Message from Yvonne Harris, Ph.D., Associate Vice President
Welcome back to our third newsletter of the Spring 2023 semester. This edition of The LENS features a few new topics, while also reminding you of others. To start, the Spring IDEA Program Competition is fast approaching. The purpose of the Incentive for Developing External Awards (IDEA) program is to encourage individual faculty members to write a competitive grant proposal for external funding to further their research, scholarly, and/or creative activity at Sacramento State. More information, including Call for Application and FAQs, can be found further down.
Next up is a short announcement about Institutional Review Board (IRB), encouraging readers to take a look at the Spring 2023 IRB Newsletter for tips and guidance on how to get ready to conduct human subjects, or advise students who plan on conducting human subjects. Reading further, under Export Controls, you will find a list of sanctioned countries that can be either comprehensive or selective. For questions about the list, you can reach out to Leah Vargas, ORIED’s Export Control Officer.
The NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Indications of Interest Request moved their timeline forward to November of this year. This is great news but no time to ease up on your accelerator. Rather, it gives us more time to help faculty develop a ‘knock it out of the park’ competitive proposal. Reach out to ORIED now and let’s get to work.
Next, be sure to Save The Date and mark your calendars- There will be a proposal writing workshop in early June 2023. There will be a total of six online workshops: Program Proposals, Research Proposals, U.S. Department of Education and other Education Agencies, National Endowment for Humanities, National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Health. Read further under the Save the Date – Proposal Writing Workshops section to find out more details about these helpful workshops.
On March 1st, Sacramento State’s Office of Innovation & Technology Transfer Services officially launched their OITT website. OITT was formed with the mission of managing, protecting, and commercializing Sacramento State Intellectual Property (IP) to benefit California and the world; Educating faculty, staff, and students about IP, and encouraging them to invent, create, and innovate. Continue reading to find out more about OITT and what they have to offer. Recently, the Student Research Center hosted the Student Research & Creative Activity Spring Symposium on Monday, March 6th, as well as the awards ceremony that Friday, March 9th. The Student Research & Creative Activity Spring Symposium celebrates and recognizes the outstanding scholarly accomplishments of Sacramento State students. You can read more about it under the Spring 2023 Research and Creative Activity Symposium section of this newsletter. Not only did our students perform fabulously at the Symposium, but they also rocked it at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Student Competition in Reno. Continue through this newsletter to read the statistics as well as view pictures featuring the winning teams.
While we stand proudly with the accomplishments of our talented students, our teachers and faculty are right behind them to shine just as bright. The Associated Schools of Construction Regional Teaching Award was awarded to Assistant Professor, Dr. Atefeh Mohammadpour, from the Department of Construction Management in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. This award recognizes the faculty member’s contribution to construction education, excellence in teaching, service to the Associated Schools of Construction, and dedication to the construction profession. To add, Dr. Praveen Meduri, Dr. Milica Markovic, and Dr. Mohammed Eltayeb, along with a pair of part-time instructors, from the department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, were awarded a $600K NSF grant for “Project ACE: Active-learning (A) based Engineering Curriculum-transformation (C) for Excellence in Equity (E).” This research project investigates the effectiveness of project-based learning and course-based undergraduate research experiences to fill an important knowledge gap in the field of engineering epistemologies.
Finally, we have a few announcements regarding upcoming events: The 2023 Engineering and Science Exposition, Discussion, Discovery, and Disseminations (D3) Event, and Building Bridges to Use- Inspired Research and Science Informed Practices can all be located at the bottom of this newsletter. All information can be found attached to their respective sections.
| |
Spring IDEA Program CompetitionNow Accepting Applications for the Spring 2023 IDEA Program
The purpose of the Incentive for Developing External Awards (IDEA) program is to encourage individual faculty members to write a competitive grant proposal for external funding to further their research, scholarly, and/or creative activity at Sacramento State. To apply, faculty must identify one specific grant solicitation or a formal request for proposals to which they are interested in submitting a proposal. For this cycle, the grant's submission deadline must be between July 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024. This program is open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty, and lecturers with multi-year appointments of at least 0.5 time base. Applications may be submitted for individual or collaborative projects in which a faculty from Sac State is the project lead. IDEA awardees may choose to receive additional employment or professional development funds (amount dependent on total proposal budget) upon submission of the external grant proposal.
For more information, including the Call for Applications and FAQs, visit InfoReady Review. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 3.
| |
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Getting ready to conduct human subjects research, or advising students who will? Read the Spring 2023 IRB newsletter for tips and guidance.
| |
Export ControlsSanctions Programs can be either comprehensive or selective, using the blocking of assets and trade restrictions to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals. When working with any of the comprehensively sanctioned countries below, please contact Leah Vargas, Export Control Officer, at leah.vargas@csus.edu. - Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Syria (Authorized transactions related to Earthquake Relief)
- Russia/Belarus
| |
NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Indications of Interest RequestedThe National Science Foundation (NSF) recently moved the timeline forward for their annual MRI grant competition. To put forth Sacramento State’s strongest proposals in November 2023, the Offices of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development will hold an internal competition to identify up to two proposals. NSF’s MRI program looks for faculty teams who will use a needed instrument for research and student training. The selected project will receive an MRI Incentive Award of $2,500 total to be shared by the Principal Investigators. Indications of Interest are due by 5pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2023 following the Memorial Day weekend.
For more details about the MRI program, the Incentive Award, and how to apply for this internal competition, see here.
| |
Save The Date - Proposal Writing WorkshopsSix Online Proposal Writing WorkshopsSave the date for one or more online proposal writing workshops in early June.
How to Write Competitive Proposals – two different workshops, each designed as two, half-day interactive sessions (8 hrs total) with writing activities and tailored for different proposal types. Pick the one that suits you best.
