Research Resources

Introduction to UMaine’s Graduate Research

Introduction to UMaine’s Graduate Research

Our graduate programs are designed to ignite your passion for discovery, synthesis, and the dissemination of cutting-edge research.

Immerse yourself in a dynamic academic environment, where research and learning opportunities foster the spirit of innovation and independent thinking. Our distinguished faculty members are at the forefront of their expertise, generating an unprecedented $245.7 million in research expenditures in 2023 alone. From pioneering studies in engineering to groundbreaking advancements in natural sciences, STEM education, aging, biotechnology and beyond, UMaine is a bastion of innovation across fields.

As a public research institution, the University of Maine proudly holds the prestigious R1 Very High Research Activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of human understanding is shared among only the top four percent of universities engaged in research. Join us in shaping the future through groundbreaking research with a supportive academic community at your side dedicated to your success. Visit the UMaine Research website to learn more.

UMaine Research Website: https://umaine.edu/research/

Interdisciplinary Research Centers and Institutes

Advanced Structures and Composites Center

Focus: The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is an interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development, encompassing material sciences, manufacturing, and the engineering of composites and structures. A University of Maine signature research area for Advanced Materials for Infrastructure and Energy, the UMaine Composites Center focuses on developing next-generation solutions that capitalize on Maine’s vast natural resources to address the most pressing infrastructure and energy-related challenges.

Facilities: The Center is housed in a 100,000 ft2 ISO 17025-accredited testing facility with fully equipped, integrated laboratories to develop and test durable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant material solutions for a wide variety of industries.

Website: composites.umaine.edu/

Advanced Manufacturing Center

Focus: The Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) is an applied manufacturing research facility that works directly with public and private sector clients to advance manufacturing technologies in the state of Maine.

Facilities: The AMC’s 30,000 ft2 facility is home to a host of CNC machines, additive metal manufacturing capabilities, and a full suite of materials testing equipment.

Website: umaine.edu/amc/

Aquaculture Research Institute

The Aquaculture Research Institutes(ARI) stands as a premier USDA center of excellence in aquaculture, offering top-notch research services to Maine and the Nation. With leading workforce development programs, extensive state-of-the-art facilities, and strong partnerships across Maine, including a cooperative alliance with USDA ARS, ARI drives innovation in aquaculture research at UMaine. It also serves as a valuable resource for students at all levels seeking opportunities in the field. ARI is part of the UMaine MARINE initiative.

Website: umaine.edu/aquaculture/

Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

Focus: The Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) works closely with people with disabilities; families; state, local, and federal government agencies; community support providers; and others on research (including evaluation and policy analysis), education, training and technical assistance, service, and information sharing to enhance human rights, evidence-based practice, and inclusion in all aspects of community life.

Facilities: The Center is Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). There are currently 67 UCEDDs; at least one in every U.S. state and territory.

Website: ccids.umaine.edu/

Center for Research on Sustainable Forests

Focus: The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) is currently developing, integrating, and applying emerging geospatial technologies and informatics methods to address current and future issues to support the sustainable management of the region’s natural resources.

Facilities: The Center works in forests throughout Maine and developed several interactive databases and tools including the Maine Forest Dashboard. It runs initiatives like the Forest Climate Change Initiative and Spruce Budworm Taskforce.

Website: crsf.umaine.edu/

Center for Undergraduate Research

Focus: The Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) has facilitated faculty-mentored research and creative activities for undergraduate students across all academic disciplines since its inception in 2008.

Facilities: The center is on the first floor of Corbett Hall and coordinates the annual Student Symposium, which provides an opportunity for the public to interact one-on-one with UMaine and UMaine Machias students as they present their research and creative work.

Website: cugr.umaine.edu/

Center on Aging

Focus: The Center on Aging promotes and facilitates activities on aging in the areas of education, research and evaluation, policy analysis, and community service to maximize the quality of life of older citizens and their families in Maine and beyond.

Facilities: The Center’s central offices are located on the University of Maine at Augusta campus in Bangor. The center runs several statewide programs; the Senior and Retired Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Senior Companion Program (SCP), Livable Communities, and the Consortium for Aging Policy Research & Analysis (CAPRA) as well as both state-based and nation research projects.

Website: mainecenteronaging.umaine.edu/

Climate Change Institute

Focus: The Climate Change Institute (CCI) is a global leader in interdisciplinary climate change research, conducts climate change research expeditions throughout the world, and both produces and shares software that allows researchers and the public to understand climate change.

Facilities: The Institute supports expeditions and holds the Borns Symposium annually featuring presentations and discussion by Climate Change Institute graduate students and faculty on emerging research and topics related to global environmental change. The institute has a wide array of research laboratories and facilities to support its research.

Website: climatechange.umaine.edu/

Forest Bioproducts Research Institute

Focus: The Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) advances the understanding of the scientific underpinnings, system behavior and policy implications for the production of forest-based bioproducts as well as to provide and promote technology validation and partnerships that will meet societal needs for materials, chemicals and fuels in an economically and ecologically sustainable manner.

Facilities: Facilities: The FBRI has an analytical chemistry laboratory on campus and a Technology Research Center (TRC), in Old Town, Maine. The TRC is a commercial-scale facility dedicated to advancing fuels, chemicals and advanced material technologies from forest bioproducts.

Website: forestbioproducts.umaine.edu/

Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies

Focus: The Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies (FIRST) has been active in carrying out research, teaching, and outreach activities in the broad area of surfaces and interfaces, thin films, microelectronic devices, sensor technology, and nanotechnology. A wide variety of on-going activities span the range from fundamental research to applied development to technology transfer.

Facilities: FIRST has an impressive array of instrumentation to synthesize and investigate materials properties at the atomic scale and up to macroscopic dimensions, as well as to fabricate and test a variety of micro/nano electronic devices and micro/nano systems.

