UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COUNCIL
DR. GEORGE E. KLINZING, CHAIR
MINUTES -- JANUARY 10, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 2:36 p.m.

ANTICIPATED CHANGES IN NIH GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT

Edward Stricker from the Department of Neuroscience began his report to Council with a briefing on a 1999 report issued by the National Academy of Sciences on manpower needs. Findings indicated that PhDs in the biosciences were being generated at a higher rate than the economy could absorb.

The National Institutes of Health are expected to issue a formal response to this report by the end of this calendar year. It is foreseen that the NIH will recommend that academia change its policies regarding graduate admissions. One remedy that is being considered is a standardization of student stipends -- raising the graduate student stipend to $25,000 and the postdoctoral student stipend to approximately $45,000. Another remedy being considered is placement of a limit on the number of students on research grants and the number of years that students can be supported by research grants.

These changes will have a huge effect on how the University conducts its business. The concern now for all institutions of higher learning is when and how this change will be implemented.

Klinzing will contact University Governmental Relations regarding lobbying on this topic.

MINUTES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

No changes were requested to the minutes of the December 13, 2001 meeting.

  • Group travel rates to Washington, D.C. are available through Pittsburgh Transportation. Vince Johns is working on formalization of the rates.
  • A grantspersonship workshop will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2002 as part of the Survival Skills and Ethics Workshop series.

FY03 CENTRAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUND (CRDF) -- SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

Klinzing selected members of Council to serve as chairs of the subcommittees reviewing proposal submisstions. Assignments are as follows:

Health Sciences - Ness
Science & Engineering - Robertson
Social Sciences & Humanities - Gruver

FACULTY ASSISTANCE

Klinzing reported that he will arrange another federal agency briefing sometime this semester. Faculty from Duquesne University are interested in attending this briefing as well.

COPYRIGHT POLICY REVISION

Ashley reported that this subcommittee will be reviewing the proposed revisions and will discuss their recommendations at the next URC meeting.

PATENT RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER POLICY REVISION

Klinzing reported that this subcommittee will be meeting shortly.

BRAINSTORMING

Tipper reported that this group will be meeting at the conclusion of full Council.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH -- MICHAEL CROUCH

  • One grants officer is currently in training.
  • The FY02 NIH funding budget was signed into law on December 20, 2001. Of particular note, the salary cap was not changed.

NEW BUSINESS

Kerr directed Council's attention to a memo she received regarding cross collaboration. Kerr will send a copy of the document to Klinzing for transmittal to members of Council.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:31 p.m. The remainder of the scheduled meeting time was devoted to subcommittee meetings.

 

cc: Elizabeth Baranger, N. John Cooper, Gerald Holder