|
Welcome back and welcome to the new academic year. The Office of Research looks forward to supporting your research, scholarship, and creative work in the coming year. We have had a busy summer refreshing offices and services, bringing on new team members, and planning exciting new initiatives and funding opportunities to support the roll-out of K-State’s new strategic plan in the coming weeks. We will be launching and driving an ambitious research growth plan this year with new resources to support research, new enabling and supporting services, and new and enhanced award and expenditure tracking/reporting capabilities. All of this directly supports the first two of our office’s “We Will” statements:
- WE WILL seek efficiencies, lower barriers to success, and remove burdens on investigators.
- WE WILL provide concierge-level service that enables faculty and researcher success.
Look for more information in early September following the official launch of our new strategic plan.
This summer we also announced our first Game-Changing Research Initiation Program, or GRIP, transdisciplinary team award recipients and our first Pathway to Commercialization, or P2C, individual investigator award recipients.
Last week, I had the great privilege of visiting with 60+ new members of our community at the New Faculty Orientation. New faculty bring fresh ideas and perspectives, new partnership opportunities, and of course new energy. I hope that, like me, all of you are energized by the start of the new academic year and by the arrival of our new colleagues.
I am excited for the year ahead, with clear and bold vision, a university-wide commitment to elevate and invest in research at K-State, and the great team in the Office of Research that will help make it all possible, meeting your needs and supporting your work.
Ad Astra.
D. Rosowsky
Vice president for research
| |
K-State events and announcements | |
Graduate Research Fellowship Program Information and In-depth Writing Sessions | |
|
The Graduate School, the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, and the Office of Research Development will host an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or GRFP, information session at 3:30-5 p.m. on August 30 via Zoom. The NSF GRFP Fellowships support outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and social science disciplines or STEM education who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. This session will take an in-depth look at the requirements for an NSF GFRP submission. A panel of faculty members who have served on review panels for this program will discuss tips and provide advice that you will not find in this program’s Request for Proposals. Students will also have an opportunity to talk about their research ideas with the panel. If you are serious about submitting to this program, this is a session you should not miss. Major professors are encouraged to attend.
In addition, there will be two follow-on, more in-depth sessions presented by Beth Powers, director of the Office Nationally Competitive Scholarships. The first session will cover tips for organizing your essays, understanding broader impacts and intellectual merit and maximizing your effectiveness in telling your story and describing your research. You have two options for attending this session — 4-5 p.m. on September 5 via Zoom, or 12-1 p.m. on September 8 in person.
The second follow-on session will be a writing workshop that will give you a chance to test-run your draft personal statement. Your draft must be submitted to Beth Powers by 5 p.m., Tuesday, September 12. Each attendee will be assigned to review one peer’s application using a rubric provided. Dr. Powers will read all applications and facilitate a conversation where feedback is given to each person, and everyone gets a chance to learn from their own and others’ feedback. This session will be held 12:30-2 p.m. on September 15. Students can attend in person or via Zoom.
Registration is required for each session. Please click on the link for those sessions you want to attend. Zoom links/room numbers will be sent 3 days before the sessions.
|
|
Demonstrate Broader Impacts at the Girls Researching Our World Saturday Workshop on October 7th. | |
|
K-State faculty, staff and students are invited to design and facilitate a hands-on science, technology, engineering and/or math activity for middle school students at the Girls Researching Our World, or GROW, workshop on Saturday, October 7, on the K-State campus in Manhattan.
Activities should incorporate the workshop theme, “K-State Investigates! Debunking Myths and Misconceptions in STEM.” In this Saturday Workshop, middle school students will have the chance to become "MythBusters" and explore the world of STEM by debunking myths and exploring scientific misconceptions. Investigate urban legends, test scientific claims, and conduct experiments with K-State professors, staff, and students! Activity proposals should relate to this theme. KAWSE Program Coordinator, Stephanie Rose, is available to help brainstorm activity ideas and relate facilitators’ area of expertise to the event theme. KAWSE can also help find student volunteers to assist with the activity.
An activity proposal guide is available on the KAWSE website to help with activity development.
The KAWSE office is happy to provide letters of support to grant agencies for those who collaborate with us.