Website: umaine.edu/first/

Innovative Media, Research and Commercialization Center

Focus: The Innovative Media Research and Commercialization (IMRC) Center is an interdisciplinary research and experiential learning facility that supports the creative and innovative intersection of arts and humanities, sciences, and technology.

Facilities: The Center provides research and prototyping laboratories, maker spaces, audiovisual production spaces, performance spaces, and classrooms, each designed and staffed to welcome, support, and engage all learners.

Website: imrccenter.umaine.edu/

Maine Center for Research in STEM Education

Focus: The Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) is an interdisciplinary center organized to conduct research, graduate education, professional development, and to build community partnerships focused on improving the research and research-based practice of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels of instruction.

Facilities: Members of the RiSE Center engage in education research across multiple STEM departments and the College of Education at the University of Maine. The RiSE Center provides education and professional development for emerging educators through undergraduate and graduate opportunities, including teaching and research assistantships, a Master of Science in Teaching degree with a teacher certification option, and an interdisciplinary STEM Education PhD program. 

Website: umaine.edu/risecenter/

Maine Sea Grant

Focus: The University of Maine is one of 34 NOAA Sea Grant programs operating throughout the coastal and Great Lakes states, and it is a federal-state partnership that supports research, outreach and education.

Facilities: Maine Sea Grant and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension partner to form the Marine Extension Team, which works on issues of concern to Maine’s coastal communities. It sponsors scientific research that matters to those who depend on Maine’s coastal and marine resources and develops tomorrow’s marine workforce through formal and informal education programs, fellowships and scholarships.

Website: seagrant.umaine.edu/

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center

Focus: The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center engages in applied public policy research and public service with the goal of improving the quality of public discourse grounded in civility and a willingness to work respectfully across political, social, and cultural differences. The MCS Policy Center’s dedication to this nonpartisan mission advances relationships among policymakers, community leaders, and the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Maine System.

Facilities: The Policy Center is based on the Orono campus and provides student fellowship, research and internship opportunities. The Margaret Chase Smith Library is located in Skowhegan, Maine. It is owned by the MCS Foundation and operated by the MCS Policy Center. The Policy Center publishes the Maine Policy Review, a timely, independent, peer-reviewed analysis of public policy issues relevant to the state of Maine. The Policy Center also produces the Maine Policy Matters Podcast.

Website: mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/

Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

Focus: The Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions is widely recognized for stakeholder-engaged, solutions-driven, interdisciplinary research to improve human well-being while protecting the environment. In collaboration with diverse stakeholders, the Mitchell Center links knowledge with action to create a brighter economic, social and environmental future in and beyond Maine.

Facilities: The Center provides toolkits and support for sustainable solutions. For more than a decade, the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions has been building its capacity for stakeholder-engaged, solutions-driven research that helps solve pressing problems, working with municipal officials, state legislators, farmers, tribal communities, and the waste management industry.

Website: umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/

Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment

Focus: The Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment aims to energize Maine’s environmental genetics research community by promoting effective collaborations and new partnerships for transdisciplinary research, innovation and training.

Website: https://umaine.edu/mcge/

Maine Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Focus: The Maine Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) develops partnerships between the state’s higher education institutions, industry, government and others to effect lasting improvements in their R&D infrastructure, capacity and national competitiveness.

Facilities: Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine oversees and implements the state’s NSF EPSCoR programs.

Website: umaine.edu/epscor/

Institute of Medicine

Focus: The Institute of Medicine is a transformative and coordinated community of collaborating researchers and educators that in partnership with health care providers and other stakeholders are dedicated to the advancement of human health and wellbeing in the state of Maine and beyond, through discovery and learning in health and life sciences, from basic and translational research, to clinical practices and healthcare workforce development.

Facilities: The Institute provides seminars and works with healthcare organizations around the state to collaborate and innovate.

Website: https://umaine.edu/medicine/

Research Initiatives

UMaine AI

Focus: The University of Maine Artificial Intelligence Initiative (UMaine AI) is a unique Maine-based venture that brings together university, industry, government, and community collaborators from Maine and beyond to advance the field of artificial intelligence, and through development of innovative technologies and applications find transformative solutions to enhance human life and societal well-being in Maine and beyond.

Website: https://ai.umaine.edu/

UMaine Arctic

Focus: UMaine Arctic develops and strengthens partnerships with other institutions and individuals in the region, participating in the New England Arctic Network, which operates as a regional hub for institutions in New England and have been members of the University of the Arctic (UArctic), a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North.

Website: https://umaine.edu/arctic/

UMaine Arts

Focus: the University of Maine Arts Initiative is a collaborative of faculty, administrators, staff, and students committed to the principle that the arts play an integral role in public research institutions. We seek to increase resources and support for the arts in order to reinforce their significance and enhance their visibility on campus and beyond. Through innovative and interdisciplinary collaborations we seek to build a diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and equitable community of art researchers, practitioners, supporters, and promoters.

Website: https://arts.umaine.edu/

UMaine FOREST

Focus: UMaine FOREST provides strategic planning and seamless integration of research, education and outreach across the University of Maine System (UMS) to facilitate partnerships and the sustainable growth of Maine’s forest-based economy. Through the use of a dedicated forest sector ombudsman, UMaine FOREST establishes direct and consistent connections across Maine’s businesses, development groups, educators and communities. Working across and above the UMS organizational structure to better understand its administrative vision and goals, current and potential programs, facilities, equipment and professional capabilities across each university and between campuses, UMaine FOREST strives to provide integrated systems-based solutions to challenges facing Maine’s forest-based economy.

