What's Happening in CoSE

Congrats, Randy Bowen!


Randy, a senior lecturer in the mathematics and statistics department, was one of the December 2023 Be a Bengal Award nominees for exemplifying compassion.


Each month, employees are nominated for their dedication to one of ISU's guiding principles - trust, compassion, stability, and hope.

Seats Available at CoSE's An Opportuni-Tea Table


CoSE is sponsoring a table at the 14th Annual An Opportuni-Tea fundraiser for the University Honors Program on Saturday, April 6, from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center.


Currently, we have 7 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in attending, email Logan McDougall at [email protected] and include if you will be bringing a guest.


Funds raised at An Opportuni-Tea support student scholarships, research, additional UHP programming, seminars, and courses.

ISU Utilizing New Chemical Inventory System


Idaho State University is now using CampusOptics for chemical inventory management. Existing inventories have been transferred to the new system.


To ensure that chemical inventories are current and accurate, the EHSS department is asking that all individuals responsible for chemical inventory management start working on inventory verifications in CampusOptics. Information on how to use CampusOptics is available on the EHSS website, and EHSS can provide training as needed. 


For assistance entering or verifying your inventory in CampusOptics, please contact EHSS at [email protected] or (208) 282-2310. 

Google Storage Limit Changes and Action Steps for Faculty and Staff


Due to changes in Google's approach to digital data storage associated with education subscriptions, it has become necessary for ISU to implement updated data storage limits. Specifically, Google will no longer provide unlimited data storage as part of their education service agreements without universities incurring substantial costs. Meaning that our costs will continue to rise as our storage usage increases.


As a result, every Google account at ISU will be subject to new data limits for electronic storage space. This includes Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive, along with some Google Workspace applications. The new Google storage limits will vary depending on your role at ISU. Every account holder or manager will need to consider options for transferring or deleting files if they are over their data limit. Resources such as IT support, information forums, and ISU’s Google Storage Limits webpage are available to assist with this process.  

Annual Dean Feedback Survey Open


Each year, the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs completes an annual evaluation of Deans. The feedback collected in this survey will provide information for consideration in these annual performance evaluations. This survey should take about ten minutes to complete. With the exception of the verbatim comments at the end of the survey that will be shared with the Deans, all information will remain confidential. Only aggregate data will be shared with the Dean being evaluated. This survey is completely anonymous AND will not track any identifying information.

Applications Sought for Idaho Science and Technology Fellowship


Candidates are being sought for this coming year's Idaho Science and Technology Policy Fellowship.


ISTPF is a nonpartisan program that places terminal degree-holders in the sciences, social sciences, and engineering in year-long funded fellowships in Idaho state government. ISU has partnered with BSU and UI for five years on this important initiative, and we would like to place a Bengal as a fellow this coming year. This program is a rare opportunity to strengthen the connection between policy and academic research, while giving researchers a unique opportunity for professional development. The 2024-2025 applications close on March 29. Dr. Sarah Robey is ISU's representative on the ISTPF leadership team. Interested faculty, supervisors, or students can reach out to her with any questions about the fellowship, or to schedule a time to meet. (208) 282-5675 or [email protected].

Submission Deadlines for the Research & Creative Works Symposium Announced


The ISU Research and Creative Works Symposium will take place on March 13, a Wednesday, at the Pond Student Union Building. Organizers welcome presentations of scholarly or creative work from all graduate and undergraduate students. Students have two options for presenting: a poster session with a two-minute "elevator" speech, or a 10-minute oral presentation (with slides). For students who are not at the Pocatello Campus but would like to give an oral presentation, there will be an online Zoom option available. 


The priority deadline for abstract submissions is February 21. After this date, categories that still have openings will accept submissions for an additional week, with a final deadline of February 28.  

DOE Seeks Applicants for Graduate Student Research Program


The Department of Energy's Office of Science has announced that its Graduate Student Research program is accepting applications for the 2024 Solicitation 1.


The program supports supplemental awards for outstanding U.S. graduate students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE national laboratory or facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist for three to 12 consecutive months. The goal is to prepare graduate students for scientific and technical careers critically important to DOE's mission.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1.

Position Announcement: Institutional Biosafety Committee Chair


The position of chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is open for applications.


