In this issue

Research highlights  |  Innovation spotlight  |  New awards
Unsung heroes  |  Faculty kudos  |  Recognition roundup
Research development  |  Nuts & bolts  |  Events

“These three researchers have demonstrated true excellence in their fields and have done so in a way that reflects well on our entire university. As one of the nation’s leading research institutions, KU strives to make discoveries that change the world — and these three scholars are helping us fulfill that mission every day,” Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said.

Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering, combines engineering and social sciences to combat natural disasters.

The fellowship recognizes Jennifer Raff's work on the history of human populations through sequencing the genomes of contemporary people and their ancestors. It will allow her to work on her second book, a follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, "Origins: A Genetic History of the Americas."

Research has shown that people repress expressions of anger in public, fearing a loss of control over who receives the message. But a recent study yielded a different result. "If somebody felt angry, and they were expressing themselves about politics in a public setting, they were very willing to express that anger." 

Wendy Holman, education program coordinator at the KU Field Station, is partnering with colleagues on efforts to save one of the most endangered mammals in North America that were twice thought to be extinct

Sustainable engineering startup Icorium Engineering Company, a KU spinout company, placed fifth overall and won more than $180,000 in prizes at the prestigious Rice Business Plan Competition. The competition gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company.

World Intellectual Property Day, observed annually on April 26, was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2000 as to acknowledge the critical role that intellectual property plays in encouraging innovation and creativity:

KU patents by the numbers
The KU Center for Technology Commercialization plays a key role in helping protect IP developed by our researchers and assisting with translating that IP into services and products that benefit society. Our commitment to this cause is reflected in the robust patent activity of our inventors, marking KU’s significant contribution to the innovative ecosystem:

As we commemorate World Intellectual Property Day, join us in celebrating the innovators among us who strive to push the boundaries of what is possible.

KU researchers are exploring the potential of solar arrays to diversify farm income, conducting a Title V maternal health needs assessment, studying family-based genetics for specific language impairments, promoting safe and supportive schools, and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in March.

Behind every successful award are teams of KU research development and administration staff who help investigators identify opportunities, prepare and submit complicated proposals under strict deadlines, and then help manage finances and compliance for funded projects. They are the unsung heroes of KU research, greasing the wheels of innovation and discovery.

In each issue of KU Discoveries, we shine a spotlight on a staff member deemed particularly outstanding by colleagues. Click the button below this month's story to nominate a deserving candidate from any unit on campus.

Nishon Hawkins | Library Manager | KU Libraries  

Researchers often turn to libraries to access books, journals, microfilm and other academic materials. Nishon Hawkins helps researchers obtain items that are especially difficult to find.

Hawkins is a library manager and has worked in the KU Libraries for 20 years. She runs the interlibrary loan program, which allows students, faculty and staff to request items that KU Libraries does not have in its collections.

“She is always driven toward the best work for her team and how it translates in service to patrons,” said Angie Rathmel, associate librarian and head of acquisitions & resource sharing.

When a researcher needs materials that are not housed in KU Libraries but are available in other institutions’ repositories, the libraries can temporarily loan these items between themselves through cooperative agreements. Hawkins and her team coordinate with colleagues at other institutions in these exchanges.

“In the day-to-day, there are practical, routine processes that she facilitates, as well as highly complex parts moving in multiple different directions," Rathmel said. "She understands every single one of these expertly and how they can work most efficiently — not just with technology but with the people she works with."

The interlibrary loan team’s work became especially important to KU researchers during the travel restrictions of the pandemic. Misty Schieberle, professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of English, needed access to hundreds of late medieval wills and deeds for her investigation of the life of a famous poet. The original documents were only available in London, but four microfilm copies are housed in American institutions. Hawkins and her team helped locate those microfilms and ensured Schieberle had what she needed for her work.

“Her tireless efforts allowed me to find over a dozen new documents illuminating the life of a famous medieval poet and to trace bequests from wealthy London merchants to underemployed students and priests that had not been recognized before. These discoveries are now published in a top journal in my field and in a collection of essays on archival sources,” Schieberle said. “Nishon quite literally made these discoveries and my articles possible.”

Congratulations to all the researchers honored as 2023-24 University Research Awards recipients! Watch videos played during the April 11 award ceremony to learn more about the researchers, what motivates their work, and the impacts they hope to have on the world.

INTERNAL FUNDING

New Faculty Research Development Awards are designed to help new faculty accelerate their scholarship and start building a sustainable research program soon after their arrival on campus.  
  
Congratulations to the spring 2024 recipients: 

Amount: Up to $8K (Option 1) / Up to $20K (Option 2)
Deadlines: Oct. 1 + March 1

Whether you're looking to increase student and faculty inclusion, success and retention in your discipline; investigate DEI-related topics in your research; or discover fellowship and career development opportunities for minoritized faculty and students, there are funding mechanisms available to support your goals.  
 
Resources on the Office of Research website can help you find them. Visit the Funding for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Research and Higher Education section to explore opportunities.  
 
You'll find links to NIH Diversity-Related Funding Opportunity Announcements and to a curated list in Pivot (online funding database) that provides a sampling of available DEI funding opportunities. As always, you will want to check deadlines and eligibility criteria before pursuing an opportunity.

GENERAL

Beginning May 20, all National Science Foundation proposals that include fieldwork must include a Safe & Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) plan.

In order to meet this requirement, PIs are encouraged to visit KU's SAIF web portal for assistance with developing a compliant plan. All investigators who engage in off-campus research will be encouraged to create SAIF plans, even if they are proposing to sponsors that don't yet require such plans to be included in proposals.

This informative video is a great place to start learning more about the resources that are available.

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

Effective April 1, Award Management Services shifted some Principal Investigator assignments. The Post-Award Staff Assignments webpage has been updated with these changes. Scroll down to Award Management Services to view the assignments table, which can be searched by PI name.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Although training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research has been required for several years for trainees on all NSF-sponsored projects and NIH training awards, NSF recently expanded this requirement to include PIs, co-PIs and other senior personnel. This requirement applies to all projects proposed after July 31, 2023, and must include mentor training.

KU has adopted an online training module developed by CITI  to meet this requirement. More information about this requirement and instructions for completing the CITI course are available on KU's RCR webpage.

Agency requirements are evolving, and we will actively communicate changes as they occur. 

The Office of Faculty Affairs is excited to announce KU Faculty Development Academies — day-long intensives, focused on a particular topic, giving faculty time to delve deep and develop a core capacity in a chosen area. Participants are welcome to register for as many dates as they'd like.

Creating Public Impact with Your Research
May 13 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Global Engagement
May 14 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Academic Leadership
May 15 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Graduate Student Mentorship
May 16 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Writing to Publish
May 17 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Given that randomized control trials (RCTs) are one powerful driver of policy change and investment, this presentation is geared toward researchers integrating critical frameworks that honor the knowledge and values of the community while pursuing rigorous causal evidence that matters. Presenters will examine when RCTs are the most appropriate method to use to answer questions of interest and how they can be augmented with several practices. The goal of the presentation is to engage in an open discussion on how to be better and more equitable researchers. 

More Intentional Randomized Control Trials:
Centering Equity and Specifically Race
Thursday, May 16 | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Register on Zoom

This event is presented by KU's Center for Educational Opportunity Programs with funding from the Achievement & Assessment Institute, Office of Research, and Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.

Questions? Comments? Content suggestions?
Mindie Paget  |  Office of Research  |  mpaget@ku.edu

KU Office of Research
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Lawrence, KS 66045
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