Website: https://umaine.edu/forest/

UMaine MARINE

Focus: Created on the foundation of its nationally and internationally recognized marine programs, world-class research, and cutting-edge facilities, the University of Maine Marine Aligned Research, Innovation, and Nationally-recognized Education or UMaine MARINE is a unique Maine-based initiative that brings together university, industry, government, and community collaborators who through integrated and innovative transdisciplinary marine research, education, and outreach are dedicated to the enhancement of social and economic wellbeing in Maine and beyond.

Website: https://marine.umaine.edu/

UMaine PFAS+

Focus: The University of Maine PFAS+ is a multi-disciplinary initiative that focuses on the emerging PFAS pollution crisis and its cascading environmental and societal impacts. The plus sign indicates the breadth of the impacts that PFAS has on society, other emerging environmental pollutants, as well as the transformative and novel approach that UMaine realizes.

UMaine Space

Focus: The University of Maine has a long history of space-related research and development activities dating back to the early 90s. Supported by NASA and Maine Space Grant Consortium our fellowship and scholarship programs have been continuously running for over 30 years, training the future workforce, generating intellectual property, and contributing to the state economy. In the past decade, UMaine has been the host research institution for NASA’s inflatable lunar habitat and test site for the next generation of hypervelocity decelerators to support NASA’s goal to take humans to the Moon and Mars. UMaine’s research led to the development of a Wireless Leak detection System for the International Space Station (ISS), which was launched to space in 2016.

Portland Gateway

Focus: The Portland Gateway provides a one-stop connection and point of access to the vast array of innovative research, education and outreach resources, programs and services at the state’s research university in Orono and its facilities statewide.The team connects Mainers with world-class research and education; convenes teams and prepares our knowledge and innovation workforce; and converges around contemporary Maine challenges in the Portland area and beyond. We offer opportunities for tailored partnerships to advance specific business or corporate needs, outreach and community engagement opportunities, and professional careers in connection with the UMaine Research enterprise.

Website: https://maine.edu/portland

Managing Offices & Services

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School (OVPRGS) supports research and graduate study programs by providing services, oversight and resources. It is responsible for developing policies for research and related activities. It provides administrative oversight for 17 research centers and institutes; the Office of Research Administration; the Office of Research Compliance; the Office of Research Development; UMaine Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE); Advanced Research Computing, Data Security, and Information Management (ARCSIM); Research Initiatives; and the Graduate School. The Vice President for Research is the university-designated Scientific Misconduct Officer and monitors financial conflicts of interest in externally-funded research.

The Office of Research Administration

The Office of Research Administration The Office of Research Administration (ORA) has broad responsibilities for administering, fostering and encouraging research and other scholarly activities throughout the campus. The office provides support services to faculty and staff seeking extramural funding for research, teaching, or public service projects, and to those who direct extramurally funded projects. On behalf of the University, the office oversees the review, approval and submission of proposals and the review, negotiation and execution of sponsored awards. In addition, ORA provides post award support to the Principal Investigator and their team responsible for the management of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
 

The Office of Research Compliance

The Office of Research Compliance’s mission is to promote a culture of ethics, integrity, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing research. The office provides comprehensive regulatory guidance to the UMaine research community regarding specific components of research compliance, including protection of human subjects, humane care and use of animals, use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules or infectious agents, financial conflict of interest, responsible conduct of research, research misconduct and export control regulations.

The Office of Research Development

The Office of Research Development aims to enhance grant-seeking activities and facilitate internal and external collaborations to promote a culture of research excellence and extramural funding success.  They are a resource to faculty and researchers who wish to increase their success in grant writing.  The office also oversees the management and administration of internal grant programs and assists in the implementation of strategic initiatives.

Coordinated Operating Research Entities

The Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE) office oversees the management of major research equipment and facilities at the University of Maine.   The mission of CORE is to serve as UMaine’s central repository for major research equipment and facilities, and to enable researchers and industrial partners from around the State to have easy access to state-of-the-art technology and services for their scientific research and scholarly activity.  CORE research services are delivered by experts on a fee-for-service basis to enable, facilitate and enhance the research mission of UMaine.

Advanced Research Computing, Data Security, and Information Management

UMaine ARCSIM strives to provide its research user community the best possible service in the most timely and cost-effective manner. Its primary goal is to support the advancement of research and discoveries of global impact and local relevance that are enabled through technological solutions.

Additional Research Resources

The Office Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources and Engagement. (SPIRE) supports new and existing businesses by linking them with industry experts; facilitating commercialization activities, such as new innovations developed at UMaine; and transferring university research and development into marketable products and services. Their work helps innovation across Maine grow, creating a culture of innovation across Maine that enhances the state economy. The office is also a responsive liaison, facilitating the relationship between the University of Maine at large, elected officials, and corporate partners.

The Department of Industrial Cooperation. The Office of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources and Engagement’s Department of Industrial Cooperation (DIC) arranges all fee-for-service work and industry-sponsored collaborative research, matching companies with the appropriate UMaine expertise and facilities.  DIC helps UMaine achieve its goals of research and public service, while avoiding conflicts of interest with the private sector and ensuring that the university is compensated for private use of its state-supported resources.

The Foster Center for Innovation. The Foster Center is the Office of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources and Engagement’s hub of innovation-focused activities at the University of Maine and the state’s leading resource for innovation and commercialization. The Foster Center offers graduate courses and a certificate program in innovation. It serves both the campus community and outside businesses and organizations, providing incubation space for student-run businesses, research and startup accelerator programs, and training for faculty and students looking to commercialize research, and internships through the Black Bear Consulting Corps and Innovate for Maine Fellows programs.

The Process Development Center (PDC). The PDC offers a broad range of technical services and resources for our clients, both in traditional pulp and paper and in emerging process technologies and materials science. The PDC is one of the top suppliers of cellulose nanomaterials in the world, providing nanomaterials to researchers and application developers at hundreds of businesses, laboratories, and educational institutions in over forty countries.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC). The Advanced Manufacturing Center is an engineering support and service center that is dedicated to promoting economic development in Maine and supporting the research programs at the University of Maine.  The AMC is also readily accessible to businesses, entrepreneurs, and researchers throughout Maine and North America.

