplinary training workshops for those interested in learning about and working with high-quality commercial datasets. ◆

FINANCIAL IMPACT OF REGULATIONS MARKET DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS RISKS SOCIAL MEDIA BIG DATA AND ANALYTICS BAYESIAN AND NON-BAYESIAN STATISTICAL MODELING ILLIQUIDITY AND LOSS-SPIRALS INSTITUTIONAL OWNERSHIP AND TRADES ANONYMOUS NETWORKS & CURRENCIES CYBER RISK ECONOMICS (CYRIE) CYBERSECURITY FORENSICS CYBERSECURITY COMPETITIONS ENTERPRISE LEVEL SECURITY METRICS USABILITY INSIDER THREATS

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DATA SCIENCE

Chain Reaction How Memphis is Becoming a Vital Link in Blockchain Development

No doubt, you are hearing the words “Bitcoin” and “blockchain” a lot these days. You might wonder why anybody would want a digital currency instead of good old American dollars and why so much attention is being paid to disrupting digital transactions as we know them. Well, you have come to the right place: Memphis and — more specifically — the FedEx Institute of Technology, where blockchain activity is creating a chain reaction of innovation that soon may be felt around the world.

Blockchain breakdown Blockchain allows buyers and sellers to conduct transactions online without the need for a third party, such as a bank using a digital currency such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Encrypted transaction data is accessed by everyone involved in the transaction via a computer network. Among these are thousands of independent volunteers whose computers work to unscramble the encrypted instructions of the transaction. Each transaction, which is represented as a “block” online, must be approved and validated by the nework in order to be executed and recorded. Once validated, ownership of

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the digital money transfers from the sender to the receiver and the block is added to a “chain” of previous transactions in what is often called a “digital ledger.” This record is accessible and verifiable, providing security and transparency. And, because this ledger is not stored in a single central location but, instead, exists — and is constantly reconciled — in millions of places, the opportunity for fraud and hacking is greatly reduced.

Inc., Minute School, Amentum, SweetBio, DayaMed, Finnovate.io, Decentraland and Alluminate.io. After the conference, the executive vice president for Research & Innovation at the UofM, Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, reflected.

“Academic research and business innovation are but two sides of the same coin,” he said. “It was great to see so many participants from Silicon Valley, Canada and other regions come together with Although Blockchain was initially developed to enable the fast, secure our local participants to collaborate, conceptualize and create exchange of digital currency, companies are spending billions of practical applications of blockchain technology.” dollars studying ways to use it for other kinds of multi-step activities, from tracking and verifying the chain of custody of goods to the Linking up management of titles and deeds. Memphis’ blockchain allure is not just attracting conference attendees. In fact, in June, the University of Memphis announced Hacker hotbed that two new blockchain technology startups would soon join the In May, Memphis became blockchain central as the FedEx Institute FedEx Institute of Technology: Miami-based DexFreight and of Technology hosted the ETHMemphis Hackathon, a three-day Halifax-based Peer Ledger. conference and contest that attracted people from around the world to explore blockchain solutions for supply chain, healthcare, DexFreight is an open source logistics platform built on blockchain technology and machine learning that helps improve supply chain travel, education and legal applications using the Ethereum collaboration and promote more efficient shipping. Peer Ledger blockchain platform. creates and hosts blockchain applications in the automotive Why Memphis? Memphis is primed to be a center of applied manufacturing and health care sectors. blockchain solutions that focuses on bringing new business value When asked why Peer Ledger chose Memphis, co-founder and through novel applications. The Institute explored how to best CEO Dawn Jutla said, unite businesses with blockchain and saw Memphis as being the perfect destination for an Ethereum-based hackathon. The keynote speaker was Sean Healy, regional chief operating officer of FedEx Express, who spoke about how important it is for FedEx to harness the power of blockchain. He explained how information about a package is just as important as the package itself and how blockchain can make that information both accessible and secure. One example he gave was crossborder shipping, which involves brokers, customs authorities and government agencies who need access to the information about the packages being shipped. Blockchain, he said, could significantly reduce turnaround time and thus reduce operational costs. Healy also explained the need for a common data language that can minimize discrepancies and disputes between transaction partners. As a founding member of BiTA, the Blockchain in Transport Alliance, FedEx is helping to develop standards and procedures for blockchain use in the transport industry. The friendly contest part of the event pitted competitors from around the world who demonstrated how blockchain could be used in new and innovative ways. Winning ideas spanned the gamut from tracking criminal evidence used in trials to making hotel bookings simpler, cheaper and more secure.

“As blockchain and other exciting new technologies begin to permeate all industries, Peer Ledger wants to be in the middle of this rising city and the huge growth potential for our company in the U.S. market. The FedEx Institute of Technology and University of Memphis students are critical to our success, and we look forward to working with them to further realize the success of our company.”

The FedEx Institute of Technology’s ability to build research collaborations and workforce development solutions with emerging companies like Peer Ledger and DexFreight helps to further establish the University of Memphis as the heart of technology in our region and a national destination for applied innovation. ◆

Judges and speakers at the conference included representatives from Airbnb, Bounties Network, CryptoChicks, ConsenSys, Beagle

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LEARNING SCIENCE

Learning. How. To. Learn. Applying Cognitive Theory and Emerging Technology to Optimize Learning Understanding what needs to be learned is easy. Understanding how best to learn it? That’s something science did not address in a formal way until Dr. Phil Pavlik (Psychology) began his early research work. He realized there was a real need for a formal understanding of human learning that could be integrated into educational applications. For example, despite reviewing mathematical models of memory dating back over 60 years, he could identify no existing examples of software that used a detailed memory model to optimize simple flashcard type practice. “It seemed clear to me,” he said, “that a mathematical model of the main learning effects--recency, frequency, spacing and testing – could be used to compute the economically optimal schedule of practice.” Pavlik based his dissertation at Carnegie Mellon on this idea, producing a learning efficiency equation that allowed the estimation of the long-term learning gain per unit of practice time. By comparing the learning rates for a collection of items in a set, he was able to determine when each item would be optimal to practice given a future test.

The final experiment, using Japanese to His team develops theories of human English vocabulary items, compared a learning and applies them in educational naïve schedule control condition, a control situations using the MoFaCTS system. condition based on Richard Atkinson’s “Using formally specified models of work and an experimental condition, knowledge acquisition that capture the which scheduled dynamics of human according to the “It seemed clear to me learning” Pavlik optimal learning “we apply that a mathematical model explained, rate. In this final microeconomic study (published of the main learning principles to in Journal of the effects—recency, frequency, determine Experimental optimal sequence, Psychology: spacing and testing— schedule, duration Applied), Pavlik and organization was able to show could be used to compute of practice that participants in the economically optimal conditions so that the experimental they can be built schedule of practice.” condition were into educational about one effect software.” size more accurate and rapid in recalling This research integrates the fields of the translations of Japanese words. cognitive psychology, educational “This is the first example I am aware of psychology, human computer interaction, that uses a fine-grained model of memory cognitive neuroscience, microeconomics to make economic scheduling decisions,” and statistics. ◆ he said. Since that time Pavlik and his associates have been hard at work in the Optimal Learning Lab at the University of Memphis.

