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Past DER Weekly Newsletters |
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Weekly In Progress Report |
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Are you New to Research at MSU? … Explore great resources to help embark on your MSU Research Pathway
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Michigan State University is a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders, representing all 50 states and 130 countries.
Whether you are new to MSU or taking on a new research related role, there are many policies and resources you'll need to navigate when pursuing research funding and setting up your first research project.
MSU’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) oversees and generates resources to help you
facilitate your research efforts and research goals at MSU. ORI fosters creative activity through administering research funding, ensuring research integrity for faculty and students, providing grant support services, fostering collaboration, licensing university inventions, and overseeing regulatory compliance. Useful resources are available for: new faculty; veteran faculty moving to MSU; regulatory compliance; application processes for grants and contracts; award management; and explanations of key policies. Additional tools are available including how to navigate travel in support of MSU research, information for conducting research responsibly, and procedures for hiring and building your team. To access these resources, visit Getting Started in Research at MSU.
In addition to resources made available through ORI, help is also available through various offices including Division of Engineering Research (DER), Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Contract and Grant Administration (CGA), and other offices (including post award) who are available to assist in complying with sponsor guidelines when applying for, and managing funded research. There are great resources at your fingertips and support is available to help launch your research. If you have additional questions regarding these resources and services, please send an email to proposals@egr.msu.edu.
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Spotlight Opportunities & Information |
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What’s hot in science? Check out NSF research news through November 2, 2022 |
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NSF NEWS
Keep up with today’s research news from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at noteworthy scientific findings from researchers around the country.
- NSF announces $10 million partnership with Micron to support semiconductor design and manufacturing workforce development (The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a cross-sector partnership with Micron Technology, Inc. to develop bold, potentially…)
- Researchers engineer novel material capable of 'thinking' (Findings build on decades-old research to engineer advanced material)
- Neurons that have food on the brain (Scientists discover neurons that light up on sight of images of food)
- COVID radar: Genetic sequencing can help predict severity of next variant (Computer model helps researchers better prepare for the next virus variant)
- Artificial intelligence used to better monitor Maine's forests (New method uses AI and machine learning to monitor soil moisture with less energy and cost)
- Where do high-energy particles that endanger satellites, astronauts and airplanes come from? (New research shows how and when solar particles are accelerated)
- Plastics of the future will have many past lives, thanks to chemical recycling (One day in the not-too-distant future, the plastics in satellites, cars and electronics may all be living their second, 25th or 250th lives. New…)
- The secret success of slime (If you spend much time around kids, you know they never pass up the chance to play with slime. One type of slime in our own bodies is saliva, and a recent study found an interesting way it evolves in different species. And if you want to have a slimin' good time? There are some step-by-step recipes for making your own slime at home! …)
- Engineers build a battery-free, wireless underwater camera (Scientists estimate that more than 95% of Earth's oceans have never been observed, which means we have seen less of the planet's ocean than we have…)
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Wei Liao creates biorefining solutions for organic waste
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Bringing ecology, microbiology, engineering and economics together
Wei Liao is a professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering and the director of the Michigan State University Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center. He is featured in this Spotlight article, courtesy of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Faculty Voice: Wei Liao
I was born and grew up in Xinjiang province located in Northwest China. I lived in an urban area during my entire childhood and had no ideas about animal agriculture whatsoever except occasionally visiting ranches in the Tian Shan Mountain region to see cattle and ride horses.
I got my B.S degree in fermentation engineering from Jiangnan University near Shanghai and then worked as a brewing engineer for several years before moving to the US to pursue my Ph.D. in biosystems and agricultural engineering. I was still doing fermentation research, though the feedstock was changed from malt and rice to animal manure.
My Ph.D. study was about the value-added utilization of dairy manure, mainly focusing on biologically converting the carbohydrates in manure to fatty acids. I started to gain knowledge of dairy operations. I learned that dairy manure contains approximately 45 percent of the gross carbon in forage feeds that cows consume, representing the largest carbon sink on a dairy farm, even higher than milk. It was at this time that I decided to focus my career on research and development of organic residue and waste utilization.
In the past 15 years of my career at Michigan State University, I established an integrated research program that brings ecology, microbiology, engineering and economics together to develop novel farm-based biorefining solutions for organic waste management, including dairy manure.
… Learn more Here.
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Summary: The Water Research Foundation
has issued an RFP for a project to provide guidance to utilities and water sector organizations on how to complete DE&I assessments and integrate DE&I considerations into recruiting, hiring practices, career progression at all levels of the organization, community outreach, and training. (NOTE: This RFP might offer a very good opportunity for cross unit collaboration and/or collaborative work with outside entities.) Applicants can request up to $150,000. The Deadline for application is November 22, 2002 at 3:00 MT. Please forward this RFP to any faculty in your unit the may have interest.