The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR). CCAR was founded as an aquaculture research and development facility to address industry needs at industry scale.  Located on Taunton Bay in Franklin, Maine, CCAR’s extensive facilities include marine hatcheries, where juvenile fish, invertebrates, and sea vegetables are propagated for research and industry.  The Center also serves as an aquaculture business incubator, where entrepreneurs can get help with their business plans, find a site for their operations, secure investment capital, engage in research and development, design full-scale commercial aquaculture farms, and utilize our hatchery services.  CCAR is a resource for new and established companies, students and faculty, and fisherman trying to rebuild natural stocks.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s community presence creates unparalleled opportunities for innovative work-study, internships and assistantships for students. UMaine Extension supports the university’s public education and service role by delivering research-based outreach programs in every county in the state. Based in Orono, county offices across the state, and five farms of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, Extension providescommunity-based education with a focus on the Maine food system and 4-H, the most successful out-of-school youth development program in the state.

UMaine Extension is part of a nationwide system, supported by a three-way partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the land grant colleges and universities, and county governments. It conveys community issues, needs and opportunities to inform University of Maine research and development. Extension’s reach is amplified through partnerships with Maine Sea Grant, the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, and collaborativeprogramming with UMaine academic and departmental colleagues.

Extension engages young people in a variety of roles. Students have achieved success and helped the organization move forward in such diverse areas as communications and marketing; Native American awareness and connections; and Maine 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program development. In addition, Extension has had students work in personnel management, publications, IT support and new media development.

More information is available on our website, (extension.umaine.edu) or by contacting Extension at extension@maine.edu; 207.581.3188.

University Resources

Raymond H. Fogler Library

Raymond H. Fogler Library, Maine’s largest library, is essential to education, research, and public service at the University of Maine and beyond. The library collection offers more than 1.7 million e-books; 175,000 online journals; 350 research databases; and over 313,000 digital music and video files, in addition to over 2 million print books and other non-digital titles. Through Fogler Library services, UMaine patrons can borrow print and digital materials from libraries throughout the state and from around the world. The library’s staff serve as information experts who help patrons discover, use, and expand knowledge. The Research and Instruction Department is a central location for research support on campus. Each academic program has a subject librarian who can provide individual consultations, classroom instruction, and subject-matter expertise across the different areas of study at UMaine. The department provides research support in-person, by phone, and online via email and live chat (https://library.umaine.edu/ask-a-librarian/). Fogler Library’s Special Collections Department maintains an extensive collection of published bibliographical, historical, and descriptive works on Maine, as well as literary titles by Maine authors. These documents provide extensive insights into Maine cities, towns, counties, people, and institutions. The department also houses rare books and University of Maine publications and records. Special Collections staff support the research pursuits of students, faculty, and scholars at UMaine and around the world. Fogler Library is also a regional depository for federal government publications; an official depository for Canadian federal and Maine state government publications; the designated State Research Library for Business, Science, and Technology; and the only Patent and Trademark Resource Center in Maine. Access library resources, services, expertise, collections, and general information at https://library.umaine.edu. The general telephone number for the library is 207.581.1666.

Information Technology

The University of Maine System’s Department of Information Technology (UMS:IT) is committed to providing and supporting the highest quality technology-based services for UMaine students. As the University’s central technology support organization, UMS:IT strives to provide timely and efficient services. UMS:IT supports the University’s land-grant and sea-grant missions of creating and disseminating knowledge to improve the lives of its students and Maine citizens through teaching, basic and applied research, and public service activities. UMS:IT is also responsible for coordinating technology services provided to The University of Maine campus by the University of Maine System. UMS: IT’s UMaine main office is located at 12 Shibles Hall.

UMS:IT List of Locations & Services:

IT Support Services Center (Fogler Library - Room 130)

  ●   Walk-in, phone, LiveChat, and Email assistance for UMS accounts

       ○ (Google apps, MaineStreet, networking/wireless access, Brightspace, etc.)

       ○ Connecting and accessing UMS and UMaine resources

       ○ Assistance downloading and installing UMS and UMaine licensed software for PC and Mac operating systems.
 

  ●  For more information or to request support

       ○ Phone: 800-696-4357

       ○ Email: help@maine.edu

       ○ Web: itsupport.maine.edu

Student IT Computer and Software Applications available

  ●  In-Person Computer devices:

       ○ 1st Floor at the Fogler Library Information Commons.

       ○ Both PC and Mac devices are provided in these locations.

       ○ Devices feature all Student available UMS and UMaine Licensed software for use

  
  ●  Remote Access Computer devices:

       ○ UM Remote Labs

       ○ Windows devices are available for remote access

       ○ All Remote Access Computers feature all Student available UMS and UMaine Licensed software for use

  ● UMS and UMaine Student licensed software available for download and install on your device includes;

       ○ Visit: UMaine IT Student Software

       ○ MS Office365, ArcGIS, JMP, SAS, SPSS, Mathematica, MatLab, Minitab, ChemDraw.

       ○ Remote Access VPN

Student Printing (Papercut pay-for-print Services)

  ● Each student receives $16 in print funds per semester.

       ○ Funds are applied to student MaineCard

       ○ Funds are only available for printing and copying at UMS:IT printers

       ○ Unused funds at the end of each semester are not carried forward

  ● Visit the UMaine IT website at Managed Print Services for instructions on printing from a personal device, UMS email, or via a mobile device.

Media Services (19 Shibles Hall)

  ● General classroom technology equipment support including audio and video equipment assistance.