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The Power of Partnerships A major research institution’s ability to partner with a wide variety of community, corporate and government organizations is critical in the development of actionable research that can change not only our perspectives on the past, but our prospects for the future.

PARTNER: NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

Where Do We Go From Here? UofM stages MLK50 events 50 years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968, the city was destined to be in the national spotlight once again. Seeing it as an opportunity to explore the legacy and continuing impact of the Civil Rights Movement, the University of Memphis and the National Civil Rights Museum teamed up to host a week of commemoration, learning and meaningful dialogue. The main event was a two-day symposium entitled “MLK50: Where Do We Go From Here?” The theme was based on King’s final book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? Historians, thought leaders and policy makers from across the country convened to address issues that Dr. King felt were yet to be accomplished—economic equity, access to quality education and employment and justice. 16

The symposium included a panel discussion moderated by Michelle Norris, former host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.” According to Terri Lee Freeman, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, the event was designed to “help develop a blueprint for action on these issues that our community and others across the nation can begin to implement.” Other highlights of the week included a display of King’s last speech, including an original manuscript page, and a screening of the film “At The River I Stand,” which reconstructs the two eventful months in Memphis in 1968 leading to the tragic death of King and the climax of the Civil Rights Movement. Produced by three University of Memphis faculty members, the film was broadcast nationally by PBS in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of King’s death. ◆

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Civil rights near and far is the focus of new publications.

Social justice issues are as pervasive now as they were in the Sixties. University of Memphis scholars tackle them head-on in four new books.

The Plunder The 1898 Anti-Jewish Riots in Habsburg Galicia

Daniel Unowsky Stanford University Press — In The Plunder, Daniel Unowsky, professor of Central European History at the University of Memphis, provides an in-depth examination of the 1898 anti-Jewish riots in central Europe and sheds light on a late nineteenth-century Europe reeling from economic, cultural and political transformations brought about by mass politics, literacy, industrialization, capitalist agriculture and government expansion.

The Struggle Over Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter

Race, Economics, and the Politics of Educational Change

Dr. Amanda Nell Edgar and Dr. Andre Johnson

The Dynamics of School District Consolidation in Shelby County, Tennessee

Lexington Press — This timely book explores the surprisingly complex relationship between Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter as it unfolds on social media and in offline interpersonal relationships. Exploring cultural influences such as family history, fear, religion, postracialism and workplace pressure, the authors trace the meanings of these movements from the perspectives of ordinary participants. Edgar and Johnson are assistant professors of Communication at the University of Memphis.

Unowsky is also the author of The Pomp and Politics of Patriotism: Imperial Celebrations in Habsburg Austria, 1848–1916.

John M. Amis and Paul M. Wright, eds.

An Unseen Light Black Struggles for Freedom in Memphis, Tennessee

Aram Goudsouzian, co-editor University of Kentucky Press — In a series of essays, scholars— including faculty and former graduate students of the UofM —explore Memphis’ role in African American History, including the 1940 “Reign of Terror.” Issues examined include the relationship between labor and civil rights movements, the fight for economic advancement, music, sports, religion and more.

University of Tennessee Press — This collection of essays by six University of Memphis faculty members and others examines the merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools from a variety of disciplinary perspectives— historical, sociological, political, legal, institutional and educational.

Co-editor Aram Goudsouzian is professor and chair of the Department of History at the University of Memphis. His books include Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon, King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution, and Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear.

OPPOSITE:

The MLK50 Completion Academy focuses on reducing the African American male achievement gap through a Lumina Foundation grant administered by THEC. In the photo, an MLK50 Fellow is formally inducted into the Completion Academy.

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PARTNER: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

Force of Habit

Addiction and Behavioral Intervention at the UofM Alcohol abuse or misuse by young adults results in thousands of injuries, assaults and fatalities each year. That’s why the Health Addiction and Behavioral Intervention Team (HABIT) lab at the University of Memphis is using funds from the NIH NIAAA to conduct research into young adult drinking behavior. The goal is to identify ways to reduce excess drinking and mitigate the tragedies associated with it. Led by Director James Murphy, Ph.D., HABIT has conducted several controlled clinical trials which have demonstrated that brief interventions incorporating motivational interviewing and personalized drinking feedback can reduce heavy

drinking among young adults (including both college students and military veterans). These interventions are now being adopted across the country and are replacing previous models of “alcohol education” that were not as effective. NIAAA’s most recent investment in Murphy’s research is focused on improving this standard brief alcohol intervention by adding a behavioral economic supplement that encourages engagement in constructive alternatives associated with delayed reinforcement. Murphy, professor of Psychology at the UofM, has published more than 80 papers and chapters related to college student

drinking, addiction, brief motivational interventions and behavioral economics. “Although the lab is primary interested in conducting research related to alcohol and drug abuse,” Murphy noted, “it is also interested in studying other healthcompromising behaviors such as risky social behavior and smoking, as well as health-promoting behaviors such as diet and exercise.” In addition to funding by the NIAAA, support for Murphy’s research has come from the U.S. Department of Education and the Alcohol Research Foundation (ABMRF). ◆

PARTNER: CITY OF MEMPHIS

Priming the Pump

Research Center Receives $5 Million Contract for Water Quality Study The Memphis aquifer, the region’s sole source of drinking water, is threatened by development, industry, agricultural runoff and other issues. The University of Memphis is doing its part to protect it. The Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESER) was selected to receive a $5 million contract for a five-year period to conduct extensive research addressing water quality issues with the aquifer. CAESER is tasked with finding breaches in the clay layer that protects the city’s water from pollution, performing subsurface mapping of the aquifer and determining

how water use patterns impact groundwater contamination around the breaches. These gaps in the clay layer exist naturally and cannot be filled due to their size and depth below ground.

With the support of Memphis-area citizens and Memphis Light Gas and Water, the Memphis City Council approved a 1.05 percent water rate increase, equaling approximately 18 cents per monthly bill, to “These breaches pose a risk to the excellent help fund the research. water quality of the Memphis aquifer The five-year, $5 million budget combined whereby contaminants are able to bypass with University dollars will allow CAESER the protective nature of the confining to support at least 30 graduate students clay and enter the aquifer,” said Dr. Brian to help investigate. It is hoped that future Waldron, professor of Civil Engineering funds will allow CAESER to target another and director of CAESER. “Over the next concern: whether or not the region is five years, we will bring the brightest withdrawing groundwater faster than the student minds from around the world to rate of natural replenishment. ◆ the University of Memphis to tackle the problems we face.”