RFP: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion-Best Practices for the Water Sector Workforce: All water sector organizations would benefit from increased efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Utilities and organizations need guidance on how to complete DE&I assessments and integrate DE&I considerations into recruiting, hiring practices, career progression at all levels of the organization, community outreach, and training. Desired outcomes of this research include:
- A clear definition and understanding of what defines DE&I objectives and the aspects that should be considered when establishing DE&I objectives
- An understanding of, and guidance on, best practices for DE&I workforce programs
- Metrics/methods (key performance indicators) for reviewing the quality and success of efforts
- Case studies and tools for DE&I objectives implementation
- A diverse and inclusive water workforce, comprised of staff and leadership with a sense of belonging and investment in advancing DE&I objectives
Desired Qualifications: A successful proposal will demonstrate the proposer’s experience with DE&I activities.
Expected Deliverables: The deliverables for this project are flexible, and creativity and originality from proposers are encouraged. Example deliverables could include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Guidance document
- Templates for DE&I practice implementation (e.g., job postings, employee surveys, job descriptions, etc.)
- Literature review
- Research report
- Peer-reviewed journal article
- Webcast, conference presentation, etc.
- Fact sheet, case study, infographic, video, etc.
- Web tool (consider plan for maintenance)
- Workshop (consider plan to document workshop)
Utility and Organization Participation: WRF encourages participation from water utilities and other organizations in WRF research. Participation can occur in a variety of ways, including direct participation, in-kind contributions, or in-kind services. To facilitate their participation, WRF has provided contact information, on the last page of this RFP, of utilities and other organizations that have indicated an interest in this research.
*Note that one of those with interest is:
NOTE: This notice is only an overview. Those interested in applying should carefully read the full RFP at: https://www.waterrf.org/sites/default/files/file/2022-10/RFP_5186.pdf
GRANT AMOUNT: The maximum funding available from WRF for this project is $125,000. The applicant must contribute additional resources equivalent to at least 33 percent of the project award. For example, if an applicant requests $100,000 from WRF, an additional $33,000 or more must be contributed by the applicant. Acceptable forms of applicant contribution include cost-share, applicant in-kind, or third-party in-kind
that comply with 2 CFR Part 200.306 cost sharing or matching.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The online proposal system allows submission of your documents until the date and time stated in this RFP. To avoid the risk of the system closing before you press the submit button, do not wait until the last minute to complete your submission. Submit your proposal at: https://forms.waterrf.org/222555832480861.
DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by 3:00 pm Mountain Time on November 22, 2022.
PROJECT CONTACT:
- For questions about RFP requirements: Lyndsey Bloxom phone: (571) 384-2106
- For questions related to proposal submission: Caroline Bruck phone: (303) 347-6118
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Benefit your future proposal development using MSU IT Technology Trainings: New learning opportunities
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Foundational for any position and skill level on campus, MSU IT training courses cover primary collaboration tools like Zoom, Spartan 365, and specific Microsoft applications like Teams, OneNote, OneDrive, and Forms. These courses are offered at no cost to all MSU faculty, staff, and students in support of your success in teaching, learning, research, and outreach collaboration.
Visit SpartansLearn for details, course dates, and to register.
Whether you are on campus, fully remote, or a mix of modalities, MSU IT offers a variety of training options to suit your busy schedule. In-person training courses, virtual-led training courses,
and on-demand course recordings are all available in addition to weekly office hours for those who have questions or need help.
Click here
for the list of on-demand course recordings and here for the live courses available for the course topics below.
Spartan 365 Overview - As one of the premiere tools for collaboration in teaching, learning, and working at MSU, this course will give an overview of the main Microsoft 365 apps including Forms, OneDrive, OneNote, and Teams. On-demand course recording available now
Microsoft Forms - Forms can help you survey classmates, students, coworkers, or any group where feedback is needed. Learn how to create forms and surveys; format, branch, and collect data; and share with others. Next virtual-led class: Forms – Creating Forms and Surveys, 11/17, 1:30 p.m.
Microsoft OneDrive - OneDrive is a great place to store files in the cloud, share documents, and ensure document security. Discover strategies, optimize settings, learn how to manage the accessibility of files and folders, and more. Next virtual-led class:
OneDrive – Working with OneDrive, 11/8, 10 a.m.
Microsoft OneNote - Explore this helpful tool to organize your information and content with notebooks, sections, and pages. Faculty and managers can also use the special notebook functionality of OneNote to organize important information for students or staff. Next virtual-led class: One Note – Special Notebooks, 11/9, 1:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams - Teams is one of the best tools for effective communication and collaboration. Discover how to chat and have virtual meetings with individuals, groups, and entire teams. Intermediate users can also learn how additional integrations and settings can optimize your ability to collaborate with others. Next virtual-led class: Teams – Managing Teams and Settings, 11/10, 1:30 p.m. / Next in-person class: Teams – Getting Started, 12/21, 1:30 p.m.
Zoom - A great tool for scheduling and hosting virtual meetings. Learn how to access Zoom at MSU to explore its settings and setup a successful meeting or webinar. Next virtual-led class: Zoom – Meetings 11/16, 1:30 p.m. / Next in-person class: Zoom – Getting Started, 11/17, 10 a.m.