  ● Video and web conferencing support for classes and meetings.

  ● Support for Events and Hospitality as well as other events on campus.

  ● Equipment-On-Loan at Fogler Library, Circulation Desk

       ○ Reserve Audio Visual equipment, call the Fogler Library Circulation Desk at 207-581-1666.

       ○ A valid MaineCard is required to sign out AV Equipment.

  ● For more information or to request support

       ○ Phone: 581-2500

       ○ Email: um-itsupportservices-media-group@maine.edu

       ○ Web:itsupport.maine.edu

The College of Education and Human Development is setting a course through research, service and innovation. Alumni are leading in classrooms, schools and school districts throughout Maine, across the country and around the globe. They’re changing lives as teachers, administrators, nonprofit and community leaders, and as student support professionals on college and university campuses. The athletic training and exercise science graduates are setting a course for professional, college and high school athletes, as well as creating lifelong wellness and personal fitness enthusiasts. Human development professionals are changing the world through intervention programs, advocacy, and social and community services. https://umaine.edu/edhd/

The College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences programs advance society’s understanding of the natural world and the health of its citizens and communities. Our faculty, whose research spans both the health and natural sciences, represent the largest assemblage of scientific expertise in Maine. The College’s extensive teaching and research facilities host some of the most sophisticated research equipment available and are spread throughout Maine to take advantage of the state’s diverse opportunities for discovery. From Maine’s rural hospitals and forests, to the depths of the Gulf of Maine and glaciers of Antarctica, our faculty and graduate students conduct science that transforms lives and informs decisions that will create a bright future for our world. https://elh.umaine.edu/

The College of Engineering As Maine’s leading engineering and computing program, the college prepares an educated workforce, conducts research that turns knowledge into innovative solutions, and provides outreach that includes STEM initiatives. The mission of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) at the University of Maine is to produce the graduates and new technologies needed to move Maine’s economy forward. As a UMaine signature area, the College continues to play a vital role in our state and beyond and is a key element in assisting several other signature areas.The Maine College of Engineering and Computing at the University of Maine is Maine’s only educational institution to offer 12 ABET accredited engineering, engineering technology and computer science degree programs. Our reputation is known world-wide, our facilities are world-class, and our research contributes significantly to scientific discoveries and economic development in Maine and beyond. Innovating engineering excellence since 1865. https://engineering.umaine.edu/

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences True to its multidisciplinary character, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a rich range of graduate programs, leading to M.A., M.F.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees as well as graduate certificates in multiple fields. Our graduate programs span the Physical Sciences, the Computing and Mathematical Sciences, the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Humanities, and the Arts. Additionally, CLAS offers accelerated programs, whereby undergraduate students can combine their bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree, and typically earn both degrees with only one extra year of coursework. Accelerated programs leading to a professional degree are offered with the Maine Business School and the Maine School of Law. In their scope and diversity, graduate programs in CLAS provide graduate students with the analytical, scientific, and professional skills to investigate and illuminate the pressing issues affecting human beings, their societies, and their environment. https://umaine.edu/las/

The School of Forest Resources, in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, offers graduate study leading to a non-thesis Master of Forestry, a Master of Science in Forest Resources and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources. Maine, the most heavily forested state in the United States, sets the context for SFR research, though projects reach beyond state and national boundaries. Much of the research in the SFR is field oriented, and there are a variety of ecosystems and socioeconomic conditions available for investigation. The NSFA College is responsible for the management of the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest, a 1,700-acre tract adjoining the campus, the 4,000-acre Penobscot Experimental Forest, and nearly 4,000 acres of other forest properties in Maine. In addition, Maine contains millions of acres of forestland that are under diverse management by large ownerships, forest industries, small ownership parcels, state and federal forests, and Acadia National Park. Through the cooperation of these diverse landowners, opportunities exist for silvicultural, on-site wood processing, and ecological studies. Maine’s systems of land use regulation and forest taxation and the state’s long-standing reputation as a “vacationland” for forest recreation provide other categories of potential research interest.

The Barbara Wheatland Geospatial Analysis Laboratory provides a center of excellence for geospatial analysis in student and faculty research, along with state-of-the-art resources for university education and professional development. The Lab houses computer workstations equipped with high-end image processing and GIS software, and research leverages a data acquisition and image analysis program using manned and unmanned aircraft. The program supports numerous basic and applied research projects with the primary focus on exploring innovative ways to leverage remote sensing and geospatial technology for forest and natural resource management, environmental monitoring and conservation, forest ecosystem science and climate change research.

The Forest Resources graduate study opportunities are strengthened by association with strong research programs within the SFR College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture, elsewhere on the Orono campus, and in the region.

The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF; https://crsf.umaine.edu/) was founded in 2006 to build on a history of leading forest research and to enhance our understanding of Maine’s forest resources in an increasingly complex world. Forest research and its application are rapidly evolving due to unprecedented availability of data provided by emerging technologies such as high-resolution digital imagery and GPS. CRSF seeks to lead the development, integration, and application of these emerging technologies to address current and future issues in natural resources. Its mission is to conduct and promote leading interdisciplinary research on issues affecting the management and sustainability of northern forest ecosystems and Maine’s forest-based economy.  CFSF scientists study a variety of areas, including forest-based research, nature-based tourism, and climate change. CRSF organizes and hosts several workshops, conferences and other events each year as a means to communicate directly with stakeholders, research partners and the public.

