UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COUNCIL
DR. GEORGE E. KLINZING, CHAIR
MINUTES -- SEPTEMBER
27, 2001
The
meeting was called to order at 2:40
p.m.
MINUTES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
No
changes were requested to the minutes of the June 7, 2001 meeting.
- Videotape recordings of
three Office of the Provost sponsored workshops
were distributed at this year's New Faculty Orientation on August 23, 2001.
The topics covered on these tapes include: Writing Successful Research
Proposals, Writing Proposals for Foundations, and Successful University
Researchers.
- The Science 2001 Festival
was well attended and may be repeated next year.
GRADUATE STUDENT RECRUITMENT
Klinzing
and Tabakin met with Elizabeth Baranger and David Jasnow to determine if there is anything that should be
done centrally to improve graduate student recruitment. Council was invited to
provide suggestions on how to do this.
Beckman
mentioned the difficulty faced by the School of Engineering in
generating interest in graduate programs. Ashley commented on the large number
of applications that the Intelligent Systems program received from China. This
program would benefit from guidance in assessing such applications.
Klinzing
suggested that the new director of the Office of International Services be
invited to address the URC. Klinzing also suggested that Council work with the
University Council on Graduate Study regarding this issue.
SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM
Council
is to discuss changing the guidelines for the program to encourage the use of
graduate students at a future meeting.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Discussion
regarding Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Researcher salaries ensued.
Barrionuevo commented on a reported change in NIH grants -- in three years,
graduate student support will not be permitted. Klinzing will contact Jeanne
Stoner to alert the AAU institutions.
COMMITTEE CHARGE
Provost
Maher complimented Council on the progress made in targeted areas last year. He
asked URC members to continue work in:
- Improving the research
climate in fields that have not been as heavily involved in funded
research.
- Facilitating formation of
multidisciplinary teams.
- Updating technology
transfer policies as appropriate.
He
similarly requested that Council:
- Keep the Small Grants
Program running well and encourage more new faculty who need to learn the
means of securing external funding.
- Pay attention to policies
on copyright.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH -- MICHAEL CROUCH
The
Office of Research has been involved in several professional development
activities. Two teleconferences were held to educate research administration
staff in the areas of compliance and the responsible conduct of research.
The
2002 version of the Faculty and Staff Research Administration Viewbook (a grant assembly handbook) has been updated and
is availabe on the Office of Research Website.
Melanie
Schafmeister has been hired as a new grants officer.
Her responsibilities will be centered in the School of Medicine.
The
Office is working on testing of software for research administration.
GLOBAL STUDIES PROGRAM -- WOLFGANG SCHLÖR
The University Center for
International Studies (UCIS) has established a Global Academic Partnership
Program to facilitate interdisciplinary research and encourage research
linkages between Pitt and institutions abroad. Four grants will be awarded, up
to $25,000 each, for support of interdisciplinary workshop or conference
organization. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2001.
Information regarding the program may be obtained from UCIS.
NEW BUSINESS
Klinzing
requested help from Council in identifying hot topics in research.
The meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
cc:
Elizabeth Baranger, N. John Cooper, Gerald Holder