Research News

The World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) awarded the 2025 Gold Medal Award to Christopher H. Contag, the James and Kathleen Cornelius Distinguished Chair and professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology, and director of the Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering at Michigan State University.

The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub, funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and working in partnership with the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center, has awarded more than $2 million to support 13 promising mobility research projects across Michigan—including MSU faculty member, Dr. Chengcheng Fang's project, which received funding from both MTRAC and the EV Center, as well as fellow MSU faculty member, Dr. Josh Siegel's project, funded solely by MTRAC.

What if a soft robot like Baymax in the Disney animated film Big Hero 6 were real? Xiaobo Tan, MSU Foundation Professor and Richard M. Hong Endowed Chair in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and his team are working to bring that science fiction to life by designing robots made of soft materials that are safer for both human interaction and delicate objects.

MSU Mobility celebrates Mobility Week, a global initiative focused on innovation at the intersection of transportation and technology, taking place Sept. 20-27, 2025. This initiative brings together mobility and transportation technology experts from around the globe to build partnerships and identify opportunities to accelerate innovation.

For a second time, students passionate about the evolving space market had an unparalleled opportunity to learn from experts working on electronics designed to survive the harsh realities of space. And Michigan State University’s Green and White Council stopped in to see the results firsthand.

A wide range of disciplines are adopting artificial intelligence, or AI, at a rapid pace. From science and medicine to the humanities and education, AI is influencing the landscape of how information is accessed and processed. At Michigan State University, the College of Engineering is exploring new ways for AI to improve lives through railway safety, AI security, learning and health outcomes.

Shiqiang “Nick” Zou of Michigan State University has been selected for 2025–27 cohort of Early-Career Research Fellows in the Offshore Energy Safety track of the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).

Researchers at Michigan State University have figured out how to use a fast laser to wiggle atoms in a way that temporarily changes the behavior of their host material. Their novel approach could lead to smaller, faster and more efficient electronics — like smartphones — in the future.

With cases on the rise, researchers are aiming to develop a “one-two punch” vaccine strategy against pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. This work could ultimately help reduce transmission of the disease and combat the threat of resistant bacteria mutating into stronger, more lethal “superbugs.”

As rail infrastructure across the United States ages under increasing freight demands and higher-speed passenger traffic, the need for smarter, faster, and more reliable inspection methods has never been more urgent. A cross-disciplinary team of Michigan State University (MSU) faculty, postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students are answering that call with a breakthrough hybrid sensing system that could redefine how railroads detect and prevent failures.