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PARTNER: CITY OF MEMPHIS

3D Rescue

Researchers Map the Way for First Responders with Grant Navigating buildings in an emergency is among the leading causes of injury and death among first responders. A collaboration between the City of Memphis and UofM Computer Science and Electrical Engineering faculty has netted a significant grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to change that. Over the next year, the UofMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Map901 team, led by Lan Wang (Computer Science) and Eddie Jacobs (Electrical Engineering), will use novel 3D Lidar technology to survey nearly 2 million square feet of city and university building space. They will use the data to develop a 3D visualization application that will help first responders navigate buildings in an emergency situation with real-time information that can save time and save lives. â&#x2014;&#x2020;

Data from buildings scanned using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology help first responders navigate emergency scenarios by providing real-time data. Pictured, scan data of the FedEx Institute of Technology.

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PARTNER: URBAN CHILD INSTITUTE

Child vs. Poverty UofM Initiative is Working to Fight the Traumas of Poverty Poverty creates a domino effect of physical and mental challenges for children. Untreated or undertreated medical conditions, lack of nutrition, neighborhood violence and other complex problems can lead to trauma that not only affects their physical health, but also their mental health and ability to learn. That’s why iIMPACT was established. Directed by Teresa Franklin, Interdisciplinary Memphis Partnerships to Advance Community 20

Transformation serves as a catalyst for collaborative, cross-disciplinary prevention and mitigation of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and their effects. “What we do here can improve lifelong health for these children,” said Franklin. “This collaborative approach will lead to structural change that fosters long-term health and equity for urban youth.”

Supported by a partnership between the UofM and the Urban Child Institute, iIMPACT features distinct and vitally important projects led by UofM faculty in departments across the campus. These projects are focused on adverse child experiences, legal issues, pediatric asthma management, social and emotional development, early childhood and autism. ◆

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PARTNER: CARPENTER ART GARDEN

Building a Community Architecture Department Designs Property Improvements for Educational Non-Profit A responsibility of an urban research institution is to elevate the neighborhoods it serves. Over the past three years, Department of Architecture AIAS Design+Build Studio teams have worked on several projects in partnership with the Carpenter Art Garden in Memphis, a unique non-profit that serves disadvantaged youth by providing educational opportunities through art, crafts, tutoring, reading and field trips. With participation from faculty, students and alumni, the teams created a master plan for the property, including a community stage, a learning pavilion and a rolling cart for selling vegetables raised in the gardens. The teams also built three interlocking outdoor learning modules for tutoring and community educational activities, outdoor painting and learning stations, and hammock and play areas. â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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G LO B A L L E A D E R S H I P

Research at the University of Memphis is as distinctive as the city itself. Much of it draws upon local experience and the unique resources we find in our own backyard. But much like the city’s famous homegrown music, the results of our research resound around the world.

GLOBAL PARTNER: CZECH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Czech Mates On Oct. 25, the University of Memphis became the first institution in the U.S. to enter into a Research Collaboration Agreement with the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). Comprised of 54 research institutions, the CAS is responsible for leading research in the Czech Republic across a range of natural, technical, social sciences and humanities topics.

“Internationalization of our research portfolio is a key strategic priority for us as we move rapidly toward the highest research classification in the Carnegie system. Strong partnerships like this with the Czech Academy of Sciences will allow us to leverage research funding on both sides of the Atlantic based on our respective strengths.”

Like the UofM, the CAS is focused on globalizing its research reach and impact, and both institutions are pursuing partnerships with leading research organizations around the world. The agreement will pave the way for more robust and meaningful interactions among research faculty and students in areas of mutual interest with the goal of developing high-impact, grant-funded projects. The partnership is an outgrowth of efforts initiated earlier this year and is expected to significantly enhance the UofM’s research and innovation profile in the European Union. President Rudd, along with UofM Provost Karen Weddle-West and executive vice president for Research and Innovation Jasbir Dhaliwal, joined CAS President Eva Zazimalova for the public signing ceremony at the FedEx Institute of Technology. The two dozen CAS Research Institute directors and scholars involved in the visit are pursuing collaboration in diverse areas of bioscience, transportation, cybersecurity, sensors, big data and machine learning, Egyptology, criminal justice, earthquakes, financial infrastructure security, mobile health and addiction. ◆

— UofM President M. David Rudd

UofM President M. David Rudd, along with UofM Provost Karen Weddle-West and executive vice president for Research and Innovation Jasbir Dhaliwal, joined CAS President Eva Zazimalova at the public signing ceremony to finalize the partnership.

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Research Flowers in Nature The Publication of Genome Sequencing Data for Reference in Future Works Helps to Accelerate New Research and Discovery A paper co-authored by Dr. Jennifer Mandel (Department of Biological Sciences), was published online on May 22 in the prestigious journal Nature. “The Sunflower Genome Provides Insights Into Oil Metabolism, Flowering and Asterid Evolution” delves into the evolutionary history of the subgroup of flowering plants known as asterids. The authors also identified new candidate genes

and reconstructed genetic networks for flowering time and oil metabolism—two major breeding traits—and found that the flowering time networks have been shaped by the latest whole-genome duplication. “We are really excited to report this work in Nature,” said Mandel. “The publishing of a high-quality reference genome for

sunflower will aid in agricultural, ecological and evolutionary studies across the globe.” Mandel is also a co-author of another article that was recently published in Nature Plants, a sister publication of Nature, entitled “Pan Genome Concept in Sunflower.” ◆

The sunflower genome assembly allows integration of diversity, genetics and expression data.

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Global Research Leaders Arthur C. Graesser, professor of Psychology and founding co-director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems Art Graesser is internationally renowned as a global leader in the learning sciences with particular expertise in the fields of text comprehension, question answering, problem solving and intelligent tutoring systems and he is credited with shaping these fields from their beginning. His achievements as a scholar are astonishing in their range across areas related to learning, including discourse comprehension, instructional technology, tutoring, emotions and motivation. His work has had a substantial impact on theory and practice in the learning and educational sciences. Together, Graesser and his colleagues have designed, developed and tested software in learning, language, emotion and discourse technologies, including AutoTutor, AutoTutor-Lite, AutoMentor, ElectronixTutor, MetaTutor, GuruTutor, DeepTutor, HURA Advisor, SEEK Web Tutor, Personal Assistant for Lifelong Learning (PAL3), Operation ARIES!, iSTART, Writing-Pal, Point&Query, Question Understanding Aid (QUAID), QUEST and Co-Metrix. Many of these systems help students learn by holding a conversation in natural language with a computer agents and interacting with multimedia. Others are web facilities that analyze text on multiple levels of language and discourse to assist those who develop and assess learning materials. Many of these systems are actively used in secondary, post-secondary, professional/technical and adult learning environments, including with the US Navy.

