Tag: Research announcements

Adam Lapidas joined the Office of Industry Contracts as a contracts associate.

He will be working with the Industry Contracts team to review proposals to industry and negotiate sponsored research and other research-related agreements with industry.

Prior to joining Clemson, Lapidas served as the contracts officer in the Office of Research Administration at East Carolina University.  Prior to that, he was responsible for grant proposals and research agreements in the Office of Research at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Lapidas received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law.

Experienced university compliance officer Robin Tyndall has joined Clemson University as director of the Office of Research Compliance.

Before joining Clemson, Tyndall worked as director of Research Protections at Appalachian State University, where she served as administrator of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), as well as the conflict of interest manager and the responsible conduct of research training coordinator.

In addition to her experience in academic research compliance, Tyndall has directed lean operations and quality control programs in the private sector for notable corporations, including IBM and the Lenovo Group.

Tyndall succeeds Tracy Arwood, who has transitioned to her new role as chief ethics and compliance officer.

Modified Operations

The Office of Research Compliance remains active and assisting faculty members as Clemson operations are modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any adjustments to existing research projects should be communicated to Research Compliance. Additionally, faculty members planning to apply for federal or private funding to conduct research related to COVID-19 should notify Research Compliance.

Individuals supported by research training, fellowship, research education, and career development awards from the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be required to have Open Researcher and Contributor Identifiers (ORCID IDs) beginning in FY2020.

The requirement for ORCID identifiers will be incorporated into the appointment process for trainees, scholars, and participants supported by institutional research training, career development, and research education awards that require appointments through the xTrain system, including the following:

T03, T15, T32, T34, T35, T37, T42, T90/R90, TL1, TL4, TU2, K12/KL2, R25, R38, RL5, RL9

Beginning with receipt dates on or after January 25, 2020, the requirement for ORCID identifiers will be enforced at the time of application for individual fellowship and career development awards, including the following:

F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F37, F38, F99/K00, FI2, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K18, K22, K23, K24,
K25, K26, K38, K43, K76, K99/R00

More information is available in the NIH Notice or by contacting the Office of Sponsored Programs.

A revised version of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) has been issued and will be effective for proposals submitted or due, and awards made, on or after June 1, 2020. Significant changes include:

• NSF-approved format in submission of the biographical sketch and current and pending support documents, once the PAPPG (NSF 20-1) becomes effective. NSF is partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as an NSF-approved format for preparation of both documents.  Use of an NSF-approved format will not be required until implementation of PAPPG 20-1 on June 1, 2020. To assist the community, NSF has developed websites with additional information for the preparation of the biographical sketch and current and pending support. NSF will post fillable pdfs for both the biosketch form and current and pending support in February and March 2020 that will also be considered approved formats.  The Office of Sponsored Programs is making available a step-by-step guidance document for preparing a biosketch in SciENcv.
• Appointments section in the Biosketch must include any titled academic, professional or institutional position whether or not remuneration is received.
• Separate section in the project description no longer needs to include Intellectual Merit.
• New requirement for providing e-mail documentation of Program Officer approval for the submission of RAPID and EAGER proposals; and
• Clarifications to current and pending support coverage: Current and pending support includes all resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to all of his/her research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value. Current and pending support also includes in-kind contributions (such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students²⁶. In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed also must be reported²⁷.

NSF plans to conduct a webinar covering these changes on February 6 at 2PM EST.  Visit the webinar website to register for this event.

While this version of the PAPPG becomes effective on June 1, 2020, in the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 19-1) continue to apply.

Dear Colleagues,

The federal government is increasingly concerned with attempts from foreign governments to unduly influence and exploit U.S.-funded research and is taking steps to protect our research integrity and intellectual capital.

International research engagements support the free exchange of ideas that has been central to our successes in scholarship and discovery, but we must make sure these engagements are conducted securely, transparently and ethically. Research integrity is paramount to our mission as educators and researchers.

The Division of Research has compiled a Guidance for Managing International Relationships and Activities to share recent statements from federal funding agencies, as well as information on federal policies and disclosure requirements. We encourage you to view that guidance and bookmark this webpage here. This guidance serves to help you navigate successful international research engagements.

This matter continues to evolve. The newly established Joint Committee on the Research Environment (JCORE) is coordinating federal agency activities and policies regarding research security. This includes establishing and coordinating disclosure requirements for participation in federally funded research and developing best practices for academic research institutions. JCORE also will be sharing a list of examples to help us understand the various ways research can be exploited or compromised.

