Research and Economic Development Newsletter
|
|
|
· A
Message from the Vice Chancellor
· Office
of Technology Partnerships Update
· MRB
Wet Lab Incubator Opening Ceremony and Tour
· ORI
Seminar Series
· Limited
Submissions with Upcoming Deadlines
· Specialized
Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities
Research - 10/22/19
· Critical
Zone Collaborative Network - 11/4/19
· Mid-Scale
Innovations Program in Astronomical Sciences (MSIP) - 11/7/19
· NSF
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) - 11/21/19
· Other
Opportunities
· Moore
Inventor Fellows
· University
of California-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity
Initiative
|
|
A Message from the Vice
Chancellor
|
|
I am extremely honored and happy to be your new
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development. I am
very impressed by what UC Riverside has accomplished so far in
terms of student success, research, and outreach, and am fully
committed to join you in your efforts to continue to grow the
accomplishments of this fantastic campus and the wonderful people
who learn and work here.
After 23 years at my previous institution, it was
a big personal and professional decision to move, but your
achievements and the opportunities we face at UCR and the region
convince me that I did the right thing. I will miss friends
and colleagues at the University of Kansas and the City of
Lawrence community, but I know I will make many new ones here and
I am looking forward to that. I have already met many of you
and, in the next few months, I will continue meeting as many
people as possible to get a full sense from all stakeholders
about your interactions with and views of the Office of Research
and Economic Development (RED). Thanks to all with whom I have
already met for your welcoming attitude, expressions of support,
and desire to increase your interactions with RED.
After a little more than a month in Riverside,
things have never been so hectic but at the same time extremely
exciting. As I settle in my new job, I have the complications of
adapting from the Midwest to California. My wife and I have
bought a house and our family just moved in, so we can start to
enjoy the community, the food, the weather, and the beautiful
surroundings that Riverside has to offer too.
In my short time here, I have already witnessed
some great steps in building the research infrastructure for the
generation and translation of knowledge. A couple of examples are
the continuing relocation of faculty to the state-of-the-art
Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB) and the upcoming
opening of its incubator facility. I attended the inauguration of
the $8M Biosafety Level-3 (BSL3) facility built by the California
Citrus Industry and at which UCR researchers will fight the
Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening decease, which has had a
devastating financial impact on the Florida Citrus Industry. The
BSL3 serves as an example of UCR’s commitment to work together
with industries and the broader community in the region. Another
such example is securing the relocation of the more than $400M
California Air Resources Board facility near
campus. My kudos and admiration go to my predecessors,
all of you in RED and across campus, the UCR leadership, elected
officials, the City, the County and the Riverside Chamber of
Commerce who have made such accomplishments possible. I hope to
follow in those steps and help achieve the next big developments.
I see my role in the “R” part of RED as a
facilitator and supporter of all forms of research, scholarly
work, and creative activities, whether they are externally funded
or not, and one of my main duties is to advocate for those
activities and try to secure the appropriate resources to conduct
them despite difficult budgetary times. We are currently
revising our RED budget to look for efficiencies and/or
reallocation of resources as needed. Some changes in infrastructure
will likely start to take place in the coming months. In
particular, I am involved in conversations with deans, centers
directors, faculty and staff about how research centers and core
lab facilities should be best administrated to serve campus more
broadly and generate further synergy across units.
I see my role in the “ED” part of RED as equally
important and have already been interacting with the Chamber, the
City, the County, and State authorities to leverage the existing
connections with industry and entrepreneurs in Riverside to move
them to the next level. UCR should continue to play an important
role in the economic development of the region, the
commercialization of our technologies, and the creation of
high-paying jobs for the incredibly diverse, inclusive, and
skillful workforce we graduate from our classrooms. I had a
chance to give a few remarks this past Thursday at the Chamber’s
Good Morning Riverside event and was overwhelmed by the welcoming
spirit of those in attendance. This is a very exciting town!
Undoubtedly, promoting research and creative
activities and the translation of the knowledge we generate to
benefit society is a big team effort and I am looking forward to
learning from all of you while contributing my own experiences. I
am an active researcher myself and that experience has guided in
part my research administration jobs. My participation at my past
institution in shared governance, of which I am a strong
supporter, guide my actions too. I value the role shared
governance plays at UCR and I plan to frequently interact with
its leaders and the senate committees related to RED activities.
Please feel free to contact me with comments and
suggestions or to schedule an appointment (if I have not done so
already).
Keep up the great work you all do and thank you
again for welcoming me into the Highlander family,
Research and Economic Development
University of California – Riverside
|
|
|
|
|
Office of Technology Partnerships Update
|
|
Our office of
Technology Partnerships continues building the infrastructure to
provide entrepreneurial training to our faculty and students.