The Cooperative Forestry Research Unit (CFRU; https://umaine.edu/cfru/) is a stakeholder-driven research cooperative and is a core research program of CRSF at UM. It includes 35 member organizations representing over 8 million acres of Maine’s forest (half of all forestland in the state). CFRU Cooperators include Maine forest landowners, wood processors, conservation organizations, and others that support the mission and objectives of the CFRU. The CFRU is funded by voluntary financial and in-kind contributions from its members to The University of Maine. For 40 years, CFRU has shaped the evolution of forest practices in the state and advanced the principles of sustainable forest management. Current CFRU research focuses on silviculture, forest productivity, growth & yield modeling, remote sensing, and wildlife habitat issues related to the management of Maine’s commercial forestlands. Closely related to CFRU is the Maine Adaptive Silviculture Network (MASN), a statewide series of operational-scale silvicultural treatments where future research on forest productivity and sustainability will be studied. Currently, there are 6 MASN sites established throughout Maine and plans to increase it to 12 sites by 2023.

The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (CAFS; https://crsf.umaine.edu/forest-research/cafs/) is a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC). CAFS is one of the larger IUCRCs within NSF as it has 8 university sites and over 100 members throughout the entire US. UM has been a CAFS site since 2008, and the lead center since 2017. CAFS received a $0.5M, 5-year Phase III funding in December of 2018 with a primary priority being the creation a national research agenda that will benefit the forest industry, recruiting non-profit members such as private foundations, and ensuring sustainability for the membership-based program after NSF funding ends. CAFS, like CFRU, brings important industry linkages.

Graduate students studying in the area of wood science & technology and bioproducts have access to world class equipment and researchers through strong ties to two research units on campus. The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (https://composites.umaine.edu/) houses a 100,000 ft^2 state of the art facility for materials and wood/composites engineering research. The Forest Bioproducts Research Institute’s (www.forestbioproducts.umaine.edu) mission is to advance understanding of the scientific underpinnings, system behavior and policy implications for the production of forest-based bioproducts.

Within SFR, the Laboratory of Renewable Nanomaterials (LRN) focuses on alternative applications of cellulose nanomaterials aimed at large volume production and end uses. Established in 2013, the LRN is well equipped for the production and characterization of advanced bio-composites and bioproducts. The Bio-energy Laboratory focuses on advanced technologies to improve the energy efficiency of energy-intensive wood industry and timber-based building sector, innovative carbon-neutral bioproducts, such as engineered wood products and mass timber panel products, numerical analysis of hydrothermal behavior of wood and engineered wood products; and utilization of sustainable and renewable biomass as bioenergy resources.

A federally funded Acadian Forest Ecosystem Research Program carries on long-term research on the nearby Penobscot Experimental Forest. The USDA Forest Service research program in Orono (a branch of the Northern Research Station) employ a scientist who holds and appointment among the College’s graduate faculty. A scientist from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is also stationed at UMaine facilitating scientific and research interactions with FPL scientists. Cooperative relationships also are common between the School of Forest Resources and several other University of Maine departments

The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.

The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (the Experiment Station) was established as part of the U.S. Land-Grant University system in the 1860s to help make public higher education more available to the general public. A substantial portion of operating costs for the Experiment Station comes from the Federal Government to help ensure that Land Grant universities have the capacity to carryout priority agricultural, natural resource, and related research. At the University of Maine, the Experiment Station facilities include the Analytical Laboratory and Maine Soil Testing Service, five research farms (Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle, Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, Blueberry Hill Farm in Jonesboro, J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, and Rogers Farm), and additional facilities including the Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden, the Roger Clapp Greenhouses, the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest, and the Dr. Matthew Highlands Pilot Plant and Commercial Kitchen (for food processing through larger scale recipe calculations).

The Experiment Station powers research that strives to protect Maine’s environment, improve the health of its citizens, and enhance the profitability and sustainability of Maine’s natural resource-based industries. There are over 80 faculty with Experiment Station research appointments, where an average of one-half of their work time is dedicated to Experiment Station research projects.

The faculty, staff and students working with the Experiment Station facilities are active researching important issues for Maine and the Nation. Research topics include methods of protecting crops from pests and plant diseases, including use of phenotyping to develop potatoes with advantageous pest resistance. Other research involves simulation of climate change and monitoring which plants perform the best.

One advantage of having the capacity for a wide range of research, is the ability to divert resources to study emerging problems. For example, the Experiment Station has begun research on how plants uptake PFAS, as well as how agronomic practices may reduce or eliminate the PFAS levels in our food. The Experiment Station faculty leverage the Federal and State money by bringing in tens of millions of dollars annually in grant funding to help pay for research materials, students, and other expenses.

Graduate students working on Experiment Station projects gain strong job skills, and finding employment post-graduation is normally automatic. A good number of these students also see further education and are well prepared.

Students interested in working on MAFES research projects should contact the Chair or Director of their Department or School. The following academic units have one or more faculty in the Experiment Station: School of Biology and Ecology, School of Earth and Climate Sciences, The Ecology and Environmental Sciences programs, School of Economics, School of Food and Agriculture, School of Forest Resources, School of Marine Sciences, and the School of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology

The Pulp and Paper Foundation.  Supported by private funding from more than 60 companies located in over 40 states as well as several hundred individual donations and endowment gifts annually, the $31 million foundation encourages a strong teaching and research program in Chemical Engineering, with a significant undergraduate scholarship program available to qualified students throughout the College of Engineering and the School of Engineering Technology.

The School of Marine Sciences (SMS) is a large unit of the University residing in the College of Natural Sciences Forestry and Agriculture. SMS is the focal home of both graduate and undergraduate academic programs, scientific research, and public service activities related to a wide range of aspects of ocean and coastal zone environments. At present, approximately 48 faculty are affiliated with SMS including full-time, part-time, and cooperating appointments. SMS, by its very nature, is a strongly interdisciplinary unit. Current areas of expertise and research include oceanography, aquaculture, marine biology, marine policy, seafloor and coastal ecology, fisheries, and ocean engineering.

At the graduate level, the School of Marine Sciences offers programs leading to the degrees of M.S. and Ph.D. in Oceanography, M.S. and Ph.D. in Marine Biology, M.S. in Marine Policy and Masters in Professional Sciences.

