Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) at the University of Arkansas

We had the privilege of welcoming the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees for a tour of the I3R building! Founding executive director, Dr. Ranu Jung, was joined by vice chancellor for economic development Mike Malone and vice of chancellor for research and innovation Margaret Sova McCabe to share how specialized lab spaces and collaboration hubs will position the University of Arkansas to drive groundbreaking progress and deepen partnerships across industries. From augmented reality to biomedical engineering to sustainable food systems, I3R is shaping the future of convergence research with Arkansans' wellbeing as a primary focus. Thank you to our Board of Trustees and to our building partners at CDI Contractors for their continued support as we move forward together! ?? Derrick Hartberger(Office of Engagement, University of Arkansas), Michael W. Dean (Director of IT, I3R), James Abbas(Professor of Biomedical Engineering, I3R), Jessica Hollinsworth(Superintendent, CDI Contractors), Ted Dickey (Secretary, Board of Trustees), Ranu Jung (Founding Executive Director and Associate Vice Chancellor, I3R), Ed Fryar (Member, Board of Trustees), Kelly Eichler (Chair, Board of Trustees), Margaret Sova McCabe (Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Arkansas), Mike Malone (Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University of Arkansas),Jeremy W. Wilson (Member, Board of Trustees). #SolvingWickedProblems #Innovaion #EconomicDevelopment

? TEAM SPOTLIGHT ? Meet Hailey Dirrigl, M. Eng. , I3R clinical trials support engineer! Hailey plays a key role in running human clinical trials, collaborating with researchers and companies to ensure the success of trials involving medical devices and interventions. With her biomedical engineering background, she expertly manages data archiving, analysis, and subject management, ensuring that every aspect of the trial functions seamlessly. Hailey’s journey began at a young age with a deep desire to help others. Inspired by her mom, who introduced her to the term "engineer,” she recognized that engineering could be her path to making a broad, positive impact on people’s lives. While at the University of Arkansas, Hailey excelled as a student-athlete, playing volleyball for six years. She earned honors as an SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. During her athletic career, Hailey developed a strong understanding of biomechanics, especially when she required physical therapy. This knowledge has been invaluable in her work on the I3R Neural Enabled Prosthetic Hand (NEPH) project, which aims to restore sense of touch, grasp force and hand opening to individuals who have lost am upper limb. Hailey draws inspiration from her parents. Her father, a former D1 athlete and All-American, taught her the importance of discipline and hard work, both on the court and in her professional life. Her mother, a compassionate and supportive force, is Hailey’s sounding board for every engineering idea, helping her refine her ideas and pursue them with confidence. We’re incredibly grateful to have someone as dedicated and kind-hearted as Hailey on our I3R team. Thank you, Hailey, for your passion and commitment to solving complex problems and making a difference! #SolvingWickedProblems #Innovation #BiomedicalEngineering

Davood Tashayyod, CEO of Lumo Imaging, shared with us valuable insights into the commercialization of innovations to benefit humanity. In his fall speaker series presentation, "BioDesign: A Process of Innovating Medical Technologies," he walked us through the BioDesign and Coulter processes, illustrating how he has collaborated with I3R researchers to harness technology for advancing healthcare. ??? Watch the video-on-demand of the presentation to learn more about this pioneering work at the link here: https://bit.ly/3Ck3FVm In the video, Mr. Tashayyod will introduce you to the LumoScanner—a groundbreaking system from Lumo Imaging that transforms clinical diagnostics and documentation. The LumoScanner captures nearly complete skin surface images, enabling dermatologists to detect skin cancers earlier by monitoring changes in skin lesions. #SolvingWickedProblems #LumoImaging #Innovation #BioDesign

We are so proud of Dr. Alejandro Martin Gomez, who serves as assistant professor at I3R and the department of electrical engineering and computer science, for receiving an Honors College Faculty Equipment and Technology Grant. Way to go!