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FCC Seeks Electronic Engineers for Honors Program
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
announced this week that it is opening a new window for applications
under its Honors Engineer Program. The one-year developmental program
may lead to a term or permanent appointment. The Commission is accepting
applications from recent graduates with an engineering degree and
current students graduating in December 2022.
Among the duties included in the job description is training to perform
“propagation analysis of terrestrial, satellite and/or airborne systems
or evaluating the emission characteristics of various transmitters to
validate the co-existence with neighboring systems. Projects may also
involve various computer software engineering and scientific
applications."
An FCC news release describes that honors engineers will work alongside senior staff on projects, including:
- Developing technical rules and policy approaches to enable the
U.S. to introduce new communications technologies and services such as
5G, 6G, advanced Wi-Fi, the Internet of Things, next-generation TV
broadcasting, and new broadband satellite systems;
- Facilitating wireless and wireline broadband service deployment throughout the nation, including to rural and underserved areas;
- Identifying technologies to improve access to communications services for all Americans, especially those with disabilities;
- Enabling public safety and homeland security agencies as well as
various enterprises within various market sectors such as health care,
energy, education, and transportation to introduce new communications
technologies; and
- Developing policies that encourage innovation and investment in
and transitions to new communications technologies, devices, and
services that will support job creation and economic growth.
“Engineers are deployed throughout the FCC, and from space
innovation to new broadcast standards to 6G and beyond, the FCC’s policy
portfolio is filled with interesting and challenging engineering work,”
said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Our Honors Engineer program
is a unique opportunity for the newest engineers to work closely with
experienced professionals in this field to ensure that the FCC is best
prepared to face the challenges of next-generation communications
networks.”
The announcement will close once 175 applications have been received or on December 2, 2022; whichever occurs first. Visit USAJOBS for the complete position summary and to apply, at www.usajobs.gov/job/685101100.
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Creative Conversations: Creating Equitable Arts and Cultural Community Engagement Partnerships - A Panel on Projects with Multiple Partners
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ATTENTION: FACULTY, ACADEMIC STAFF, AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Zoom
Interested in learning how to create new community-engaged partnerships with multiple partners? This panel will introduce you to faculty colleagues and their community partners who have created equitable partnerships with impact.
The teams will each explain: the project origins, mutually beneficial outcomes, lessons learned, strategies for sustainable collaboration, and unexpected outcomes. Attendees will learn the basics of community-engaged creative activities, including definitions, partnership building, and community engagement practices. Attendees will also learn how presenters are sharing their research experience in publications, presentations, performances, exhibitions, etc. Participants will have the opportunity to join a growing network of campus colleagues who are leading innovative arts and cultural creative community-engaged partnerships.
- Dean Rehberger:
Director, Matrix: Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of History, College of Social Science
- Joe Grimm: Editor in Residence, School of Journalism, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
- Jaime DeMott: Director, MSU Community Music School-East Lansing, College of Music
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Federal, State, and Foundation Funding
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Resources for finding Federal, State and Foundation funding opportunities.
... Learn more Here.
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The chart above shows DER's Proposal Volume from 2019 to 2022 as of (11/4/2022).
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Description: DER has a catalog of research and funding seminars available on demand. Seminar topics range from critical instruction for new faculty through advanced training for senior research faculty. These presentations include instruction from experts regarding themes that include best practices in research, MSU policy, sponsor compliance, industry specific seminars, and more. Check them out today and utilize this incredible resource to help streamline your proposal development and promote success in your research. Watch now on demand!!!
Recent seminar presentations include:
- DER is Here to Help (proposal & proposal development resources geared to promote success)
- Tips for Writing a Persuasive Grant Proposal (grant writing to ‘sell’ a project to funders)
- Finding Funding (tips for finding funding to support your research)
- Roles and Responsibilities (tips for understanding roles and responsibilities at each stage of the project)
- CAREER Award Workshop - Session 1 (best practices and strategies for producing successful NSF Career proposals)
- And many more…
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Internal Funding Notifications & News |
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Does effort reporting for your grants and contracts seem more cumbersome than it should be? CGA has compiled a very
helpful list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Topics range from reporting deadlines, to resolving errors, and everything in between!
As you peruse this list, you might notice that there is a dedicated email address for any questions or issues you may have when submitting effort reporting. Please use effortreporting@cga.msu.edu to expedite service.
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External Sponsor Notifications & News |
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Ongoing Updates and Posts |
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NSF News Releases |
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Ongoing Updates and Posts |
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NAMC Opportunities |
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Ongoing Updates and Posts |
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Press Releases and Funding Opportunities |
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U.S. Department of Defense |
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
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National Institutes of Health |
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National Science Foundation |
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Office of Naval Research |
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Research in Germany - Land of Ideas |
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U.S. Department of Energy |
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United States Department of Agriculture |
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