Research News

From apple orchards and biomedical labs to wastewater systems, electric grids and drone training fields, Spartan Engineering innovation was well represented at the 2026 MSU Innovation Celebration. Hosted by the MSU Innovation Center on April 7 at the Henry Center for Executive Development, the annual event recognizes technologies, startups, research partnerships and inventions emerging from Michigan State University.

The Michigan State University College of Engineering recognized outstanding graduate students during its Graduate Awards Ceremony on April 30, celebrating doctoral research, academic achievement and the ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. The annual awards highlight graduate students whose work reflects the breadth of Spartan Engineering, from artificial intelligence, advanced materials and biomedical innovation to sustainable infrastructure, environmental systems, computational modeling and mechanical design.

For heart failure patients, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) keep blood flowing when the main pumping chamber fails. Yet supporting the left side can overload the right, triggering lower survival rates or longer ICU stays.

Nine of the 21 Michigan State University students and alumni selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program are from the College of Engineering.

Years of research. One slide. Three minutes.

That was the challenge on April 10 as doctoral student finalists took the stage at Michigan State University’s College of Engineering Three Minute Thesis competition, transforming complex engineering research into clear, compelling presentations for a broad audience.

Across North America, industrial activity and intensive agriculture have left a quiet but persistent mark on waterways. Selenium, released from mining, power generation, and irrigated farmland, enters rivers and streams daily. This element is difficult to remove, but can build up through the food chain, damaging aquatic ecosystems and threatening human health.

Research can take years to complete. Explaining it clearly to a broad audience in just three minutes is another challenge altogether. That challenge will take center stage Friday, April 10, when Michigan State University’s College of Engineering hosts its third annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room 115 of the International Center. The event is open to the public.

Glaucoma is called the silent thief of sight because it damages the optic nerve before there’s any noticeable vision loss. It affects 80 million people globally and is the second-leading cause of blindness.

Clinicians treating cancer and blood clots must balance the risk of medical interventions with their life-saving benefits. Biopsies to collect tissue for testing, ablations to kill diseased cells, and surgery or catheters to remove blood clots are effective but they’re also invasive. New microrobots – smaller than the diameter of a human hair – could reduce the need for invasive procedures. 

A new U.S. – Ireland research partnership, led by electrical engineering professors at Michigan State University, will work to improve wireless communications through location-specific “communications pockets” for more private, secure and efficient wireless communications. The project has the potential to improve next-generation wireless systems, like 5G and 6G.