In many industries, the great majority of mechanical failures are due to fatigue fractures. Fatigue fractures occur due to repeated stressing in materials such as metals and polymers and in many diverse structures such as aircraft, automobiles and medical implants. The UofM’s Dr. Ali Fatemi is one of the world’s leading experts on fatigue and fracture mechanics. Fatemi has published over 250 refereed papers increasing understanding of the fundamental fatigue damage mechanisms in materials and facilitating applications of the knowledge learned to the durability design and life prediction of engineering components and structures. He has also co-authored the second edition of a popular fatigue textbook entitled “Metal Fatigue in Engineering” published by Wiley in 2000 and used by many practicing engineers and universities around the world.

Graesser has received numerous national and international honors. Most recently, Graesser was honored with the 2018 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education Inaugural Learning Science Research, which includes $50,000 and a bronze sculpture.

Fatemi’s work has resulted in several wellknown fatigue damage and life prediction models used by a number of industry sectors. These include the Fatemi-Socie multiaxial fatigue model which is the best known among all such models with more than 1300 citations in Google Scholar and implemented in leading commercial fatigue analysis software. In addition to metallic materials, Fatemi’s research on fatigue and fracture includes polymers, elastomers and composite materials. Most of his current research is focused on additive manufacturing, known as 3D printing, and his sponsors include NAVAIR, General Motors and Eaton Corporation.

For more information, Dr. Graesser’s webpage is at memphis.edu/psychology/people/faculty/graesser.php

In addition to collaborating on research projects with other US institutions such as

Graesser has published over 600 articles in journals, books and conference proceedings, written three books, edited or co-edited 16 books and worked on more than $50 million in projects funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Lab, the Institute of Education Sciences and other national funders. His work is widely cited with a Google Scholar h-index of 107, nearly 50,000 citations (19,000 since 2014) and an i10-index of 441.

Ali Fatemi, Ring Professor and chair of Mechanical Engineering

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Auburn and Cornell Universities, Fatemi has many international collaborators, including scientists and researchers at Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway and University of Pisa in Italy. He was recently awarded honorary membership in the German Association for Materials Research (DVM) for his contributions to the scientific cooperation between the U.S. and Germany in the field of materials research. He will be giving a plenary lecture on fatigue of additive manufactured metals at the 12th International Conference on Multiaxial Fatigue and Fracture in France in June, as well as the next American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) JoDean Morrow Annual Fatigue Lecture in Houston in November. For more information visit Fatemi’s webpage at memphis.edu/me/faculty/afatemi.php

Shaun Gallagher, Lillian and Morrie Moss Professor of Philosophy Shaun Gallagher, co-editor of the freshly published Oxford Handbook of 4E Cognition, is no stranger to the worlds of phenomenology and the cognitive sciences, contributing an impressive body of scholarship related to embodiment, self, agency and intersubjectivity, hermeneutics and the philosophy of time. Gallagher held the Anneliese Maier Research Award [Anneliese Maier-Forschungspreis] (2012–18), a financial award funded by the Humboldt Fellowship. He is also part of a research project studying Minds in Skilled Performance with funding from the Australian Research Council (2017–2020). He was principle investigator on several recent grants, including a European Commission Marie Curie Actions Grant: TESIS: Towards

an Embodied Science of Intersubjectivity (2011–15), and a Templeton Foundation grant (2011–2013) which funded an empirical and phenomenological study of astronauts’ experiences during space flight. Dr. Gallagher has a secondary research appointment at the University of Wollongong, Australia, and is Honorary Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Tromsø, Norway. He has held visiting positions at the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge University; the Center for Subjectivity Research, University of Copenhagen; the Centre de Recherche en Epistémelogie Appliquée (CREA), Paris; the Ecole Normale Supériure, Lyon; and at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Most recently he was Senior Research Fellow at Keble College, University of Oxford. Gallagher is a founding editor and a coeditor-in-chief of the journal Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences and the author of Enactivist Interventions: Rethinking the Mind (Oxford University Press, 2017) and other publications. His latest book, Action and Interaction, will be published by Oxford in 2019.

World Magazine and other news media. He holds a patent (#9,912,657) for his latest innovation of adaptive multi-factor authentication system. Dasgupta has authored four books, one of which “Immunological Computation” is widely used as a reference book. In addition, Dipankar has published more than 260 research papers in book chapters, journals and international conference proceedings. A search for “Dipankar Dasgupta” on Google Scholar yields more than 15,500 citations. He is listed among the top computer scientists whose h-index is above 50 and was honored with the 2014 Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) SIGEVO Impact Award for his seminal work on negative authentication systems. Dasgupta regularly serves as panelist and keynote speaker and offers tutorials in leading conferences. He has given more than 300 invited talks as an ACM Distinguished Speaker in different universities and industries.

In addition to Dasgupta’s research and creative activities, he also spearheads the University of Memphis’s education, training and outreach activities on Information Assurance. He is the founding Director of the Center for Information Assurance (CfIA) which is designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) and in Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency/ Department of Homeland Security. Over the last 20 years, Dasgupta has received funding from major federal agencies (including NSF, DARPA, ONR, NAVY, IARPA etc.) and has collaborated with industry giants including Cisco, Intel, FedEx, Discover Card, Raymond James and others. Under Dipankar Dasgupta, IEEE Fellow and his leadership, the center developed and professor of Computer Science deployed a comprehensive Cyber Security Dipankar Dasgupta is known for his Online Training program (ACT Online) pioneering work on the design and with 12 courses in three discipline-specific development of intelligent solutions inspired tracks (General, Technical & Business), by natural and biological processes. He is one which is continually being updated and of the founding fathers of the field of artificial offered through FEMA’s website. He has also immune systems and is at the forefront pioneered educational work in the area of of research in applying computational Puzzle-Based Cyber Security Learning. ◆ intelligence approaches to cyber defense. His groundbreaking works in digital immunity, negative authentication and cloud insurance modeling have been featured in Computer R E S E A R C H + I N N O V AT I O N

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Breaking the Silos The FedEx Institute of Technology was established at the UofM to serve as the applied research arm of the University. The Institute coordinates and secures funding for world-class research, offers a dynamic community for collaboration and the exchange of new ideas, and fosters strong relationships with businesses and community partners across the country who know the value of innovation and understand the advantages of being first.

