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Walter R. Tschinkel named the 2007-2008 Lawton Distinguished Professor
Walter R. Tschinkel has been named Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor—the highest honor bestowed by the FSU faculty on one of its own. Professor Tschinkel is an internationally respected expert on insect biology and is regarded as one of the greatest field naturalists ever. Tschinkel joined the FSU faculty in 1970 with a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley. Tschinkel's focus on fire ants culminated last year with his 723-page book titled "The Fire Ants." It has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction, and the New York Times praised Tschinkel for his work. To read more about Professor Tschinkel and his work, please visit: http://www.fsu.edu/indexTOFStory.html?lead.tschinkel Congratulations Professor Tschinkel!
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Advances for Externally-Funded Projects and Initiating Work without an Award: Do you know FSU’s policy and procedures?
If you are considering initiating work on a project before you receive an award, you need to be sure you are familiar with FSU’s policy on “Advances for Externally-Funded Projects and Initiating Work without an Award.” This policy, implemented May 1, 2006, establishes a means for faculty to obtain authorization to initiate work without a fully executed new award or amendment to an existing award. This policy was implemented to ensure the timely start-up or the uninterrupted continuation of externally-funded projects and to ensure that existing externally-funded projects are not used as a temporary funding source.
Advanced spending will not be allowed to be charged or transferred to the anticipated new or continuation project budget, or any other externally-funded sponsored projects, if faculty fail to obtain proper authorization. The full text of the policy can be viewed at: http://www.research.fsu.edu/contractsgrants/documents/advpolicy.pdf and the procedures can be viewed at : http://www.research.fsu.edu/contractsgrants/documents/advproc.pdf.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact Greg Thompson or Russell Lentz in Sponsored Research Services at 644-5260.
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4th Round Equipment Grants: Final Stage
The faculty review panel has made their recommendations for the fourth round of proposals. These are being reviewed by the Office of Research and the FSU Research Foundation. Official results will be announced to all applicants following the next scheduled FSURF Board meeting.
The next submission deadline for this program is scheduled for October 2007. Interested parties for the next round are invited to visit the program website at: www.research.fsu.edu/foundation/eieg.
If you have any questions about the EIEG program, please contact Eric McNair, Office of IP Development and Commercialization, at 644-3328 or emcnair@fsu.edu.
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Funding Opportunities
Click on the title above for some of the latest funding opportunities for disciplines throughout the campus.
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CRC and Cornerstone Updates
Workshops for New Assistant Professor Faculty
The Council on Research and Creativity (CRC) sponsored workshop for new assistant professor faculty (awarded 2006-2007) and others interested in learning about ways to generate external funding is scheduled for Thursday, May 3. The deadline for all respondents has passed. Copies of the presentations will be available on the CRC website following the May 3 event. See http://www.research.fsu.edu/crc/index.html.
A poster session for those first year assistant professors from 2005-2006 will be on display during the workshop’s lunch break period. Another workshop will be planned for next summer. Watch for announcements when plans are finalized.
Distinguished Research Professors for 2006-2007 were announced at the April Faculty Awards Program. Four awardees were selected this year and they are: Professors Thomas Joiner (Psychology), Mark Riley (Physics), Shridhar Sathe (Nutrition, Food & Exercise Science) and Mark Winegardner (English).
Developing Scholars for 2006-2007 were also announced at the same function. They are: Professors Gregory Erickson (Biological Science), Debra Fadool (Biological Science), Hong Li (Chemistry/Biochemistry), Peng Xiong (Physics) and Kun Yang (Physics).
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Industry Is Seeking FSU Technology: Inquiries from a Biomedical Consultant and Johnson and Johnson
The Office of IP Development and Commercialization has been contacted by representatives from Johnson and Johnson as well as a biomedical consultant seeking potential existing technology solutions at Florida State University for the following areas:
- Biomedical related:
- Diagnostic Biomarkers
- Optical Probes (Near infrared)
- Optical Contrast Media (OCM)
- Contrast Agent
- Johnson & Johnson (click here for a detailed wish list)
- Central Nervous System
- Immune Mediated Inflammatory Disease
- Pain/Epilepsy
- Oncology
- Metabolics
- Product Platforms
- Technology Platforms
- Combination Products
- Cardiovascular
If these areas are in line with your research and you feel you have something to offer, please contact Eric McNair, no later than May 9, at emcnair@techtrasfer.fsu.edu to discuss.