We will be monitoring this closely and sharing new information with you as it becomes available.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about international research, please contact Tami Hemingway, Director, Office of Export Compliance and Research Security, at theming@clemson.edu.

Best,

Robert H. Jones                                                          Tanju Karanfil
Executive Vice President for                                         Vice President for Research
Academic Affairs and Provost                                       Clemson University, Division of Research

The Division of Research rolled out a new digital solution from BioRAFT that makes it easier for faculty, staff and students to complete safety training, inventory chemicals and other materials, track safety equipment, and complete other safety tasks.

This secure, intuitive online platform provides automated reminders to help faculty complete safety tasks quickly and return to their research. BioRAFT replaces the current method of searching for training materials online, emailing documents to Research Safety staff, trying to track down laboratory personnel to check training status, and searching for chemical hazard information and safety data sheets (SDSs).

Researchers at other universities reported spending 60.5% less time on average completing the top 15 common safety tasks when using BioRAFT. Additionally, researchers spent 53%-84% less time on training and other safety specific tasks, allowing more time to focus on research while incorporating safety into their daily activities.

BioRAFT offers several features:

• Easily access SDSs and track inventories of chemicals and hazardous materials using Chemtracker.
• Manage safety and other research equipment.
• Streamline inspections and follow-ups.
• Complete online training and track training requirements and statuses for PIs and lab and research area members.
• Easily access safety documents and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

BioRAFT is accessible online here. Log in with your Clemson University ID and password and follow the Quick Start Guide.

The BioRAFT site is compatible with your mobile device.

BioRAFT offers several different “modules” for specific tasks, such as inventorying chemicals, scheduling inspections or meeting training requirements. Those modules will be implemented in the following steps:

• As of Aug. 1 –  Bioraft is live for PIs and supervisors to set up their labs and work areas.
• As of Aug. 15 –  Online training is now available.
• Sept. 30 – Inspection module becomes available.
• Oct. 30 – Chemtracker and SDS becomes available.
• Nov. 30 – Equipment module becomes available.

The Office of Research Safety will notify faculty via email from the BioRAFT platform when new modules are available.

QUESTIONS?

Please read the FAQs here.

Research Safety will conduct BioRAFT training throughout campus during the fall semester. You can also submit questions about this new platform to bioraftRShelp@clemson.edu.

The Office of Research Safety announced the addition of Samuel Forrest as hazardous materials specialist and Laura (Yan) Ye as health and safety specialist.

For the past 6 years, Sam served as a Health and Safety Specialist at the Innovation Campus and Technology Park in Anderson and other assigned Upstate facilities, providing support in laboratory and non-laboratory safety as well as management of hazardous and biological waste management.

Sam is now assigned to main campus. Sam’s new duties consist of assisting the hazardous materials manager in hazardous and biological waste as well as hazardous materials transportation and shipping for all Clemson University facilities statewide.

Laura succeeds Sam at the Innovation Campus and Technology Park. She previously held the position of health and safety specialist on main campus where her duties included safety inspections in both labs and non-lab areas, fume hood certifications, working with facilities to make sure hood repairs were completed as well as preparing health and safety fact sheets and other duties as assigned.

The first recipients of R-Initiative grants administered by the Division of Research in 2017 have secured an additional $2.5 million in external funding, have two book proposals in press and six manuscripts under review, have written four peer-reviewed journal articles and eight book chapters, have submitted 17 conference papers and presentations, and have held one juried art exhibition.

These are just the early results of R-Initiative programs launched in 2017. The Division of Research has awarded more than $3 million in R-Initiative funding for research projects involving 172 faculty members across all colleges over the past two years. Programs provide funds for equipment purchases, for hiring research faculty, for initiating or completing research projects, and for competing for high-value external research funding.

In January, the Division awarded SEED grants to 11 faculty members from nine different departments and five colleges. These funds help faculty members initiate new research or complete scholarly products, such as books or book chapters, peer-reviewed publications, or visual and performing arts showings.

Applications are being accepted now for grants under the Major Research Instrumentation and Core Incentivized Access programs:

The Major Research Instrumentation program provides funds to purchase, replace or upgrade major research equipment. The submission deadline is March 27. Awards will be announced May 1. MORE DETAILS.