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Made up of leading researchers from departments across the campus, the interdisciplinary innovation research clusters and Centers of Excellence supported by the FedEx Institute of Technology are committed to addressing a wide range of technological issues that are critical to the success of our community and corporate partners—everything from preventing cyber theft to advancing sustainable living. Cluster members work together to apply for research funding, seek external research partners and create training and certification programs for the community. All the while, our clusters find ways to encourage junior and senior faculty, students, and community organizations to contribute their ideas and be a vital part of the conversation.

systems, including autonomous vehicles, robots and drones. Its goal is to bring new, practical applications of these technologies to commercial markets.

Cluster for Advancement in cyber Security & Testing (CAST)

The result of a partnership between The University of Memphis and the City of Memphis. The SMART Cities cluster addresses the needs of Memphis citizens utilizing emerging technologies and innovations arising from research at the UofM—innovations that can be applied around the world.

CAST brings together a team of interdisciplinary faculty to address one of the biggest challenges of our day: keeping online data secure from cyber theft. With threats growing more sophisticated, CAST is stepping up research, working on the front lines of the cyber war to provide new solutions and software testing expertise that will help protect corporations, Tennessee government agencies and the Department of Defense.

Big Data and Analytics Cluster In today’s information-rich world, gaining a competitive advantage depends on being able to efficiently access, store, analyze and apply massive amounts of data generated by customer relationship management systems, web applications, social media and the Internet of Things. This cluster’s projects are dedicated to exploring ways to help industry use big data and analytics to solve problems and create new opportunities. SMART Cities Research Cluster

The Biologistics Research Cluster collaborates with the Memphis Intermodal Freight Transport Institute to research and develop better ways to safely transport and store high value, temperature-sensitive and time-critical biological materials, including tissue and blood samples, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

A key focus is on research, development and deployment (RD&D) projects that offer technological and analytically-based solutions to challenges facing urban areas, including inequality in income, health, mobility, security and opportunity; aging infrastructure; and environmental sustainability and resiliency. City-university research and innovation projects help position the university as the city’s R&D partner and the city as a test-bed for UofM research. Projects are designed to present an opportunity to scale effective solutions, accelerate best practices and advance the understanding of urban science.

Drones, RObotics and Navigation Enabled Systems (DRONES)

Additive Manufacturing Research Cluster

The DRONES research cluster has been established to provide proactive leadership in the fast-emerging field of unmanned

The Additive Manufacturing Research Cluster is dedicated to applying advanced 3D printing technology to modern

Biologistics Research Cluster

manufacturing. Additive manufacturing and is among a new generation of advanced technologies enabling degrees of manufacturing precision, efficiency and flexibility never before possible. Unimaginable a decade ago, today, nearly any three-dimensional (3D) object can be fabricated using this technique. For instance, recent engineering and materials science advances now make it possible to use high-energy lasers to precisely deposit and fuse powder materials comprised of metal, plastic and biocompatible materials, layer-by-layer, into a desired form directly from computer design files. As a result, industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, biomedical device, consumer electronics and durable goods are adopting this technology to manufacture existing and develop new products. At present, the cluster is focused on: • Properties and performance of additively manufactured metals • Additively manufactured polymers and polymer-based composites • Bio-fabrication of implantable tissues and devices • Business solutions utilizing additive manufacturing • Applications of Additive Manufacturing for Logistics Institute for Intelligent Systems (IIS) The IIS is dedicated to advancing the state of knowledge and capabilities of intelligent systems, including psychological, biological and artificial systems. It is using an interdisciplinary approach that brings together researchers from many different research areas in the cognitive sciences, including biology, communication sciences & disorders, computer science, education, engineering, linguistics, philosophy, physics and psychology.

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Nationally Recognized Centers of Excellence Mobile Sensor Data-2-Knowledge (MD2K) MD2K is one of 11 national Big Data Centers of Excellence awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of its Big Data-to-Knowledge initiative. The MD2K Center brings together the top brains in Computer Science, Engineering, Medicine, Behavioral Science and Statistics, drawn from 13 universities (Cornell Tech, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Memphis, the University of Michigan, the University of Utah and West Virginia University). The MD2K Team is developing innovative tools to make it easier to gather, analyze and interpret health data generated

by mobile and wearable sensors. The goal of the big data solutions being developed by MD2K is to reliably quantify physical, biological, behavioral, social and environmental factors that contribute to health and disease risk. The research conducted by MD2K is expected to improve the health of individuals through early detection of adverse health events and by facilitating prevention. SE Transportation Workforce Center (SETWC) The SETWC is one of five national centers that lead the development of a right-sized, career-ready transportation workforce. The mission of SETWC is to coordinate existing regionally based programs, plans and processes and to strategically create

partnerships to ensure that students and persons seeking workforce reentry, career transition, or career advancement are aware of opportunities, required education, skills, training and ladders to success within the regional transportation workforce. Center for Information Assurance (CfIA) The Center for Information Assurance (CfIA) is a nationally-designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research. Known for cutting edge research on negative authentication, adaption multifactor authentication, smart-grid security and game theory applications in cyber security, the Center is at the forefront of contemporary cyber security research, education and community outreach.

Tennessee Centers of Excellence Center for Research Initiatives and Strategies for the Communicatively Impaired (CRISCI) Designated a Center of Excellence in 1984 and an Accomplished Center of Excellence in 1988, the CRISCI utilizes State of Tennessee support to pursue a wide range of research and services in communication disorders at its 23,800 square-foot facility. From the outset, the center has been working to: • Develop innovative clinical procedures for the communicatively impaired • Create a model service delivery program for the Mid-South region • Establish an outstanding research program in communication disorders In addition to funding made available through the State of Tennessee, additional research funds have been received through

grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Deafness Research Foundation and other private organizations. Center for Applied Psychological Research (CAPR) Founded in 1984, CAPR is one of the original Tennessee Centers of Excellence and was designated as an Accomplished Center of Excellence in 1988 in recognition of the consistently high quality research, teaching and service. With a 33-member faculty, CAPR’s research covers six areas of specialization: behavioral medicine and community psychology; neuropsychology and behavioral neuroscience; child and family studies; cognitive and social processes; psychotherapy and psychopathology; and industrial and organizational psychology.

Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) Since 1989, the CREP has been committed to improving education by serving as a valuable resource in educational research, evaluation and consultation. One major focus is planning and conducting highquality studies to determine “what works” in schools across the nation. As national education policy shifts, CREP strives to provide up-to-date, relevant data useful to both schools and policy makers. In addition to research, CREP assists schools and districts in building the capacity and ability to attain NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards. The tools and strategies that CREP has developed as part of its Formative Evaluation Process for School Improvement (FEPSI) have become primary sources of assistance for schools across the nation. These school improvement tools address critical factors

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such as teaching methods and quality, school climate, bullying, teacher support, parent and community involvement, technology usage, program implementation and student achievement. Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI)

A drone is used to photograph inscriptions on the roof and tall columns at the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. The 2017 field season team was led by Dr. Peter Brand and included graduate students from the University of Memphis history department and colleagues from Canada and France.