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Computer Equipment Purchased with Contracts and Grants Funds
Sponsored Research Services has received several contracts recently with language requiring that FSU certify to the funding agency that we will remove any information relative to the funded project from any computers associated with that project once the computer leaves FSU's control of the university.
FSU has a policy with instructions on how to "scrub" a computer. It is the responsibility of each department to "scrub" the hard drive of each computer before it goes to surplus. This is a reminder to all departments that this policy is in place and it is the ultimate responsibility of each department to make sure computers are scrubbed before going to surplus.
Please be aware that if this policy is not followed, there exists a high risk for the university relative to litigation regarding intellectual property, proprietary data and our relationships with our funding agencies. http://www.vpfa.fsu.edu/control/scrubbing.html
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Export Controlled Research at Florida State University
It is FSU's policy that, absent extraordinary circumstances, teaching, research, and service will be accomplished openly and without prohibitions or restrictions on the publication and dissemination of the results of academic and research activities. Certain federal regulations, however, may require the university to obtain permission from the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, or the Office of Foreign Assets Control before allowing foreign nationals to participate in research involving specific technologies or before sharing research information with persons who are not citizens of the United States or permanent resident aliens.
These export control regulations have the potential to limit the research opportunities of
University researchers and their students, affect publication rights, and prevent international collaboration in certain research areas. In addition, violations of these export control regulations can result in the loss of research contracts, monetary fines, or incarceration. The regulations do not apply, however, to information that is in the public domain or to information that is the result of fundamental research activities.
As a faculty member, there are several important items that must be considered related to export control prior to becoming the Principal Investigator for an extramurally funded project. Please note that your project should be reviewed periodically as the applicability of export control regulations could change based on the direction of the research, changes in the status of controlled information and technology or changes in the law and regulations. Any research activity may be subject to export controls if it involves the actual export or “deemed” export of any goods, technology, or related technical data that is either 1) “dual use” (commercial in nature with possible military application) or 2) inherently military in nature. Work in the following areas may bring your research activities under federal governmental oversight:
- Engineering
- Space sciences
- Computer Science
- Biomedical research with lasers
- Research with encrypted software
- Research with controlled chemicals, biological agents, and toxins.
In addition, any of the following raise export control questions for your project:
- Sponsor restrictions on the participation of foreign nationals in the research
- Sponsor restrictions on the publication or disclosure of the research results
- Indications from the sponsor or others that export-controlled information or technology
will be furnished for use in the research
- The physical export of controlled goods or technology is expected
For more information regarding this policy, please review the FSU Export Control Website at: http://www.research.fsu.edu/researchcompliance/exportcontrols.html
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Key Personnel in Sponsored Projects
Sponsored Research Services is seeing more and more awards come in with terms whereby we must get permission from the funding agency if there are personnel changes to anyone "named" in the proposal.
We recommend that you "name" specifically in your proposal only those people who are considered key personnel. It is reasonable for us to be required to obtain agency permission for changes to key personnel or changes in their effort. Absent extraordinary conditions, graduate students and technicians do not rise to the level of "key" personnel.
Often there are proposals where the graduate students are considered highly credentialed and considered by the PI to be "key" personnel indispensable to the project. In these situations, it is appropriate that they be named in the proposal if required by the funding agency.
Bottom line is: Do not "name" specifically in your proposal employees who have a higher risk of leaving the project or whose effort may change substantially on the project and for whom you do not wish to go back to the agency to get permission for these changes.
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Spring 2007 Business Basic Workshop a Success
The Office of Intellectual Property Development and Commercialization (OIPDC) held its semi-annual workshop on April 6, 2007, drawing 47 faculty and staff from FSU and FAMU and other interested people from the business community. The workshop was an encore presentation of “Business Basics for Entrepreneurs” and featured keynote speaker William J. Rossi, Associate Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Florida. It was generously co-sponsored by Florida A&M University, Innovation Park, the Leon County Economic Development Council, and the Tallahassee Technology Alliance.
The OIPDC holds workshops twice a year in the broad area of intellectual property for interested faculty, staff, and students. Past workshops have focused on patents, copyrights, trademarks, and employment agreements. We would like to hear from you about future topics that would be of interest to the FSU community. Please send your suggestions for the fall 2007 workshop to Jack Sams, Director of IP Licensing, 645-0048, jsams@techtransfer.fsu.edu or Eric McNair, Intellectual Property Manager, 644-3328, emcnair@fsu.edu
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