Letter From the President

Dear LTU Community,

It is with pleasure that I welcome you to the Fall 2025 edition of Lawrence Technological University’s Research Magazine, 𝐼2 Impact + Innovation. The stories highlight the remarkable creativity and dedication of our faculty, students, and partners, and showcase LTU’s commitment to preparing leaders who shape the future through innovation, scholarship, and collaboration.

Our researchers are advancing solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges. In engineering, faculty and students are developing new methods to capture carbon emissions from concrete production, while others are creating advanced data systems with industry partners to improve autonomous vehicle safety. These efforts exemplify how our work not only advances technology but also has a direct impact on communities and industries.

Across our colleges, we see the power of inquiry and creativity. The College of Arts and Sciences is exploring the human mind through groundbreaking neuroscience research using fNIRS, while the College of Architecture and Design continues to push the boundaries of sustainable building materials with its mass timber initiatives. These projects enhance knowledge while also inspiring new approaches to teaching and practice.

Our collaboration with leading organizations ensures research is applied where it matters most. From partnerships to joint studies with University of Michigan Health aimed at reducing violence in healthcare settings, our students and faculty are embedded in real-world contexts where their contributions can shape outcomes immediately. This spirit of collaboration extends to our Centrepolis Accelerator, which continues to help Michigan-based innovators such as Blueflite and Electric Outdoor bring clean energy and advanced mobility solutions to market.

Additional stories you will read are:

• A nearly $2 million NSF I-CAAN grant to make STEM education more accessible for talented, low-income students.
• Faculty in the College of Business and IT leading vital conversations on using vulnerability to build inclusive classrooms and develop growth mindsets.
• Kathryn Wrench’s national appointment as an NCURA Peer Reviewer, a testament to her expertise and instrumental role in advancing the university’s research enterprise and vision of becoming an R2 institution.
• A recent visit from Saudi Arabia’s Oil Sustainability Program, where the delegation’s keen interest in LTU’s pioneering work in advanced materials, renewable energy, and robotics facilitated opportunities for collaboration.

As you read the magazine, I encourage you to see how these stories come together to represent the very best of LTU: a community committed to discovery, collaboration, and preparing the next generation of leaders through our model of Theory and Practice-based education. Whether a partner, supporter, or advocate, together, we can continue to push the boundaries of discovery and innovation, ensuring the research and ideas cultivated at LTU help shape a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

With gratitude,

Tarek M. Sobh, PhD, PE