At CERI, faculty, researchers, students and staff dedicate their time and energy to understanding the causes and physical consequences of earthquakes, and their impact on society. Work at the center is focused on a wide variety of problems in geophysics, seismology, geodesy, exploration, geodynamics, source physics and engineering seismology. In addition, CERI maintains a large seismic network and dedicates significant efforts to educating the public about the hazards of earthquakes. The center offers MS and PhD degrees in Earth Sciences with a concentration in Geophysics. Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology (IEAA) The IEAA is a Tennessee Center of Excellence. It is a component of the Department of Art and is dedicated to the study of the art, history and culture of ancient Egypt through teaching, research, exhibition and community education. This interdisciplinary center is engaged in numerous field projects in Egypt including an epigraphic survey in the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt, and the Theban Tomb 16 project among the Tombs of the Nobles at Thebes. It also maintains a collection of over fourteen hundred ancient Egyptian antiquities, many of which are on permanent display in the Egyptian Gallery at the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Museum. â&#x2014;&#x2020;

Dr. Lorelei H. Corcoran (left) examining a portrait mummy in the collection of the Styberg Library, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (October 2017) with Essi Ronko, assistant curator, the Block Museum, Northwestern University, Evanston IL and Rachel Sabino, associate conservator, the Art Institute of Chicago. R E S E A R C H + I N N O V AT I O N

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Training Ground Over the past year, The FedEx Institute of Technology continued to fulfill its role as a vital resource for cutting-edge corporate training as well as student education. Milestones included an innovation bootcamp, the opening of a new training center, a multi-course Agile training program and a unique student-operated IT systems analytics command center.

Memphis Innovation Bootcamp The Memphis Innovation Bootcamp (MIB) is a three-day design thinking course with real impact. Working with community organizations, professionals and stake-holders from around Memphis, the MIB teaches design thinking skills with context. Each class takes participants out of their comfort zone, immersing them in a challenge that pushes the limits of what we think we know. Classes are comprised of a diverse cross-section of community leaders, all of whom use the principles of design thinking to reconsider the way they interact with the world around them. Participants receive a toolkit that they can apply to their daily lives, building empathy and creating new perspectives on how we work together. To give you an idea of how the workshops operate, check out the last three bootcamps we ran and the challenges they dealt with: Healthcare Solutions and Challenges for Migrant Communities Partnering with a team of medical professionals from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including international guests from St. Jude’s facilities in Mexico, the MIB class visited Church Health Center, Crosstown and Refugee and Immigration Services to explore the healthcare challenges of the migrant community in Memphis. Reimagining Libraries in the Memphis Community Working with the University of Memphis Library faculty and staff, the MIB guided

a class of professionals on a journey that reimagined the role of the library in our community. With a visit to Cloud901; the Memphis public library’s innovation space; and MidSouth Makers, a makerspace in East Memphis, this class explored how libraries of the future serve as a toolkit to unlock innovation across all disciplines. Taking Out the Trash In partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum and in alignment with the MLK50 celebrations, our MIB class explored the challenges associated with solid waste management in downtown Memphis. This

multifaceted problem brought a cross section of city officials and community members together to consider the labor, logistics and legal challenges of solid waste management, all with the backdrop of the sanitation worker strikes of the 1960s. The best proposals were presented to Phillip Davis, Deputy Director of Solid Waste, and City Council Chairman Berlin Boyd. Through collaboration, innovation and design thinking techniques, we are building a brighter Memphis.

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Certifiable Progress New SAS training center is creating a talent pipeline SAS, a global leader in big data analytics based in North Carolina, opened its first university-based training center in the FedEx Institute of Technology in 2018. Course offerings at the center include SAS programming and advanced analytics leading to certifications (SAS Certified Base Programmer, SAS Certified Advanced Programmer and SAS Certified Predictive

Modeler Using SAS Enterprise Miner). UofM faculty are supporting experts from SAS to provide the training, and trainees are able to apply for tuition reimbursements from their organizations to help cover training costs. The new center is just one more way the UofM and the Institute are helping to increase the size and technical sophistication of the Mid-South technology workforce.

Sean O’Brien, vice president of SAS Education, put it this way: “The SAS training center at the FedEx Institute of Technology will not only help meet the analytics talent needs of Memphis-area organizations but provide rewarding career opportunities for students and adult learners.”

The Renewal Technical Tenet Academy A global training initiative Today more than ever, technology is defining how the world does business. For companies that were “born digital” like Facebook, Netflix and others, the seamless integration of technology across the organization is effortless. For others, the disruption of technology innovation means creating solutions that help transform corporate culture and prepare the company for a dynamic and engaging future. The FedEx Institute of Technology helps with this transformation process by bringing

research and innovation together to create scalable training solutions built around the customized needs of companies in critical areas like agile, DevOps and testing automation. In collaboration with FedEx Services, we have developed the Renewal Technical Tenet Academy, a training solution that provides professional development opportunities in critical areas associated with transformation. The pilot courses were developed in partnership with the FedEx Center for Agile Transformation and key collaborators across

the company over a period of 18 months. The courses leveraged faculty experts from institutions around the world, creating a community of practitioners familiar with best practices on every continent — from brain science to design thinking and all points in between. Our team of faculty researchers from 10 universities, along with FedEx colleagues, are reshaping the future of transformation for global companies and helping to reimagine the workforce for the next 100 years.

STEM at Work Unique centers offer new opportunities for students and employers The University of Memphis Research Foundation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, UMRF Ventures Inc., opened a unique, student-operated call center as part of an economic development initiative designed to provide real and transferable opportunities to students in the Memphis community. It’s first customer? FedEx. Student employees at the support center handle technical support calls from FedEx team members, including “first-level” technical support, such as phone configuration and basic application and computing device troubleshooting. The center employs UofM students as call center agents who are majoring in diverse academic areas across campus. This opportunity allows students to gain professional experience while

paying for their education. Because of the success of the pilot center, a second site was launched on a UofM satellite campus at The University of Memphis – Lambuth campus. In June, a third center, the FedEx IT Systems Analytics Command Center, opened at the FedEx Institute of Technology, providing technical support for the FedEx IT Command Center housed at the FedEx World Technology Center. The center employs UofM graduate students in key STEM areas – computer science, engineering, mathematics, etc., and provides a pipeline to possible employment opportunities with FedEx. “These are the first of many steps on a journey toward creating opportunities for

more students to earn good wages in a professional environment and to become the most competitive candidates they can be in any job market,” says Tom Kadien, CEO of UMRF Ventures. “Corporations like FedEx that invest in the future workforce with innovative programs like this know that they are contributing to the long-term success of their companies.” As a result of these efforts, UMRF Ventures Inc. received a national award for the 2018 Excellence and Innovation Award for Regional and Economic Development from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). ◆

