Hello, USF Family, my name is Diane S. Allen-Gipson, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy, and the chair for the USF Faculty Research Council (2021-2022). Our leadership includes the Chair-Elect, Dr. John Adams who will serve as Chair in the 2022-2023 AY. The Research Council (RC) serves to advise on matters of policies and procedures intended to promote growth, excellence, and integrity in research and scholarly activities at USF and university’s communities and partners. The RC also recommends and advises the President, the Vice President for Research, and other administrators across USF as it relates to enhancing and promoting USF’s research enterprise and innovations.
I would like to take this time to let you know about some of the accomplishments and activities of the RC thus far. In September 2021, the RC had the opportunity to be part of the Advisory Search Committee for the interim Vice President (VP) of Research and Innovation. The RC had the opportunity to review many talented internal candidates who shared the vision and dedication to enhance and promote USF research, creativity, scholarly activities, and innovation between the university and our external partners and communities.
Dr. Sylvia Thomas, Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering and former Assistant Dean for the College of Engineering now serves as the Interim VP for USF Research and Innovation (USFRI). The RC is excited to be working with her and the Office of Research to advise and provide solutions on matters regarding research infrastructures (physical and administrative) including but not limited to: research core facilities, laboratory space, shared-use facilities, as well as areas relating to Sponsor Research, patents and licensing and maintaining research integrity and compliance.
The Council has also been busy updating the council charge and bylaws to reflect the consolidation of the three USF campuses; these changes were approved by the Faculty Senate.
We have already had several USF stakeholders attend our meetings who provided insights into the vast amount of research initiatives, and resources that are available to faculty, students, staff, and the USF community. The RC was able to provide recommendations and suggestions to enhance or support our research family here at USF as well as our national, international, and global partners. The following guests presented resources and sought feedback from the Research Council:
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Dr. Kiki Caruson, Interim Vice President for USF World presented the Global Research Toolkit which is an online platform that educates and informs members of the research community on how to develop, implement and sustain a successful international research ecosystem.
- Mr. Eric Kern, Director of Sponsor Research, who provided updates on @Yourservice Sponsor Research Initiative, which is designed to improve working relationships with Office of Sponsored Research and the USF community.
- Ms. Angela Badell, Director and Sr. HR Business Partner, and Mr. Michel Ferrell, Associate Director and Sr. HR Partner, who were members of the screening subcommittee on the Foreign Influence Bill, HB7017. This bill was enacted in December 2021 which would potentially impact the research-related hiring of researchers and/or research support positions. The RC will continue to find mechanisms to promote research productivity due to the implementation of this bill.
- Dr. Sylvia Thomas, Interim Vice President of Research and Innovation, shared her first 45 days of VPR activities and goals to build trust, accountability, and operational excellence in support of our research mission. Dr. Thomas shared the Office of Research plans to diversify revenue streams, support seed grants/proposal development, and work in partnership with RC.
- Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, Senior Advisor to the President and Provost for Diversity
and Inclusion, provided insights on how important it is to move away from traditional
viewpoints to a more holistic approach is central in promoting diversity and inclusion
within our USF community, that would be reflective in both research funding and award
recognitions. The RC agreed that data-informed approaches may help identify areas
of discrepancies and potentially the lack of the broader impact within the individual
units or colleges.
- As a follow up to this discussion, we plan to work cooperatively with the Council on Racial Justice, USF Human Resources, and the DEI Office to foster and develop initiatives and best practices that would support USF’s commitment to research equity by recognizing the achievements of diverse groups and the breadth of individuals research and creative activities within USF.
The RC is getting ready for our second cycle of internal seed grant reviews.
- Conference and Faculty International Travel Grant applications due January 24, 2022
- New Researcher and Creative Scholarship Grant applications due February 28, 2022
- Enhancement Grant applications due March 14, 2022
The RC is comprised of members from representatives in the various units and colleges. We would continue to encourage interdisciplinary research and creative activities among departments and colleges. We welcome new members to serve and to be part of the research progression of One USF.
#Research Councils; #USFRI, #Research Diversity; # Research Equity; #USF Global Research; # Foreign Influence HB7071; # Research Compliance; #USF Connect; #USF Research Foundation; #USF Research Park; #One USF