Event capacity is limited to 100 middle school students, grades 6-8. The GROW program is organized by the K-State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering, or KAWSE. Event registration information is available on the GROW website. Office staff can be reached by email, kawse@k-state.edu; phone, 785-532-6088; or in person at 215 Fairchild Hall to answer any questions.
| |
K-State Innovation Partners launches stakeholder survey for faculty and staff | |
|
K-State Innovation Partners is committed to collaborating with university, industry and communities to deliver a streamlined mission of corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development. Driven by innovation, this nationally unique organizational structure serves K-State, community partners and industry in one comprehensive unit. This allows for efficient intellectual property protection, economic opportunities and a consistent experience for partners.
As a service unit and partner, we are dedicated to collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to identify common goals and shared initiatives for the benefit of K-State, communities and the state of Kansas. In order to best serve the university, we would appreciate K-State faculty and staff completing this survey to provide feedback. This survey is aimed at improving efforts to support technology commercialization, corporate engagement, and economic development at K-State. Your feedback is crucial in shaping our strategies and initiatives as we strive to create a thriving ecosystem of innovation and growth. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to our mission. Participants in the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $100 gift certificates.
For questions regarding the survey or to connect with K-State Innovation Partners staff, please contact us at tech.transfer@k-state.edu.
| |
External events and announcements | |
Synthesis Center for Understanding Organismal Resilience Webinar | |
|
10-11 a.m.
August 24 and August 28
The Synthesis Center for Understanding Organismal Resilience will hold a webinar on August 24th, 2023 and August 28, 2023 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT. The presentation will be followed by an open Q&A session with cognizant Program Officers.
Synthesis Center for Understanding Organismal Resilience is intended to advance our ability to explain and predict organismal resiliency and plasticity in response to complex and dynamic environmental circumstances encountered over a lifespan through the synthesis of varied data sets and types that bridge multiple scales and levels.
View the solicitation.
The presentation and discussion will include:
- Explanation of the program goals
- Details of the solicitation
- Answer questions from prospective PIs
Register for this event.
| |
Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry CHE Office Hour | |
|
3-4 p.m.
August 25
The National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry is hosting an office hour about one of its Disciplinary Research Programs: The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry, or MSN, program. The office hour will be hosted at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 25 and will be hosted by Suk-Wah Tam-Chang. It will feature a discussion of the program scope, funding priorities, program portfolio, and recent research highlights, followed by a Q&A session.
Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please register to attend.
| |
DMR Open Hour: TMRP and CMMT Solicitation Q&A | |
|
10-11 a.m.
August 25
Join DMR Division Director Germano Iannacchione and DMR program directors for our monthly office hour and Q&A session. August’s DMR Open Hour will focus on DMR’s new TMRP and CMMT solicitations.
Pre-register for the DMR Open Hour here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
| |
Office Hours: Intro to America’s Seed Fund at NSF | |
|
1-2 p.m.
August 31
Join this question-and-answer session to learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation. A Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program director will answer questions about how to get started, the basics of eligibility and what they look for when they review project pitches.
The next office hours session is on August 31, but a session will take place every two Thursdays through December 14.
Register here.
| |
MCB Virtual Office Hour: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology | |
|
1-2 p.m.
September 13
Join the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, or MCB, at the National Science Foundation for our next virtual office hour. The topic will be Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology. Program Directors will be present to address your questions.
Please register to attend.
| |
|
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
September 13-14
The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, or IOS, within NSF’s Directorate for Biological Sciences, or BIO, invites postdoctoral researchers supported by IOS grants to our virtual colloquium “From Postdoc to Principal Investigator.”
This two-day virtual colloquium will highlight the scientific research and broader impacts of postdocs supported by IOS and provide key insights on funding and proposal preparation topics relevant to IOS-funded postdocs as they plan their career transition to beginning principal investigators. Each day will also include opportunities to engage with NSF Program Directors in Q&A breakout sessions.
Register for the colloquium today!
| |
U.S.-Japan Brain Research Cooperative Program (BRCP) | |
|
NIH is pleased to announce the release of the following Notice of Special Interest as part of the National Institutes of Health continuation of the U.S. entity of the U.S.-Japan Brain Research Cooperative Program, or BRCP.
The U.S.-Japan BRCP promotes scientist exchange, training, and research collaborations between neuroscientists from the U.S. and Japan. This administrative supplement program provides funds to currently active research grants that are supported by one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Application due date – 5 p.m., September 18.