The deadline to apply for FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas is quickly approaching! Apply by December 4 to FLIPspace, a seven-month program tailored for Arkansas-based students, faculty, university staff, and administrators who aim to address transportation needs in the region. FLIPspace participants will have the chance to: ?? Access federal IP from national labs to turn advanced research into real-world mobility solutions. ?? Get hands-on guidance from industry mentors, learning the ins and outs of bringing an idea to market. ?? Receive $2,000 initial award per team member. ?? Pitch to Highway Ventures, a Bentonville-based venture studio known for launching and scaling innovative mobility startups, for potential investment. Special thanks to the program's leaders and our collaborators from VentureWell—Senior Program Officers Katie Dzugan and Ernie Davis, along with Program Officer Elana Diaz—to campus. They shared valuable insights about FLIPspace with our campus community! Interested in applying? No technical expertise required, and the application process takes less than 30 minutes. Learn more now at the link here: https://bit.ly/4dynODU #SolvingWickedProblems #VentureWell #AdvancedMobility

?? We're #hiring! I3R is looking for an Administrative Assistant to join our team. The Administrative Assistant will support day-to-day office operations, including coordinating meetings, travel arrangements, providing assistance to the executive team, among other tasks. If you're an organized, detail-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, apply by December 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (CT). Ready to solve wicked problems? Apply now the link: https://bit.ly/40XIFxZ #SolvingWickedProblems #Innovation #UArk

A sign of great things ahead—literally! ? Our official campus sign was installed today, and some of our team members couldn't wait to celebrate the milestone! We look forward to continuing our innovative projects and collaborations at this new address in the near future. Special thanks to our partners at University of Arkansas Facilities Management and CDI Contractors for their dedication to making this a space where convergence research thrives. #SolvingWickedProblems #Innovation #NWA Michael W. Dean | Jeff Jouett | Delia Garcia | Elizabeth Muscari | Allison Cavazos | Gayla Hinton | Avery Holmes | Hailey Dirrigl, M. Eng. | Prashanth Ravishankar, PhD | Caroline Wahlgreen

This week, I3R Founding Executive Director Dr. Ranu Jung joined HGA Science + Technology principals Meredith Hayes Gordon, AIA and Cristianne Peschard, AIA at the Tradeline Conference: University Science and Engineering Facilities in Scottsdale, Arizona to present during the session block, "Research Institutes: Success factors for converging disciplines, talent, space, and funding." Together, they shared the leading-edge design of our transformative research facility, built around the "institute" model for innovation. Here’s a glimpse into the spaces driving collaboration and convergence: ?? Human Health & Innovation Wing: Featuring an MRI suite, whole-body calorimetry suite, and sensorimotor assessment labs. ?? Pre-Clinical & Surgical Intervention Wing: Equipped for groundbreaking pre-clinical research. ??? Materials & Characterization Wing: Advanced bench labs for materials science exploration. ?? Additive Manufacturing & Prototyping Wing: Home to a machine shop, electrical shop, and maker space. ??? Digital Transformation Wing: Fostering innovation with extended reality and computational labs. ?? Collaborative Spaces: Purpose-built for teamwork with offices and modern conference rooms. These adaptable spaces, designed to be a future-focused hub for convergence research, reflect our mission to solve wicked problems through multidisciplinary efforts. A heartfelt thanks to partners like HGA for their groundbreaking architectural expertise on this project and to CDI Contractors for bringing the blueprints to life! #SolvingWickedProblems #Innovation #Tradeline #EconomicDevelopment

? I3R is proud to collaborate with VentureWell on FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas! FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas helps bring fresh ideas to life by providing participants with exclusive access to federal intellectual property (IP) through a partnership with the Federal Lab Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). Imagine creating: ?? Sustainable transit options ?? Green solutions for emissions ?? Reliable transport for rural communities Who can apply? FLIPspace is open to passionate Arkansans ready to innovate in transportation, whether solo (and be paired with others to form a team) or in a team. Each team member will receive $2,000 to support participation, and gain hands-on tech training, mentorship from industry experts, and the chance to pitch for funding. Apply by December 4 at the link here: https://bit.ly/4dynODU #SolvingWickedProblems #VentureWell #AdvancedMobility

We are proud to be mentioned in?Northwest Arkansas Council's report detailing how leaders and organizations are transforming the healthcare landscape in NWA. As a center for convergence research, we’re committed to driving meaningful change and finding solutions that enhance Arkansans' well being. ? Page 5 sums it up best, “This innovation ecosystem [created by I3R] drives economic diversification and strengthens Northwest Arkansas’ reputation as a scientific research and technology development hub.” ? Read more at the link in the post below. #SolvingWickedProblems?#Innovation?#EconomicDevelopment