Week of October 26, 2020

Faculty Research Reminders and Notifications

• In case it’s fallen off the radar with all that’s going on, the next NRT deadline is noted below.  An eligible organization may participate in two proposals per competition.  Please let SRS know if you are interested in participating.
   
  • Letter of Interest  (mandatory Nov 25 – Dec 5) (Mon Dec 7) 
  • Full Proposal:  Feb 6 (Monday Feb 8)
    
• Faculty who request reduced overhead on their proposal should contact SRS for AVP for Research for approval.  
• NSF MRI Internal Call for Expressions of Interest is due October 31, 2020. Please submit expressions for interest to srobinso@clarkson.edu.
• Undergraduate Faculty Research Award Program – RFP due Nov. 13.

Introduction and Update: Clarkson’s Research Advisory Committee

Introduction and Update: Clarkson’s Research Advisory Committee

In July of 2020, a new Research Advisory Committee was launched to provide faculty input and support to Clarkson’s Office of Sponsored Research Services (SRS). The charge of the Research Advisory Committee is to advise the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Research and Technology Transfer (Dr. Shannon Robinson) and other Office of Research and Technology Transfer executive staff on resources and priorities with regard to University research and technology innovation.  

The Committee is chaired by Michelle Crimi.  Members include:

• Shannon Robinson, AVP for Research and Technology Transfer

• Anthony Adamczyk, Anna Marie Dawley, and Jamey Hoose from SRS

• Devon Shipp and Tom Holsen, Directors of CAMP and CAARES, respectively

• Silvana Andreescu, Associate Dean for Research for Arts & Sciences and Chair of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science

• Dennis Yu, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Research for the Reh School of Business

• Andrea Ferro, Associate Director for Research for the Institute for a Sustainable Environment

• Kerop Janoyan, Dean of the Graduate School

• Amber Stephenson, Golshan Madraki, and Amir Mousavian, representing the Reh School of Business

• Marcias Martinez, Goodarz Ahmadi, and Stephanie Schuckers, representing the School of Engineering

• Susan Bailey, Matthew Manierre, representing the School of Arts & Sciences

• Karen LaPoint, Associate Controller

• Amy McGaheran, Chief Human Resources & Deputy Chief Inclusion Officer

The Committee has divided into three working groups; (1) Policy Support, led by Marcias Martinez; (2) Training and Tools Support, led by Andrea Ferro; and (3) Strategy and Opportunities, led by Stephanie Schuckers.

Policy Support working group – The role of the Policy Support working group is to provide feedback on current and new policies that affect or are affected by research activities.  This may call for:

• Gathering input from peers

• Researching similar policies at peer or other institutions

• Working to understand internal and external implications or interpretations of policy changes or additions.

The Policy Support working group is currently reviewing several research-related University policies, with example focus areas including sponsored project closeout allowances, research personnel policies, discretionary account, and academic salary and summer salary recovery. They will follow up with recommendations for improvement. 

Training and Tools Support working group – The role of the Training and Tools Support working group is to research and propose ideas to:

• Enhance and support Clarkson’s research activities

• Identify and address faculty development needs and opportunities related to research

• Share experience and expertise across faculty and staff

• Coordinate faculty training offerings where possible

The Training and Tools working group is working to develop an interactive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide (i.e., knowledge base) to support faculty research by providing responses to commonly asked questions related to research and technology transfer with a supporting “toolbox” (e.g., videos, description/tutorials, etc.), provide easy-to-access links to research and technology transfer policies, and to point to related training sessions.  The team is currently evaluating potential hosting platforms.  

Strategy and Opportunities working group – The role of the Strategy and Opportunities working group is to identify and refine ideas to:

• Increase and enhance engagement in research and technology transfer activity

• Differentiate Clarkson’s research activities from peer and other institutions

• Accelerate and enhance research impact

• Support and advance the University’s Strategic Plan in the context of research

○ Help faculty and research staff identify how the University’s Mission and Strategic Plan support their research, and vice versa

The Strategy and Opportunities working group has been discussing opportunities to enhance Team Science at Clarkson, and is working toward an initiative to promote investment in faculty teams to advance their research through Team Science. 

“The way in which our universities have divided up science does not reflect the way in which nature has divided up its problems.”  Kurt Salzinger, PhD (2003) 

Team Science is not a new concept; scientists have been collaborating with one another for years but the recent surge in this type of collaborative approach is due to the fact that it really works!  Academic institutions, industry, funders, etc. are realizing the benefits to addressing multifactorial societal problems – and they are putting their dollars on like-minded investigators. Research shows the approach can lead to results with great scientific impact, innovation, productivity, and reach. It is an opportune time to combine efforts in a different yet more narrowed way to further our growth of research here at Clarkson.  Stay tuned as we will be hosting upcoming forums and communications on Team Science and look to engage input from the faculty on the plan forward.  

If you have questions, comments, or input for the Research Advisory Committee, we encourage you to reach out to Shannon Robinson, Michelle Crimi, or one of the committee reps from your area.