- Program Proposals – June 8 & 9, 8 am – noon
- Research Proposals – June 15 & 16, 8 am – noon
Seeking Funding from Specific Funding Agencies – providing details on how to find and secure funding, review processes, and other funder specific information.
- U.S. Department of Education and other Education Agencies – June 5, 9 am - noon
- National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) - June 6, 9 am - 11 am
- National Science Foundation (NSF) – June 12, 9 am - noon
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) – June 13, 9 am - noon
Full details and registration will be announced in mid-April. For other questions, please email oried-office@csus.edu.
| |
Sacramento State’s Office of Innovation & Technology Transfer Services
On March 1st, the Office of Innovation & Technology Transfer (OITT) published its OITT website. OITT was formed in January 2022, with the mission of: - Managing, protecting, and commercializing Sacramento State Intellectual Property (IP) to benefit California and the world
- Educating faculty, staff, and students about IP
- Encouraging them to invent, create, and innovate
Unlike real property (such as land and buildings) and personal property (such as vehicles and furniture) IP are creations of the mind. The five types of IP are:
- Patents that protect new materials, machines, processes and products
- Copyrights that protect works of art, literature, and music
- Trademarks that protect images, names, and symbols used in commerce
- Trade Secrets that protect the confidential information of businesses
- Plant Variety Rights that protect new varieties of plants and trees
OITT has been serving Sacramento State in many ways, such as:
- Meeting with faculty working on potentially patentable inventions with commercial potential
- Meeting with faculty with questions about their copyrights, course materials, publications and books
- Drafting, negotiating, reviewing, and executing Confidential Disclosure Agreements (also known as Non-Disclosure Agreements), Data Use Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, and other IP related agreements
- Providing classes, training, and workshops about IP to faculty, staff, and students
- Working with UC Davis and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and UC Davis with the patenting and commercializing the Method of Synthesizing Stem Cell-Derived, Exosome-Mimicking Nanovesicles
To find out more about what OITT can do for you, please visit the OITT website.
| |
Photo taken by Nikolas De La Torre, ORIED Student Assistant
| |
Spring 2023 Research and Creative Activity Symposium
The Student Research Center hosted the Student Research & Creative Activity Spring Symposium on Monday, March 6th, as well as the awards ceremony that Friday, March 9th. The Student Research & Creative Activity Spring Symposium celebrates and recognizes the outstanding scholarly accomplishments of Sacramento State students. Central to the University’s mission is the promotion of research, scholarship, and creative activities by our faculty and students. Spring Symposium awardees received a monetary prize and an invitation to compete in the 37th Annual CSU Student Research Competition, which will be hosted by San Diego State University on April 28 and 29, 2023.
| |
Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Student CompetitionThe College of Engineering and Computer Science Construction Management Department performed admirably in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Reno Student Competition. Against 217 teams and over 1,600 students competing across 12 categories, they placed in the following categories:
- 1st Place in Virtual Design and Construction
- 2nd Place in Mixed-Use Building Construction
- 2nd Place Alternates Division
- MVP Award in the Concrete Division: Sac State’s Mason Davidson
| |
Pictured from left to right: 1st place winners in Virtual Design and Construction; 2nd place winners in Mixed-Use Building Construction, 2023 ASC Reno Student Competition; Photo provided by Liliana Gomez, Communications Specialist and Executive Assistant to ECS College Dean
| |
Associated Schools of Construction Regional Teaching Award
Assistant Professor, Dr. Atefeh Mohammadpour, from the Department of Construction Management in the College of Engineering and Computer Science has received the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Regional Teaching Award. This award recognizes the faculty member’s contribution to construction education, excellence in teaching, service to the Associated Schools of Construction, and dedication to the construction profession.
| |
Project ACE
Faculty from the department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Dr. Praveen Meduri, Dr. Milica Markovic, and Dr. Mohammed Eltayeb, along with a pair of part-time instructors, were awarded a $600K NSF grant for “Project ACE: Active-learning (A) based Engineering Curriculum-transformation (C) for Excellence in Equity (E).” This research project investigates the effectiveness of project-based learning and course-based undergraduate research experiences to fill an important knowledge gap in the field of engineering epistemologies.
| |
2023 Engineering and Science Exposition
The Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Joint Council will host its 2023 Exposition on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University Union Ballroom. Student-run and organized by ECS student leaders, the annual Expo is intended to boost community enthusiasm and interest in ECS majors through immersive hands-on activities, games, and demonstrations. This event is open to the public and free.
| |
Discussion, Discovery, and Disseminations (D3) Event
The ECS and NSM will be co-hosting an in-person Discussion, Discovery, and Disseminations (D3) event on Wednesday, April 26th in the Alumni Center. Faculty from the two colleges are encouraged to present their posters at the event about their research interests. The event will provide an opportunity for faculty from the two colleges to look at each other’s research interests and promote research collaborations across the two colleges.
| |
Building Bridges to Use- Inspired Research and Science Informed Practices
The Directorate of Biological Sciences (BIO), the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) at the National Science Foundation have jointly funded a workshop that aims to build new connections among key BioSci communities to successfully conduct ‘Use-inspired Research’. The workshop will consist of a series of events: two free virtual Pre-Workshop MicroLabs (for an unlimited number of participants) and an In-Person Workshop (for 120 selected participants representing diverse groups and organizations).
| |
|
| For more information or inquiries please contact the Offices of Research, Innovation and Economic Development below.
| |
| California State University, Sacramento
Offices of Research, Innovation and Economic Development
Library 2520, MS 6093
6000 J StreetSacramento, CA 95819-6065Phone: (916) 278-6402Email: oried@csus.edu
| |
|
|