For inquiries and additional information, please visit https://www.ninds.nih.gov/us-japan-brcp.
| |
|
September 27-28
The George Washington University in Washington D.C.
The 2023 AI4SE/SE4AI Workshop will be held September 27-28 at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
The rapid development of AI presents both tremendous opportunities and inherent risks. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, it becomes crucial to strike a delicate balance between seizing the potential benefits and addressing the potential risks. The conference theme, “Balancing Opportunity and Risk: The Systems Engineer’s Role in the Rapid Advancement of AI-Based Systems,” aims to foster discussions and insights on the responsible deployment of AI in systems engineering and how systems engineering can support the development of robust and ethical AI systems.
The deadline to register is September 12.
For more information and to register, visit the workshop website.
| |
|
October 12-13, 2023
Denver, Colorado
Calling all land-grant colleagues!
Join the Northcentral Region Water Network in Denver, Colorado to discuss how we can work together across institutions to address vulnerability associated with climate change, protect and restore our waters for future generations, and advance culturally rich and sustainable food systems and food sovereignty.
The North Central Region Water Network, The First American Land-Grant Consortium, or FALCON, and partners from across the North Central Region are excited to host a workshop for 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant colleagues working on climate and water-related issues.
This in-person workshop will be held ahead of the FALCON Annual Conference, starting mid-day on October 12 and ending at 1 p.m. on October 13 in Downtown Denver, Colorado.
Together, we will create actionable recommendations to improve collaborations among land-grant institutions in ways that will increase our ability to provide climate and water programming in equitable and just ways with a focus on serving Black and Indigenous communities.
Learn more.
| |
Defense TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo 2023 | |
|
November 28-30
Gaylord National Harbor in Washington D.C.
This is our 12th annual program, bringing together defense, private industry, federal agencies, and academic leadership to accelerate applications for state-of-the-art technology solutions. Our unique Innovation Partner packages for Defense TechConnect 2023 offers exceptional networking, showcase, pitch, and expo opportunities for your organization. By participating, you will have the chance to be front and center at one of the largest dedicated emerging tech and innovation matchmaking conferences of the year. Become a TechConnect Innovation Partner!
In addition to Defense TechConnect 2023, we are co-locating two conferences - SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation and Smart Cities 2023. This collaboration will provide a unique opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange.
Save the date and mark your calendars for this premier event! Already prepared to apply? Go ahead and submit your technology applications.
| |
Agency news and trending topics | |
|
Nearly 700,000 people in the United States die from heart disease every year, and one-third of those deaths result from complications in the first weeks or months following a traumatic heart-related event. To help prevent those deaths, U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers at Northwestern and George Washington universities have developed a new device to monitor and treat heart disease and dysfunction in the days, weeks or months following such events. And, after the device is no longer needed, it harmlessly dissolves inside the body, bypassing the need for extraction. NSF
For about two decades, a team of scientists has been studying and categorizing a special type of mushroom: Hebelomas. But identifying this genus of fungus is extremely difficult. As Pete Bartlett, one of the veteran researchers on the Hebeloma Project, explains, the tiny sprouts have a reputation as “little, little brown mushrooms” that you probably should avoid eating. Often found in woodlands, different species of Hebeloma—there are more than 100 known species, and they’ve been found in more than 50 countries—can look remarkably similar. Smithsonian Magazine
COVID-19 boosts risks of health problems 2 years later, giant study of veterans says
Three-and-a-half years since SARS-CoV-2 spread around the world, scientists are still documenting the virus’ myriad effects on human health. What’s clear already is that those effects can continue long beyond the original infection. Three-and-a-half years since SARS-CoV-2 spread around the world, scientists are still documenting the virus’ myriad effects on human health. What’s clear already is that those effects can continue long beyond the original infection. Science
In the industrial world, Boston Dynamics's robot dog, Spot, performs inspections at construction and manufacturing sites as well as facilities such as oil rigs and nuclear plants, all potentially dangerous operations for humans. Robots are becoming a more integral part of the fabric of society. But how will people react when robots are walking down our sidewalks and sharing our parks? This is one of the many questions researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are tackling as they study what happens when humans and robots interact in everyday life. NSF
| |
|
k-state.edu/research
researchweekly@k-state.edu
785.532.5110
| | | | |