The term of the chair is for at least one year, and they may be reappointed. Although the IBC does not currently meet in the summer, the chair must be available for IBC-related business during the summer months. Compensation will be determined in consultation with the Office for Research and the individual's department chair and college dean, in an effort to meet the needs of the position and balance workload. The IBC Chair has the responsibility for overseeing the coordination and implementation of effective, efficient systems for biosafety protocol review by the IBC, in compliance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) advisory document and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules.

EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities


The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) team is excited to announce the second EPSCoR Live! event (formerly known as EPSCoR Office Hours) of 2024 will be held Tuesday, February 20, from 4 to 5 p.m. (EST). In this session, Dr. Pinhas Ben-Tzvi will discuss EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities, which supports workshops in eligible jurisdictions that focus on topics of regional or national importance, and which are relevant to building EPSCoR jurisdictions’ R&D capacity. EPSCoR Program Officers will also facilitate a Q&A session related to this funding opportunity.

ISU Center for Ecological Research and Education Issues Requests for Proposals


Idaho State University's Center for Ecological Research and Education is seeking a pair of proposals for this year's small grants program.


One focuses on research and synergistic activities, and the second focuses on supporting partnerships and our broader community.


The deadline for priority consideration is Monday, February 19.

CAES Accepting Applications for Collaboration Funds, Summer Visiting Faculty Programs


Applications are now being accepted for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies' Collaboration Funds and Summer Visiting Faculty programs. CAES Collaboration Funds provide funding to projects where INL researchers serve as the principal investigators in collaboration with faculty members from the CAES universities. Meanwhile, the CAES Visiting Faculty program provides funding to projects where the principal investigators are CAES university faculty.


Successful applicants in both programs will demonstrate how their proposal would enhance collaborative relationships among the CAES entities, with priority given to projects focusing on S&T strategic initiatives and/or CAES focus areas (advanced manufacturing, energy storage/transfer, and critical materials/geothermal).


For questions, reach out to Jessica Ward or Mustafa Mashal. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (MST) on March 8.

CoSE Chairs and Directors Meeting Minutes 


January 30, 2024

January 16, 2024

December 5, 2023

October 24, 2023

September 19, 2023

August 29, 2023

From Around ISU

Army ROTC’s "Stuff Our Rucks for Benny’s Pantry" Makes a Huge Impact


If you visited Fred Meyer on the first weekend in February, you may have seen some ISU Army ROTC students standing at the grocery entrance asking you to “stuff their rucks” to benefit Benny’s Pantry.


In that time, they received over 1,000 pounds of physical donations, including 369 pounds of canned goods, 83 pounds of peanut butter, 201 pounds of pasta, rice, flour, and sugar, 17 pounds of oil, 109 pounds of dry goods, 29 pounds of water, 15 pounds of detergent, 174 rolls of toilet paper, 25 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and 12 tubes of toothpaste.

Staff Council To Host Staff Appreciation Lunch During Staff Appreciation Week


Aloha! It’s time to get ready for this year’s Staff Appreciation Luncheon - Hawaiian theme! Each year, Staff Council is excited to host the Staff Appreciation Luncheon for all our campus locations. Please be sure to join us to help honor and celebrate our amazing staff. Save the date for the following locations.


  • Twin Falls: Mar. 26
  • Meridian: Mar. 26
  • Idaho Falls: Mar. 27
  • Anchorage: Mar. 28
  • Pocatello: Mar. 29


For questions and more information, please contact Jena Lords at [email protected]

Be the Match Registry Event Feb. 20 and 21


Every year, 18,000 patients are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or other blood disorders that could be cured or treated with a blood stem cell transplant. But 70% of them don't have a fully matched donor in their family. They depend on the National Marrow Donor Program to find an unrelated donor.


The ISU Student Nursing Association is sponsoring a Be the Match bone marrow and stem cell registry recruitment event at the PSUB on February 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Your healthy blood stem cells may be a patient's best or only hope for a cure. Help cancer patients get a lifesaving cure!

Volunteers Needed for Bengal Visit Day on April 20


Bengal Visit Day is one of our largest on-campus recruitment events. Whether you are meeting one-on-one with students in your departments/programs, hosting breakout sessions about the great things our campus offers, showing off our amazing clubs/organizations, or just a spirited volunteer ready to jump in and help, all of you play an important role in shaping our future students' experience here at ISU.

