Research

Each spring, blue-spotted salamanders emerge from their underground burrows at Presque Isle Park in Marquette and venture across the road to lay their eggs. Northern Michigan University students have been involved in conservation, data collection and public education efforts for this annual event, but this year, the general public is invited to play a more active role in salamander migration research. Northern Michigan University Biology Department Head Jill Leonard encourages community members to participate in the Marquette Citizen Science Project.

Dr. Jongeun You, assistant professor in Northern Michigan University's Department of Political Science and Public Administration and a member of NMU's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workgroup, has published a case study examining how Michigan uses AI to compete in the national race for talent. The study focuses on the AI-powered Michigan Career Portal and a statewide workforce plan with a unified brand and messaging strategy to attract talent.

Northern Michigan University master's candidate Noah Andexler is one of 20 graduate students nationwide selected to receive the Ecological Society of America's (ESA) 2026 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award for their demonstrated commitment to science advocacy. This prestigious program is designed to bridge the gap between rigorous ecological research and impactful environmental policy.

Maris Cinelli, assistant professor of chemistry at Northern Michigan University, is leading important research to identify new plant-derived compounds that could combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She received NMU's Peter White Scholar Award for the current academic year to support the effort. Cinelli describes the award as a great honor, but is quick to credit the talent and dedication of the student researchers in her lab.

The Northern Michigan University College of Graduate Studies and Research will host its first Winter Research Day on Thursday, Feb. 19. This event is free and open to the public. It will be held in room 1100 John X. Jamrich Hall and the adjacent atrium.

Eleven Northern Michigan University faculty members have been selected to receive 2026 Faculty Research Grants. The awards of $7,000 each support scholarly activities such as publications, the creation of artistic works, research projects, and manuscript development. The recipients and their project titles are:

Northern Michigan University Professor Jes Thompson and some of her students recently wrapped up a series of stops at 20 U.S. national parks and 12 wildlife refuges, where they surveyed visitors on their perceptions of climate change in these natural areas. They are partnering with the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use the data collected to increase public awareness of climate change, foster meaningful conversations with visitors, and develop educational materials for future programs.

Northern Michigan University's recently completed addition to Weston Hall has increased available lab space, elevating the ability of Biology and Chemistry faculty to conduct high-quality research and train students in biomedical techniques. Highlights include two specialty teaching labs: a “world-class” Cell Culture Facility; and a state-of-the-art Microscopy Suite with dedicated rooms to house each of NMU's advanced microscopes, providing a central hub for research projects.

Two Northern Michigan University professors—Maris Cinelli from Chemistry and Ryan Stock from Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences—are among the top 2% of highly cited scientists in the world, according to the most recent listing released by Stanford University and Elsevier, one of the largest publishing companies for scientific, technical and medical research. The list shows which scientists have had the biggest impact in their fields, based primarily on how often other scientists mention their work.

Providing a coordinated response to child abuse that involves professionals from diverse fields has the potential to improve outcomes for children and advance justice. This multidisciplinary team model is implemented through child advocacy centers, and has been widely adopted to facilitate such collaboration.