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NSF Major Research Instrumentation

Faculty interested in this grant mechanism should let OARS know of your interest, since the number of institutional proposals is limited. From OARS:

The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation.

NSF is currently revising guidelines for this program, which may affect the number of proposals Miami University can submit. Historically, however, we have been allowed to submit up to 3 MRI proposals (at least 1 of which must be for instrument development and no more than 2 for instrument acquisition) on which we are either the lead or a partner institution. To facilitate the selection of our submissions to NSF, we have set a deadline of Monday, October 2, 2017 to receive preliminary MRI proposals for internal review. You are required to provide a preliminary proposal regardless of whether you were selected as an institutional submission in previous years.

To be considered as an institutional submission, please email a preliminary proposal to
Anne Schauer, including a cover page giving title, PIs and departments, amount, and list of instrumentation.  The Project Description should address both the scientific merit and broader impacts (3 pgs.). You should describe the proposed major research instrumentation, the type of research or research training to be conducted, the activities and projects that would result from this instrumentation, and how students will be involved and how their education will be enhanced through this instrumentation.

Direct any questions to Anne Schauer.

Seeking CPI associates for fall

Do you have RAs, advisees, or other notable undergraduates that would work well as CPI associates? Contact Christina Fitzpatrick; she writes:

The Center for Psychological Inquiry (CPI) is looking to recruit talented students to become CPI associates. CPI associates sign up for 1 credit hour of independent study and assist other students with homework and general questions. If you have any current or previous students that you think will be interested in this opportunity please email Christina Fitzpatrick.

Graduate seminar on diversity in STEM

In the fall, Joyce Fernandes (BIO) will be offering a graduate seminar on “Broadening participation in STEM–what it means, and why it matters in higher education.” Beyond the inherent benefits in bringing more diverse perspectives to bear on a problem, Joyce writes:

Funding agencies want scientists and educators to demonstrate their approaches to include diverse groups of students and other participants with an immediate goal of inclusion, and an ultimate goal of a diversified workforce. What can you do as a scientist and/educator to contribute to this ongoing effort of broadening participation in STEM, in your current practices or in the near future?  [Participants will] read literature, engage in mini-projects (boots on the ground), and reach a more “energetically favorable” place than where we started, both collectively and individually.

My overall goal for this seminar is to provide a space and the experience for graduate students to explore the scope of Broadening Participation in STEM by reading and discussing literature on this topic. How do these ideas impact your own roles as scientists and educators? What can you bring to the table based on your own experiences?  We will also interact with [undergraduate] students who are enrolled in programs which have goals of broadening participation.

Mid-course evaluations

The Senate CTE committee has published a white paper endorsing the use of mid-course evaluations. This has also been emphasized during P&T and other reviews in terms of “multiple measures.” Perhaps we can discuss whether and how to work towards a process where faculty are more systematically reviewed internally and through SGIDs, etc. The link provides information in the sidebar on processes, examples, and more. From CTE:

Midcourse evaluation is another powerful assessment tool for faculty at Miami. In 2017, the Center for Teaching Excellence Senate Committee  detailed recommendations for the use of midcourse evaluation processes at Miami University. In addition to the endorsement of midcourse evaluations, the paper also contains suggested readings and example tools.

Department flyer

Each year, Jason Barone (CAS communications) produces flyers for each department. These are targeted at prospective and incoming students, and used by CAS advising for students indicating an interest in changing/adding majors. Vaishali worked with Jason to update the flyer, which can be found here. Feel free to use as you see fit.

Is my “basic” research really a clinical trial?

Many of you may be following this through your professional societies, but if not this is an important change in federal policy that could potentially impact even “basic” research. The policy went into effect January 1 and is currently active. The following summary is from FABBS:

The new NIH policy on clinical trials potentially includes a good bit of basic science research. According to the policy, a clinical trial is “a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes.” The policy requires registration of the research and results as well as good clinical practice training for investigators. It also affects funding opportunities and review of grant applications. There are criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance. Additional information can be found on the NIH blog here.

FABBS and other scientific societies are expressing their concerns over this broad definition/policy, but their objections do not seem to have gained much traction. They have created this site to compile information and resources. I will provide updates as I hear of them through FABBS; Robin Thomas is also her society’s FABBS contact and may have more information. Josh Magee also points out that the NIH provides examples to help one determine whether their research is included.

E-book trial offerings

The libraries have acquired a one-year free trial to several e-books from Taylor & Francis; the list can be found here. The library will use usage statistics and faculty/student feedback to determine which titles to retain after the trial period. If you find a title of interest and would like to have permanent access, please let Anna Liss (our departmental librarian) know by the end of the upcoming academic year. Note that more frequent access, printing, etc. of a title will also advantage that title in the libraries’ deliberation.