Lunch and Learn: Emotional Intelligence Workshop


We are excited to invite you to our Lunch and Learn: Emotional Intelligence Workshop with Dr. Cherisse Brown.


The workshop will be held Wednesday, February 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:


  • Pocatello Campus: Rendezvous Suites (ABC) 
  • Idaho Falls Campus: Room 120 in the Bennion Student Union Building (BSUB)
  • Meridian Campus: Bengal Conference Room 847W (inside the Nursing Dept.)


A zoom option will also be provided.

Upcoming Legal Training: Conflict of Interest The Office of General Counsel would like to invite all employees to a training session on Conflict of Interest.


  • Date: February 23
  • Time: 11 - 11:45 a.m.
  • Location: Zoom


To participate, please sign up online. After signing up, you will receive a calendar invite with access to the Zoom link.

Dates to Remember

February 19

Early 8-week course grading opens

February 19

Presidents' Day holiday (no classes)

February 26

Mid-term week

March 4

Late 8-week courses begin

March 5

Early 8-week course grading closes at 5:00 pm

March 18

Spring Break (no classes)

April 22

Late 8-week and full semester course grading opens

April 29

Final Examinations

Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering 

For a complete list of CoSE events, check out the College Event Calendar. Updates can also be found on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. To add events to the calendar, please contact the Administrative Assistants in your department. The university-wide calendar of events is available here.

Department/Program


Geosciences


Event


Colloquium: Consequences for carbon and nutrient transport and fate in northern streams affected by peat extraction and permafrost thaw


Becca Frei


Details


Wed, Feb 21

4 - 5 p.m.

Department/Program


ALL


Event


Bengal STEM Day


Details


Thurs, Feb 22

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

PSUB

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Biology Social


Details


Thurs, Feb 22

3:30 - 4 p.m.

GLS Lobby

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Seminar: Using Photographic Exhibits for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation


Charles Peterson


Details


Thurs, Feb 22

4 - 5 p.m.

LC 10

Department/Program


Geosciences


Event


Colloquium: Back from the dead: Unveiling an enigmatic new species from Western New York


Phil Stokes


Details


Wed, Feb 28

4 - 5 p.m.

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Biology Social


Details


Thurs, Feb 29

3:30 - 4 p.m.

GLS Lobby

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Seminar: Monitoring the Condition of Sagebrush Steppe


Kristin Kaser


Details


Thurs, Feb 22

4 - 5 p.m.

LC 10

Department/Program


Chemistry


Event


Seminar


Kourtney Wright


Details


Fri, Mar 1

1 - 1:50 p.m.

TBD

Department/Program


Geosciences


Event


Colloquium: Graduate Presentations


Robert Manta and Maria Reinoso


Details


Wed, Mar 6

4 - 5 p.m.

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Biology Social


Details


Thurs, Mar 7

3:30 - 4 p.m.

GLS Lobby

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


ISU Biology Alumni Panel


Details


Thurs, Mar 7

4 - 5 p.m.

LC 10

Department/Program


Geosciences


Event


Colloquium: Undergraduate Advising


Details


Wed, Mar 13

4 - 5 p.m.

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Biology Social


Details


Thurs, Mar 14

3:30 - 4 p.m.

GLS Lobby

Department/Program


Biological Sciences


Event


Seminar: TItle TBD


Tessa Solomon-Lane


Details


Thurs, Mar 14

4 - 5 p.m.

LC 10

Help Us Share Your Accomplishments!


Our College’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students achieve many notable research and professional accomplishments. In addition, our departments regularly have newsworthy advancements. We want to make sure those stories are shared publicly. Here are a few ways you can provide a news tip to help get the word out:

 

Use this Story Submission Form to send your news tip to the Office of Marketing and Communications.


Send an email to Logan McDougall ([email protected]) with a brief description of the news to be shared.


You are always welcome to create a draft story, submit it via the Story Submission Form, or send it to Logan. The Office of Marketing and Communications and Logan will coordinate to get the story finalized and distributed to the media outlets/platforms that best tell the story.

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