Recently, led by OTP, UCR was awarded a grant of $550k by
the Blackstone Foundation for
the university to join the LaunchPad Powered by Techstars network.
This program aims at helping students succeed in entrepreneurship and
in their careers. Rosibel Ochoa,
Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Partnerships, and Gillian Wilson,
Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic
Development, are co-Principal Investigators on the grant, continuing
a successful partnership which previously brought National Science
Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Site status and a $500k award to provide
in-house commercialization training to UCR faculty, students and
staff. In the last three years, OTP has secured $17.2 Million from a
combination of state, federal and private sources to create a culture
of innovation and entrepreneurship at UCR and in the Inland Empire.
The Blackstone
LaunchPad is primarily focused on engaging undergraduate students.
Starting this fall, a series of undergraduate-focused campus programs
will be offered including workshops and networking events, and
one-on-one mentoring. Blackstone Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mai
Temraz, has been hired at UCR to lead the programs. UCR
undergraduates or graduate students who have a business idea in mind,
or who just want to learn more about the broad range of
entrepreneurial events available on campus are invited to email her
directly (mai.temraz@ucr.edu) or visit the
Creat’R Lab in the Orbach library.
|
|
MRB Wet Lab Incubator Opening Ceremony and Tour
|
|
|
|
|
ORI Seminar Series - Three Identical Strangers
|
|
UCR’s Office of Research Integrity (ORI) is proud to be
partnering with the Department of Psychology to present the first seminar
in the 2019-2020 ORI Seminar Series.
ORI seminars focus on ethical dilemmas and hot topics in compliance and
research with human participants. The next event will be a screening of
the award-winning documentary “Three Identical Strangers,”
followed by a discussion which will led by UCR Psychology Professors Drs.
Chandra Reynolds and Lawrence Rosenblum. There will be time for an
audience Q&A, as well. The screening will take place on Thursday, Oct
17 at 6:00 PM in Winston Chung Hall 205/206.
Post-film discussion participants:
Dr. Reynolds
researches the interrelationships between health and cognition across
development. Her research also considers the genetic and environmental
factors associated with aging and she has done extensive research with
twins.
Dr. Rosenblum has
received multiple awards for his research on sensory perception and the
integration of multimodal sensory inputs.
This event is organized jointly by the ORI &
Department of Psychology. The event is free and open to the public. No
registration is required but seating is limited.
|
|
Limited Submissions with Upcoming Deadlines
|
|
Specialized Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health
Disparities Research
|
|
Internal Deadline: 10/22/2019
Agency Deadline: 11/22/2019
Number of Submissions Allowed: 1
This initiative will support multidisciplinary research to
generate innovative approaches to mitigate environmental health
disparities and improve access to healthy and sustainable environments
for health disparity populations and vulnerable communities. Each center
is expected to foster interdisciplinary
collaboration, synergistic research projects (see
descriptions of required components below for examples of synergy), and
core support that enhances the ability to achieve goals and objectives in
the following broad areas:
·
Research
·
Research Capacity and Training
·
Communication and Translation
|
|
Critical Zone Collaborative Network
|
|
Internal Deadline: 11/04/2019
Agency Deadline: 12/02/2019
Number of Submissions Allowed: 4
·
Thematic Clusters: 3 proposals per
organization
·
Coordinating Hub: 1 proposal per
organization
Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 4
·
Thematic Clusters: An individual may
serve as PI or co-PI on as many as 3 proposals.
·
Coordinating Hub: An individual may
serve as PI or co-PI on only 1 proposal.
NSF seeks proposals to establish an adaptive and
responsive research network that supports investigations of the Earth’s
Critical Zone. This network will consist of two components that will work
together to advance knowledge, education, and outreach in this convergent
science: 1) Thematic Clusters of fixed or temporary locations will
conduct basic research on significant, overarching scientific questions
concerning the structure, function, and processes of the Critical Zone.
These U.S.-based Clusters could include existing observatories engaged in
collecting environmental data, other monitoring locations that have been
in operation for extended periods of time, and new sites that will
support the scientific goals of the Cluster; 2) A Coordinating Hub that
will oversee the compatibility and archiving of the data resulting from
the Thematic Clusters, coordinate outreach and community-building
activities, support the use of network facilities by outside researchers,
and plan for infrastructure needs of the network.