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Patents and Tech Grants

UofM Researchers Building on Success The Institute houses the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) that works with faculty to invest in research with the potential for promising breakthroughs and inventions. This year, UofM celebrated the addition of nine new patents and 12 new technology grants, a testament to the commitment by and investment from the UofM FedEx Institute of Technology and the OTT to drive innovation in the Mid-South. The Patents PAT E N T N O. 9,7 3 3,3 51

Surveillance and Tracking System and Method Robert Kozma, Orges Furxhi, Khan Iftekharuddin, Lan Wang, Ross Deming, Serji Consul-Pacareu PAT E N T N O . 9 , 7 8 6 , 1 9 5

System and Method for Evaluating Reading Fluency Using Underlining Max M. Louwerse PAT E N T N O . 9 , 9 1 2 , 6 5 7

Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication System Dipankar Dasgupta, Abhijit Kumar Nag, Arunava Roy PATENT NO. 9,952,209

Iron Oxide-Gold Core-Shell Nanoparticles and Uses Thereof Huang Xiaohua, Bhana Saheel PAT E N T N O . 9 , 9 6 2 , 4 6 8

Cell Growth Apparatus and Use of Aerogels for Directed Cell Growth Firouzeh Sabri PAT E N T N O . 9 , 9 8 3 , 1 6 2

Method and Device for Detection of Bioavailable Drug Concentration Edward Chaum, Erno Linder, Jidong Guo PATENT NO. 10,052,388

Compositions and Methods for Delivering an Agent to a Wound Warren Haggard, Scott Noel, Joel Bumgardner PAT E N T N O . 1 0 , 0 9 1 , 1 0 5

Efficient Forwarding Information Base Caching System and Method Yaoqing Liu, Lan Wang PAT E N T N O . 1 0 , 1 0 8 , 6 0 4

System and Method for Automatic Extraction of Conceptual Graphs Andrew McGregor Olney

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The Grants The development grants awarded by the Institute went to the most commercially promising technologies. The Institute’s goal is to support and propel these innovations so that they join the University’s ever-expanding profile of commercialization and patent achievements. Making sensors “Band Aid-like” Typical monitors used on patients to capture physiological signals are heavy and uncomfortable for long-term use. Dr. Bashir Morshed’s grant-funded technological research will combat these issues by developing an ECG and Sp02 Monitoring system for smartphones using low-cost, disposable inkjet-printed sensors worn on the body. Generating stability for wind power After a major disturbance, a power system must be able to regain its synchronization and stability quickly. This is called transient stability. Dr. Mohd Hasan Ali has received a grant to build the hardware for a nonlinear capacitor controller that can cost-effectively improve transient stability of wind generator systems through a hardware-in-the-loop system.

Shedding new light Dr. Chrysanthe Preza is using her grant to design and evaluate a “multi-focal-light sheet structure” illumination system and software for florescence microscopy in order to obtain 3D super-resolved images with improved optical sectioning. Controlling virtual emotions Dr. Mohammad Yeasin is using his grant to collect more natural emotion data and incorporate it into new techniques for generating virtual examples for training purposes. A primary objective of this work is to customize feedback to suit the needs of specific users.

Getting the lead out Dr. Gary Emmert has received a grant to fund research and development of a fully automated, on-site system to monitor in real time lead concentrations in drinking water — in both the distributed supply and in homes — and provide early warnings that can facilitate a rapid response.

Beating bacteria Bacterial attachment to surfaces can cause deadly infection and patient complications, especially for patients with implanted devices. Dr. Amber Jennings and Dr. Daniel Lee Baker have synthesized a molecule, 2CP, that shows efficacy in removing bacteria from a surface, preventing bacteria from growing and increasing antibiotic efficacy against infectious bacteria.

Getting drones to do the dirty work Dr. William Alexander has received a grant to further his work developing modular amphibious drones for environmental sampling and analysis. Helpful in conducting tests in dangerous or difficult-to-access areas, these unmanned aerial systems will be tested with the assistance of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and will include real-time feedback and display of water quality sensor outputs.

Dispersing dry powder Dr. Ranganathan Gopalakrishnan and his team have developed an ultrasonic disperser for dispersing dry powders as aerosols at high concentration for sustained periods of time. Through the use of FedEx Institute of Technology funds, they will develop a set of optimal operating conditions in which the aerosol generation can be controlled for additive manufacturing and other applications.

Babying the newborn Dr. Randal Buddington has received a grant for a Fetal Transport System that can successfully transport premature infants born at less than 26 weeks to an advanced NICU in order to receive proper treatment and care. Part of the research involves determining what nutrients the placenta provides to the fetus in order to mimic those womb conditions within the transport system. The goal is greater survival outcomes for these vulnerable newborns.

Spotting cancer-driven exosomes Dr. Xiaohua Huang and Dr. Thang Ba Hoang are working on a new, cost-effective way to diagnose different types of cancer by investigating a type of tiny particles (called exosomes) in body fluids such as blood, urine and saliva. The method can spot individual cancer-derived exosomes in a vast background of healthy exosomes, and thus can detect cancer in early stage.

Standardizing cancer detection Liquid biopsy is a method of detecting and identifying cancer biomarkers using the body’s fluids as samples. Dr. Xiaohua Huang’s continuing research is focused on the standardization of the testing used for cancer-detecting liquid biopsies, focusing on sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Further research will include in-vitro validation.

Improving tendon and ligament reconstruction Tendon and ligament reconstruction surgical procedures have high failure rates because the anchor points into the bone are not regenerated properly. Dr. Gary Bowlin is using CRISPR technology (to generate genetic circuits and create programmed cells) in combination with a nanofiber template, mimicking the fibrous nature of the tissue, to engineer proper regeneration of these complex anchors. This strategy may result in better outcomes for tendon and ligament reconstruction procedures, leading to an improved quality of life and a reduction in the societal costs associated with ligament and tendon repair failures.