Faculty of SMS provide leadership in research programs with emphasis on the Gulf of Maine and its related coastal zone, but also in other marine systems throughout the global oceans. SMS faculty are headquartered at both the University’s Orono campus and its coastal marine laboratory campus, the Ira C. Darling Center (see below), and at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

SMS also develops and maintains relationships with other state marine research institutions within the region. Examples include University of Maine at Machias, Maine Maritime Academy, the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bigelow Laboratory, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Maine Geological Survey.

The Darling Marine Center (DMC), the University’s marine laboratory, is located on the Damariscotta River estuary, about 100 miles south of the Orono campus in mid-coast Maine.  Approximately 45 faculty, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and support staff are in residence at the DMC and conduct research on a wide array of themes including aquaculture and marine fisheries; biogeochemistry and microbial ecology; biological, chemical and physical oceanography; invertebrate biology and biodiversity; and marine ecology, conservation science and policy. A variety of unique field-oriented undergraduate and graduate courses are offered annually at the DMC including: Semester By the Sea, Summer University, and specialized Ph.D. and professional-level training workshops in the marine and environmental sciences.  The DMC is a full service marine field station with two flowing seawater laboratories equipped with ambient, heated, and chilled seawater for the culture of marine organisms. The laboratories have resident and visitor lab spaces, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and teaching classrooms. A small boat fleet (19’ to 42’) enables researchers to access a wide variety of near and offshore marine and estuarine habitats. Also available are oceanographic sampling gear, SCUBA support, and a marine library, as well as housing, meal service and meeting space for scientific and educational conferences. More information is available at https://dmc.umaine.edu/

The Lobster Institute,  a unit within the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences based at the Darling Marine Center, the University’s marine science laboratory on the coast. The Lobster Institute Institute fosters research, outreach, and education in support of the sustainability and profitability of the iconic lobster industry of the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada. It serves to maximize the engagement of UMaine faculty and students with stakeholders in the fishery, working with industry leaders, scientists and policy makers to identify and address new challenges and opportunities. https://umaine.edu/lobsterinstitute/

The Department of Psychology. Facilities for experimental and clinical research include laboratories for the study of human and animal behavior, cognition, perception, and emotion. Among departmental research foci are depression and anxiety disorders, peer relations, developmental psychopathology, cognitive aging, and socio-cognitive factors influencing health and well-being. There are rooms designed for observation and audio-visual recording of behavior, as well as electrically shielded rooms for psychophysiological recordings. The department also operates a psychology clinic (Psychological Services Center) for instructional and research purposes.

The Psychological Services Center, maintained and administered by the Department of Psychology, has three interrelated functions. It is a community mental health clinic which serves central Maine residents of all ages through the provision of psychotherapy, and psychological assessment on site. Referrals are accepted from area physicians, family members, other mental health agencies/professionals, and from clients themselves. Graduate students in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program serve as clinic staff under direct supervision of licensed psychologists. Facilities for direct observation of treatment and audio-video recording are available. The clinic also provides mental health consultation services to community agencies. These services may involve consultation to agency staff on mental health matters, provision of direct services to individuals served by various agencies, and the provision of workshops and training seminars for residents and staff. The third function of the clinic is to serve as a clinical research facility. From time to time specialized treatment/research programs may be offered to the community free of charge. These programs aim to identify particular client populations and provide new and innovative approaches to the treatment of specific disorders.

The Canadian-American Center.  Founded in 1968, the Canadian-American Center is one of the leading institutes in the United States for studying Canada.  Designated a National Resource Center in Canada by the U.S. Department of Education in 1979, the Center coordinates all Canadian Studies activities at The University of Maine. The Center organizes international conferences, promotes student and faculty exchanges with Canadian universities, coordinates outreach activities in schools and in the community, and supports graduate research on Canadian-American topics.

The principal graduate programs in Canadian Studies are in the Department of Modern Languages, which offers an M.A. in North American French studies, and in the Department of History, which has a Canadian concentration at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Individualized graduate programs are also available in many departments. The Canadian collection at the Fogler Library is outstanding. Holdings include numerous journals, newspapers, the pre-1900 Canadian series, government documents, dissertations, and the Mason Wade collection.

Each year, the Canadian-American Center offers awards to Graduate students, organizes cultural activities, and provides study abroad opportunities.

Students interested in graduate study on Canada or a Canadian-related field may contact the Canadian-American Center, 154 College Avenue, or contact Canadian Studies faculty in Anthropology, Business, Economics, English, History, Marine Sciences, Modern Languages, and the Climate Change Institute.

The Center for Poetry and Poetics (CPP; formerly the National Poetry Foundation, or NPF) is a center for research on twentieth- and twenty-first-century poetry.  Established in 1971 by Carroll F. Terrell (1917-2003) as a center for Ezra Pound scholarship, the CPP’s mission was expanded by Burton Hatlen (director from 1990 until his death in 2008) to include the entire tradition of innovative poetry from modernism to the present day.  CPP publishes a scholarly journal, Paideuma, which is devoted to scholarship on modernist and postmodernist poetry, as well as books of poetry and scholarly books on modern poetry. Poets whose collections have been published by CPP/NPF include Helen Adam, Joanne Kyger, Evelyn Scott, Ted Enslin, Armand Schwerner, and Constance Hunting.  NPF also published the Modern Poets Series, which consists of substantial volumes of biographical and critical commentary on such poets as Louis Zukofsky, George Oppen, Basil Bunting, William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, H.D., T. S. Eliot, Hugh MacDiarmid, Mina Loy, and many others. Fifteen volumes have been published in this series, the most recent on Ronald Johnson. Graduate students have regularly found opportunities to provide editorial assistance in the development of CPP publications. CPP also organizes conferences that bring to the University of Maine major poets and poetry scholars. Past participants have included Allen Ginsberg, Carl Rakosi, Lewis Simpson, Ruth Stone, Hugh Kenner, Marjorie Perloff, Rachel Blau DuPlessis, Joan Retallack, Charles Bernstein, and many other distinguished poets and critics.  University of Maine graduate students regularly participate in these conferences. For more information, go to the Center’s blog: https://nationalpoetryfoundation.wordpress.com

