(campusnews) c a mp u s
The U-M Board of Regents recently approved the purchase of the Ann Arbor property of pharmaceutical firm Pfizer Inc. The nearly 174-acre site, which includes almost two million square feet of laboratory and administrative space in 30 buildings, is ideal for the University’s growing research activities in health, biomedical sciences, and other disciplines, U-M officials say. The state-of-the art facilities will also help the University recruit scientists to Ann Arbor. U-M anticipates hiring 2,000 researchers and staff during the next 10 years with the new expansion possibilities through the Pfizer property purchase.
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Hardwired to Overspend?
$$ Foreclosures, rising credit card debt, and perhaps a Corvette purchased in a midlife crisis — all are symptoms of compulsive overspending. U-M researcher Daniel Kruger looks to evolution and mating for an explanation and theorizes that men overspend to attract mates. Kruger, an assistant research scientist in the School of Public Health, tested his hypothesis in a community sample of adults aged 18–45 and found that the degree of financial consumption was directly related to future mating intentions and past mating success for men, but not for women. “Especially for guys, our position in the social hierarchy is based on our resources,” Kruger says.
Costly Stress
Even in a down economy, companies need to alleviate workplace stress, say U-M business professors. Prior research has shown that about 75 percent of Americans list work as a significant source of stress and more than half say their work productivity suffers due to stress. Workplace stress is estimated to cost U.S. businesses about $300 billion a year through absenteeism, diminished productivity, employee turnover, and direct medical, legal, and insurance fees. Business professors found that companies on the Fortune 500 list that offer generous complementary alternative benefits (examples include flexible hours, onsite fitness centers, and paid leave time) enjoy a significant reduction in employee turnover, compared to the industry average. The average cost savings for the firms examined as a group was about $275 million in 2007.
In Sickness and Health Older people who spent at least 14 hours a week taking care of a disabled spouse lived longer than others, says a U-M study. The study supports earlier research showing that in terms of health and longevity, it really is better to give than to receive. “These findings suggest that caregivers may actually benefit from providing care under some circumstances,” says U-M researcher Stephanie Brown, an assistant professor of internal medicine and lead author of the study. “Previous studies have documented negative health effects of caregiving. But the current results show that it is time to disentangle the presumed stress of providing help from the stress of witnessing a loved one suffer.”
For the third time in the past four years, U-M once again leads the nation in the number of U.S. Department of State Fulbright award recipients. U-M placed first with 31 awardees, followed by Harvard University with 29 and Yale University with 26. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, and teaching English overseas.
Partnering with Small Businesses
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U-M Purchases Former Pfizer Property
A Leader in Fulbright Awards
The University is working to engage small businesses and help them establish research partnerships with faculty and students. U-M’s Office of the Vice President for Research recently announced a pilot Small Company Innovation Program. This program gives financial incentives to small businesses in Michigan to collaborate with the University on research projects. spring 2009 LSA n 71
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