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UofM Launches First Phase of Research Park Pilot Program to Establish University District as a Technology Innovation Hub and to Drive Economic Growth The University of Memphis is strengthening its role as a researchbased driver of economic development in the region with the establishment of a research park. The plan will execute in three phases. Phase One is the opening of the first facility in the heart of the University District and includes an inaugural cohort of 17 citizen companies and collaborator members. “We are excited to create jobs and opportunities for Memphis and our students,” said UofM President M. David Rudd. “We welcome companies from all over the world to work with our faculty and students, benefit from our world-class research and engage an innovative community of companies and scholars.”

company that provides real-time medication adherence; • Minute School, a Waterloo-based learning management system solving continuing education opportunities in higher education and beyond; • BookLocal, a Memphis-based blockchain travel company enabling hotels to tokenize, manage and rent their room inventory with the security of the blockchain; • Green Mountain Technology, a Memphis-based technology company providing highly customizable parcel spend management solutions;

Citizen companies who are moving into the facility and working with UofM students are:

• XYO Network, a San Diego-based blockchain company building a people-powered location network built on the blockchain; and

• SweetBio, a Memphis-based biotech company disrupting the wound care industry with innovative Manuka honeyincorporated products (developed in partnership with the University of Memphis);

• Ops-Fuel, a veteran-owned, Memphis-based company helping soldiers, athletes and others achieve better brain health.

• DayaMed, a Toronto-based B2B2C digital health and analytics

These companies will work with UofM faculty and staff to grow in the University District over the coming years. Another set of companies called “collaborators” will also participate in the larger innovation community based in the facility. They are: DexFreight, Blockchain901, Web3Devs, IBM, IMC Companies, Tech901, Epicenter, Memphis Women in Technology, Remedichain and CodeCrew. Phase Two will be the development of an applied research facility located on the Park Avenue Campus later this year. Phase Three will center on publicprivate partnerships to attract research enterprises and labs to the University District. The development of the research park will be managed by the University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF), which is operating facilities and services. ◆

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Accolades Dr. Thang Hoang, assistant professor (Physics), was named a 2018 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award Winner by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU for his work exploring dual-band plasmonic nanostructures for efficient light absorbing and emitting devices. Dr. Kim Oller, professor and Plough Chair of Excellence in the School of Communications Sciences and Disorders, was awarded the Arthur C. Graesser Presidential Award for Lifetime Achievement in Research. Dr. Art Graesser, professor, (Experimental Cognitive Psychology) and Institute for Intelligent Systems at the University of Memphis, received the 2018 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education Inaugural Learning Science Research, which includes $50,000 and a bronze sculpture. Dr. Susan Elswick, assistant professor (Social Work), was awarded the Gary Lee Shaffer Award for Academic Contributions to the Field of School Social Work by the School Social Work Association of America. Dr. Joy Goldsmith, professor (Communications), received the Scholarly Book Award from the Health Communication Division and the Distinguished Journal Article Award from the Family Communication Division.

the 2018 Bernard L. Barnard Outstanding Technical Essay Award presented by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) for his paper, “Reducing Vertical & Horizontal Inequality in Property Tax Assessments” published in the Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration, Volume 14, Issue 2. Dr. Ronald Spahr and Dr. Mark Sunderman professors (Finance), coauthored with Dr. Mohamed Mekhaimer, Dr. Pawn Jain an article selected to receive the Southern Finance Association (SFA) 2018 award for the Best Paper in Empirical Finance. The article is entitled “Freedom of Choice and Liquidity Co-Movements.” Dr. Mike Sances, assistance professor (Political Science), co-authored “The Politics of Policy: The Initial Mass Political Effects of Medicaid Expansion in the States” published in the American Political Science Review (February 2018). APSR is considered the top journal in political science. Dr. Todd Richardson, associate professor (Art), won multiple awards for co-founding and co-directing the Crosstown Concourse, a $200+ million project in Memphis. • National Trust for Historic Preservation: Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award (one of three given nationally)

Dr. Junmin Wang, associate professor (Sociology), was the only American Sociologist in 2018 elected to the International Sociological Association Research Committee for the Sociology of Science and Technology.

• Congress for the New Urbanism Charter Awards: Grand Prize

Dr. Elena Delavega, associate professor (Social Work), was selected for this year’s Faculty Research Award by Influencing Social Policy for her article, The Blame Index: Exploring the Change in Social Work Students’ Perceptions of Poverty. Influencing Social Policy is the premier social work organization dedicated to social policy.

• Memphis Business Journal’s Building Memphis Awards: Project of the Year

Dr. Mark Sunderman, holder of the Chair of Excellence in Real Estate (Finance), won

• 2018 USGBC Tennessee Leadership Award for Exceptional Leadership

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): LEED Platinum Certified (the largest LEED Platinum Certified historic adaptive reuse in the world)

• Grand Award, Tennessee chapter of ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) • Multi-Housing News National Excellence Award

• Multifamily Executive – Adaptive Reuse Grand Award and Editor’s Choice for the Parcels • ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers): 2018 Outstanding Project of the Year for Tennessee • BD+C’s 35th Annual Reconstruction Awards, Platinum Award Winner (one of two nationally) • Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award • AIA Memphis: Honor Award of Excellence Dr. Chia-chen Yang, assistant professor (Education), received the 2017 Emerging Scholar Best Article Award from the Journal of Youth and Adolescence (IF=3.284). Dr. Ruth Williams-Hooker, associate professor (Health), received an applied research award from the prestigious Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Pediatric Practice Group) for her innovative work involving nutrition education through grocery shopping/grocery store tours. Dr. Remy Debes, associate professor (Philosophy), published for a general public readership “Dignity is Delicate,” in Aeon. September, 2018. Shared thousands of times on social media (over 1800 times on Facebook alone), the article was also featured for two weeks in their “Popular This Month” category. Dr. Bashir I. Morshed, assistant professor (Electrical & Computer Engineering), and Mohammad Abu-Saude (Electrical & Computer Engineering), received the First Place award at the 18th Annual IEEE Intl. Conf. on Electro Information Technology (EIT2018) for their conference paper entitled “Accessing Differential Measures with a Conjugate Coil-pair for Wireless Resistive Analog Passive (WRAP) ECG Sensors.” Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, professor (Information Systems), executive vice president for Research & Innovation and executive director – FedEx Institute of Technology, was appointed to the Tennessee Energy Policy Council by Governor Bill Haslam.

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Memphis Chosen for National Drones Testing Program In May, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, in partnership with FedEx, the DRONES Research Cluster at the FedEx Institute of Technology and other entities, successfully brought a high-profile drones testing project to the city. Memphis was one of only 10 locations nationwide to be included in the UAS Integration Pilot Program, designed to accelerate the successful integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System. The MSCAA was the only airport authority among the applicants selected. During the program, drones will be used at the airport for delivering aircraft parts

and at Shelby Farms Park to deliver medical supplies. The goal is to test and further develop a reliable, safe system for integrating manned and unmanned aircraft in real-world applications. According to Dr. Eddie Jacobs, professor of Electrical Computer Engineering and director of the DRONES Research Cluster, the ability to offer a variety of environments — farm, city and major industry — in a single county was a key to winning the honor. “It was a compelling part of our bid,” he says. ◆

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For more information regarding Research and Innovation at The University of Memphis, email research@memphis.edu or visit memphis.edu/research.

The University of Memphis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University. It is committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body.

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