This solicitation invites proposals for either of the two
components: 1) Thematic Cluster or 2) Coordinating Hub. The Thematic
Clusters will carry out interdisciplinary research on scientific
questions and manage part of the network infrastructure; the Coordinating
Hub will serve as the national center for the network. The infrastructure
of the network will be accessible to other research teams pursuing
research in the Critical Zone.
|
|
Mid-Scale Innovations Program in Astronomical Sciences
(MSIP)
|
|
Internal Deadline: 11/07/2019
Agency Deadline: 12/19/2019
Number of Submissions Allowed: 3
Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
A vigorous Mid-Scale Innovations Program (MSIP) was
recommended by the 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, citing
"many highly promising projects for achieving diverse and timely
science." As described in this solicitation, the Division of
Astronomical Sciences conducts a mid-scale program to support a variety
of astronomical activities within a cost range up to $30M. This program
is formally divided into four subcategories: 1) limited term, self-contained
science projects; 2) longer term mid-scale facilities; 3) development
investments for future mid-scale and large-scale projects; and 4)
community open access capabilities. MSIP will emphasize both strong
scientific merit and a well-developed plan for student training and
involvement of a diverse workforce in instrumentation, facility
development, or data management.
|
|
NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
|
|
Internal Deadline: 11/21/2019
Agency Deadline: 1/1/2020 - 1/19/2020
Number of Submissions Allowed: 2 submissions for track 1,
and 1 submission for track 2
The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to
increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation
for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher
education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research
organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a
multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not
appropriate for support through other NSF programs.
MRI provides support to acquire critical research
instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and
engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support
to develop next-generation research instruments that open new
opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering
research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research
training of students who will become the next generation of instrument
users, designers and builders.
An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either
acquisition or development of a research instrument. Beginning with the
FY 2018 competition, each performing organization may submit in revised
“Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1
and no more than one submission in Track 2.
·
Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are
those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and
less than $1,000,000.
·
Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are
those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up
to and including $4,000,000.
Consistent with the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (Public
Law 110-69), cost sharing of precisely 30% of the total project cost is
required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for
non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of
higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement and cannot
include it. National Science Board policy prohibits voluntary committed
cost sharing.
|
|
|
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has announced the
2020 competition for Moore Inventor Fellows. Their 2020 selection process seeks
to identify outstanding early-stage inventors who harness science and
technology solutions to enhance scientific research, strengthen
environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of
patient care. Moore seeks creative individuals from programs that
include, but are not limited to, environmental science and conversation,
oceanography, biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials
science, neuroscience, public health, and gerontology. Candidates
must be no more than 10 years past receiving the terminal advanced degree
in their field.
Fellows will receive funding for three years at a level of
$200,000 per year from the Moore Foundation. In addition to funds for the
fellow, the foundation will provide $25,000 each year to the institution
to cover costs associated with administering the grant award, resulting
in a total three-year award of $675,000. Host institutions will be
required to make a contribution of $50,000 in annual support of the
inventor’s work in support of course release, core facility usage fees,
etc. To review a list of funded projects, Moore’s list of 2018 Fellows may be
found here.
Interested faculty should complete an internal
pre-application through UCR’s Limited Submission process by
Friday, October 18th (note that the 2020 timeline is three months earlier
than in previous years). UCR may submit two nominations for this
award by November 15th, with nominees to complete their full applications by
December 13th,
2019. Questions can be addressed to Bryan Carlson, Executive
Director of Foundation Development, at bryan.carlson@ucr.edu or
827-4592.
|
|
University of California-Hispanic Serving Institutions
Doctoral Diversity Initiative
|
|
This systemwide effort is designed to support faculty
diversity by enhancing pathways to the professoriate for underrepresented
students from California Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The UC-HSI
DDI program includes two components—
·
Competitive grant awards to
UC faculty/faculty administrators that will support short-term and
long-term programs/projects to enhance and expand pathways to the
professoriate for underrepresented minorities, with a goal to increase
faculty diversity and inclusion at UC. Please see the Request for
Proposals for detailed application information.
·
Funding to support graduate
student preparation for the professoriate. Specifically,
there are resources to help support a limited number of PhD students, who
are California HSI alumni and have advanced to candidacy at UC, to foster
their interest and preparation for the professoriate, and
additional professional development outreach and support for
underrepresented PhD students with a goal to encourage and help equip
them to consider careers in the professoriate. UCOP will
coordinate directly with campus graduate divisions for this component of
the Initiative.
As part of UC’s system-wide effort to enhance faculty
diversity, new annual funding was allocated to support efforts that will
expand pathways to faculty diversity. This commitment enables the
University to launch the new system-wide UC HSI program and support the
following goals:
1. Increase
the pathways to UC PhD completion for underrepresented students from California
HSIs.
2. Expose,
encourage and help prepare students for the professoriate.
3. Encourage
research and enrichment collaborations between UC faculty and faculty at
partner California HSIs—supporting partnerships that will foster
long-term engagement opportunities among faculty, students, programs,
departments and campuses.
4. Enhance
the climate of academic programs through interventions, incentives and
efforts that foster an academic culture of inclusion and
equity—especially for faculty and students from underrepresented
communities.
This grants program offers two funding mechanisms (small
awards up to $50K and large awards up to $350K) that will address the
four program goals listed above.
|
|
|