University of Vermont

Research

Transdisciplinary Research Initiative

The University of Vermont is engaged in an unprecedented, University-wide program to advance interdisciplinary connections and problem-solving throughout research and education: the Transdisciplinary Research Initiative, or TRI. More information about UVM's TRI and its "Spires of Excellence" in Complex Systems, Food Systems, and Neuroscience, Behavior & Health can be found on the Transdisciplinary Research Initiative website.

REACH Grant Program

The REACH Grant Program seeks to identify and promote promising research, scholarship and creative arts in all areas of the University and to encourage faculty members to envision ambitious, long-term projects. For more information, please go to the REACH Grant Program

Featured Multimedia

10-16-2012

Hines Receives 2012 Milt Silveira Award

Paul Hines, assistant professor in the School of Engineering, received the 2012 Milt Silveira Award from Bernard "Chip" Cole, Interim Dean of the UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), during the October 16, 2012 CEMS faculty meeting.

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09-27-2011

Farmed Out

Benoit St. Pierre drops one end of a garden hose into a large holding tank filled with liquefied cow manure. Pulling back on a syringe-like stopper attached to his end of the hose, he draws out a cup of clear liquid -- miraculously, given the brown sludge at the surface. The tank and its unappealing contents are more valuable than ...

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07-27-2011

The First True View of Global Erosion

Every mountain and hill shall be made low, declared the ancient prophet Isaiah. In other words: erosion happens. But for the modern geologist a vexing question remains: how fast does this erosion happen?

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05-24-2011

Using Nanotechnology to Fight Cancer

Chemistry professor Chris Landry is studying how to enhance the efficacy of cancer drugs by using nanotechnology to better transport these drugs. Because nano-materials have a great deal of internal volume, they can potentially transport more of a drug to the cell where it's needed.

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05-24-2011

Tracking Food Pathogens

Engineering professor Jane Hill studies biology in action — how bacteria get into the food supply by turning themselves around and heading back "upstream" where we don't want them. Her research is applicable to everything from groundwater systems to irrigation systems to the urinary tract.

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05-24-2011

Sociology.com

Mathematician Peter Dodds measures happiness — in particular, how this emotion spreads through social networks.  It might seem trivial to know which day of the week people are happiest (Sunday), but harvesting this sort of data may help us to construct better public policy, build more successful organizations, and more fully understand economic and social phenomena.

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05-24-2011

Predicting Malaria Outbreaks in Africa

Millions of deaths occur worldwide from malaria. Engineering professor Arne Bomblies is expanding the boundaries and reach of traditional scientific research by understanding how the environment influences malaria transmission.

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05-24-2011

Predicting Avalanches with Sensor Technology

How do you predict the possibility of an avalanche? One way is to measure "snow water equivalent" — the amount of water in a snowpack. Computer science professor Christian Skalka, along with Engineering professor Jeff Frolik, has developed a unique sensor system based on attenuation of electromagnetic radiation to measure snow water equivalent.

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05-24-2011

Nanotechnology and Clean, Cheap Energy

Although there is enough energy in a particle of light from the sun to break water into hydrogen and oxygen, the conversion process is not efficient. Engineering professor Walter Varhue is researching new materials inspired by nanotechnology to solve this problem and produce hydrogen, a clean and cheap energy source.

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05-24-2011

Land Development and the Mountain Landscape

Through a combination of fieldwork, long-term monitoring and simulation modeling, geography professor Beverly Wemple is studying the impact of suburban and recreational development on the mountain landscape and the ways we can minimize that impact.

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05-24-2011

Good Robot

How is it that we accomplish tasks in the real world? Will robots ever be able to learn from their environment or watch another robot and learn from it? Computer science professor and robotics expert Josh Bongard is studying — and creating — autonomous robots that learn by example.

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05-24-2011

Food Webs and the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant

Food webs are notoriously difficult to study because they are so large. Where to begin? Biology professor Nick Gotelli has discovered an entire food web inside one plant: Sarracenia purpurea, commonly known as the carnivorous purple pitcher plant.

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These videos are part of the award-winning series "Emerging Science," produced by Vermont Public Television with funding from Vermont EPSCoR.