The Child Development Learning Center, in the College of Education and Human Development, offers observational facilities and a setting in which to work with young children. Individuals have an opportunity to be involved in teacher training programs, curriculum development, and research focused on topics related to child and family development. Research may be interdisciplinary with other departments such as Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology. Graduate assistantships are available and assistants become part of the Center staff.  http://www.umaine.edu/edhd/professionals/katherine-m-durst-child-development-learning-center/

The Madelyn E. and Albert D. Conley Speech Language and Hearing Center, located in Dunn Hall, is a center for clinical education and research as well as a facility for comprehensive state-of-the-art speech, language and hearing services. Both the Speech-Language Clinic and the Audiology Clinic provide services for individuals across the lifespan. The Speech-Language Clinic offers both evaluation and treatment services as well as outreach services to preschools, public/private schools, hospitals and group homes. The Audiology Clinic offers comprehensive services including hearing testing, hearing aid evaluations and hearing aid fittings. Additionally, the Conley Center offers speech therapy telepractice training and speech therapy services to children and adults across Maine and internationally.  Graduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders complete supervised clinical practicum experiences in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at the Conley Center. Additionally, graduate students complete clinical placements in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and community speech and hearing centers. The Master’s Program at the University of Maine is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

The Bureau of Labor Education (BLE) The Bureau of Labor Education is a department within the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The Bureau offers an undergraduate Minor in Labor Studies and a Labor Studies Track, which is part of the Bachelor of University Studies degree. The Bureau also conducts educational programs and research on issues of interest to workers, labor unions and non-profit community organizations. Topics include labor and employment law, labor history, labor relations, political economy, collective bargaining, arbitration and administrative hearing advocacy, mock arbitration, Robert’s Rules of Order, union officer training and leadership development.
 

The Virtual Environments and Multimodal Interaction (VEMI) Laboratory 

The VEMI Lab is an educational, research, and development facility based on a collaborative model where faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students from across more than a dozen disciplines learn about emerging technologies, scientific research, and creative problem solving. VEMI’s mission is to conduct world-class research on human-technology interactions and inclusive design to provide students with the training they need to be leaders in today’s IT workforce or research-driven careers. For more information, please visit: https://umaine.edu/vemi/

Graduate Interdisciplinary Endeavors at The University of Maine
The University of Maine is firmly and deeply committed to the expansion of knowledge and understanding by encouraging various forms of interdisciplinary academic endeavor. Such activities have become the hallmark of academic excellence and a clear indicator of the intellectual vitality of modern institutions of higher learning. The University of Maine accordingly boasts a vibrant array of interdisciplinary activities that provide an exceptionally wide range of opportunities for all members of the University community - undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty members, staff members, administrators - to participate in scholarly undertakings that involve multiple academic disciplines. The following list covers opportunities currently available to graduate students at the University of Maine; other endeavors may be in the planning stages, and the University actively fosters the expansion of this critical aspect of its overall mission of teaching, research, and public service.  For more information, click here.

I. Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs

Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources

Autism Spectrum Disorders (graduate certificate)
Digital Curation (graduate certificate)

Disability Studies (graduate specialization and certificate)
Earth and Climate Sciences
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Financial Economics
Food and Nutrition Sciences (Ph.D. program)
Gerontology (graduate certificate)

Forestry (MFY {non-thesis}, M.S., Ph.D.)
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. (various concentrations available, e.g., Engineering in the Natural Sciences)
Intermedia (MA and MFA)
Landscape Horticulture emphasis within the M.S. degree program in Horticulture
Master of Arts in Global Policy (SPIA)

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (including New Media, Intermedia, Maine Studies and Peace Studies tracks)
Master of Science in Teaching (concentrations in Physics, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, or Generalist Option)
Plant Science (Ph.D. program; multi-departmental)
Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree
Quaternary and Climate Studies
Marine Policy (M.S.)
Marine Sciences and Marine Policy Dual Degree Program (3 years: with an M.A. in Policy and and M.S. in one of the marine sciences)

 

II. Other Interdisciplinary Endeavors
Academy of Public Service (joint endeavor of UM Dept. of Political Science; M.C. Smith Center, and the Muskie Institute of USM)
Advanced Structures and Composites Center
Canadian-American Center
Center for Community Inclusion and Disabilities Studies
Cooperative Extension
Division of Lifelong Learning
Forest Bioproducts Research Institute
Franco-American Center
Climate Change Institute
ITHCRA (Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care for Rural Areas Project)
Frontier Institute for Reserch in Sensor Technologies
Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy
Pulp and Paper Process Development Center
Research Collaborative on Violence Against Women
Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research
Solar Vehicle Team (College of Engineering)
University of Maine Center on Aging
Wabanaki Center
William Cohen Center for Public Policy and Commerce

Cooperative Research Relationships
The University of Maine maintains active cooperative research relationships, formally and informally, with a variety of institutions and agencies in Maine, the United States and other countries. A partial listing follows:

Augusta Mental Health Institute
Bangor Counseling Center
Bangor Mental Health Institute
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Center for Learning Disabilities
Eastern Maine Medical Center
Huntsman Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
Jackson Laboratory
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Maine Geological Survey
Maine Medical Center
Maine Municipal Association
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Geological Survey
Veterans Administration Hospital, Togus