The Core Incentivized Access program (CU-CIA) provides access to Clemson’s core research facilities, at no cost, to help Clemson University faculty build research data that will supplement a new grant proposal. These facilities offer cutting-edge technologies, high-end instrumentation, technical support and educational services. The submission deadline is April 8. Awards will be announced May 6.  MORE DETAILS.

Clemson University is adding new advanced equipment to three of its high-tech research facilities – the Electron Microscopy Facility, the Light Imaging Facility and the Micro Fabrication Facility.

The news tools will be used by Clemson researchers from numerous fields, as well as private industry, to fuel innovation for the advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, digital, energy and environmental sectors, among many others.

The Electron Microscopy Facility (EMF) at the Advanced Materials Research Lab in Anderson is adding three products:

• Hitachi’s SU9000 Ultra-High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope with Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) capability is the highest resolution scanning electron microscope in the world and the only advanced microscope of its kind in the United States. This microscope will be ideal for catalysis, biological and pharmaceutical research, polymer and fiber analysis, life sciences and medicine, electronics, and advanced nanotechnology materials.
• The Hitachi H7830 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) is the latest and most advanced tunable energy 120 kV TEM, featuring dual-mode objective lens technology that allows users to image their specimens in a variety of conditions, such as low magnification, wide-field high contrast, high resolution, and more — all in one microscope. This advanced TEM will allow users to study their material at the nanometer scale. Users from academia and industry from a variety of disciplines are expected to benefit from this advanced TEM.
• Hitachi’s SU5000 Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (VP-SEM) allows for samples to be analyzed for a long duration with a stable and finely tuned electron beam. This microscope comes with a large chamber that is highly useful for irregularly shaped specimens. These types of microscopes are the work horse microscopes and provide steady and stable usage for extended period of time.

These additions make EMF one of the premiere electron microscopy labs in the country. This equipment is expected to be available for use by the end of the summer. Visit the EMF webpage for contact information and details on using equipment.

Meanwhile, the Clemson Light Imaging Facility (CLIF) is acquiring a new widefield imaging system, the Leica DMi8 TIRF HP with GSD Super-resolution. This powerful new live cell imaging tool offers traditional widefield imaging in X, Y, Z, T with multiple channels available for various fluorescent and transmitted light modes.  With the addition of the Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) module, users can now access four channels of TIRF imaging with Leica’s uniquely simple, one-click calibration, which provides highly repeatable penetration depths relative to the specimen’s refractive index without ever having laser light emitted into the room.  With the same four lasers, and Leica’s Laser Scanner, users can also now utilize the CLIF for photo-activation, photoconversion, optogenetics, and more, which may all be integrated into any of the imaging modes on the system.  The system is also capable of 2D GSD (Ground State Depletion) and dSTORM super-resolution. With the high performance stage and easy to use navigational software, users may now stitch large images, image multi-well plates, or image multi-positions within a dish, maximizing the data from every imaging run.

This equipment is expected to be delivered during the Spring semester. Visit the CLIF webpage for contact information and details on using the facility.

The Micro Fabrication Facility has added an EVG 501 wafer bonder, which can bond 4-inch diameter wafers  of similar or dissimilar materials together using heat and pressure. This capability allows researchers to take advantage of one material property while exploiting another.

In the 2nd quarter of 2019, the facility also will take delivery of a Raith EBPG5200 Series Direct Write Electron Beam Pattern Generator. This tool is state-of-the-art in E-beam direct writing, capable of producing sub 10nm structures with overlay accuracy of <5nm. With this new equipment, Clemson researchers will no longer need to travel to other institutions to produce nanotechnology-level devices.

Visit the Micro Fabrication Facility webpage for contact information and details on using the facility.

These are significant investments in Clemson’s research infrastructure. In 2019, the Division of Research again will offer faculty an opportunity to utilize these facilities, as well as the Godley-Snell Research Center, Aquatic Animal Research Lab, and High Performance Computing, through the Clemson University Core Incentivized Access program (CU-CIA). CU-CIA is one of six  R-Initiative programs created to spur research activity at Clemson and open new opportunities for faculty. In the last two years, the university has invested more than $3 million through its R-Initiative programs in projects involving 161 faculty members from 36 departments representing each college. Applications for the CU-CIA incentive will be due in April. More information on the CU-CIA program and other R-Initiatives is available online here. 

The Division of Research is now accepting applications for grants under the Faculty SUCCEEDS and Major Research Instrumentation programs.

These are two of six R-Initiative programs created to spur research activity at Clemson and open new opportunities for faculty. In the last two years, the university has invested more than $3 million through its R-Initiative programs in projects involving 161 faculty members from 36 departments representing each college.

The Clemson Faculty SUCCEEDS (Strategic University Challenge for Competitive Excellence and Expertise in Discovery and Scholarship) program provides seed grants that support leading-edge research and scholarship that capitalize on the existing intellectual capital at Clemson University. Recipients are expected to submit a major research proposal ($1.5 million or more) to federal agencies, foundations, corporate consortia or any other external sponsor. The deadline to apply is Feb. 27. Awards will be announced April 15. MORE DETAILS.

The Major Research Instrumentation program provides funds to purchase, replace or upgrade major research equipment. The submission deadline is March 27. Awards will be announced May 1. MORE DETAILS.

Next spring, the Division of Research will accept applications for the Core Incentivized Access program (CU-CIA), which provides access to Clemson’s core research facilities, at no cost, to help Clemson University faculty build research data that will supplement a new grant proposal. These facilities offer cutting-edge technologies, high-end instrumentation, technical support and educational services. The application period will open Jan. 21,  and the submission deadline will be April 8. Awards will be announced May 6.  MORE DETAILS.

Next summer, the Division of Research will accept applications for the Research Fellows program, which provides grants to assist regular faculty, academic departments, centers and institutes in the hiring and training of qualified research faculty and post-doctoral researchers. The application period will open May 15, and the submission deadline will be Sept. 13. Awards will be announced Nov. 18. MORE DETAILS.

The application period is now closed for the Clemson University SEED program, which provides funding for the initiation of a research project or the completion of a product, such as a book or piece of artwork. Awards will be announced on Jan. 28.

For questions on these R-Initiative programs, contact Diana Thrasher with the Division of Research at dianas@clemson.edu or 864-656-3908.

The Division of Research will accept applications in the fall and spring for funding under the Clemson R-Initiative programs. In the last two years, these programs have invested more than $3 million in projects involving 161 faculty members from 36 departments representing each college.

Submission dates have changed from previous years; additional details are below.

R-Initiative programs provide financial support to hire post-doctoral researchers, to compete for large research grants, to complete books or other scholarly projects, to upgrade or acquire equipment, or to initiate research.

The Division is currently accepting applications for the Clemson University SEED program, which provides funding for the initiation of a research project or the completion of a product, such as a book or piece of artwork. Applications are due Nov. 30 and awards will be announced Jan. 28. More details are available in the Call for Proposals online here.

The Division also will award funds under the following R-Initiative programs:

Clemson Faculty SUCCEEDS: The Strategic University Challenge for Competitive Excellence and Expertise in Discovery and Scholarship program (SUCCEEDS) positions interdisciplinary faculty teams to successfully compete for significant external funding (>$1.5 million). The application period opens Dec. 3, and the submission deadline is Feb. 27. Awards will be announced April 15. MORE DETAILS.

Major Research Instrumentation: The Clemson Major Research Instrumentation (CU-MRI) program provides funds to purchase, replace or upgrade major research equipment. The application period opens Dec. 3, and the submission deadline is March 27. Awards will be announced May 1. MORE DETAILS.

Research Fellows: Clemson Research Fellows provides grants to assist regular faculty, academic departments, centers and institutes in the hiring and training of qualified research faculty and post-doctoral researchers. The application period opens May 15, and the submission deadline is Sept. 13. Awards will be announced Nov. 18. MORE DETAILS.

For questions on these R-Initiative programs, contact Diana Thrasher with the Division of Research at dianas@clemson.eduor 864-656-3908.

ADDITIONAL REMINDER:

The Division of Research continues to accept applications under the new Clemson University Core Incentivized Access program (CU-CIA), which provides access to Clemson’s core research facilities, at no cost, to help Clemson University faculty build research data that will supplement a new grant proposal. These facilities offer cutting-edge technologies, high-end instrumentation, technical support and educational services. Applications are due Nov. 19. MORE DETAILS.

Mary Gray, senior researcher at Microsoft Research and fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, talked to Clemson University students, faculty and staff on Sept. 14, 2018, about researchers’ responsibilities when using data collected from social media. Her presentation was part of the Responsible Conduct of Research training opportunities provided to Clemson faculty and was sponsored by the Clemson University Office of Research Compliance, the Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics and the Office of Inclusion and Equity.

Before her talk she answered a few specific questions from her unique perspective as one of the country’s leading experts in internet ethics.