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Current and archived issues are now searchable by keyword from the Research ACCESS index page.

Happy Holidays from the UMass Amherst Research Area.

The Linux-Open Source Lab is the nation's first open-source laboratory focused on the social sciences. It also provides a place on campus where UMass faculty and students from all disciplines can explore the innovative capabilities of open source software for research and teaching. With generous support to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences from IBM that began in 2004 and continues today, the lab is outfitted with over twenty desktop computers, software, a printer, and a server. The lab also provides an IBM-employed intern who will help researchers devise collaborative work spaces, modify existing software or utilize lab resources for their project needs. [Read More]

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This article is the third in a three-part Research ACCESS series on indirect cost rates, their functions, distribution and policies. This last installment covers the procedures and implications for modifying indirect costs.

Part I of this series defined indirect costs as general institutional expenditures that cannot be specifically identified with a particular project, but cover expenses related to the cost of doing business. These might include facility improvements, facilities maintenance and upkeep, and administrative support. Indirect costs are important because they are part of doing the business of research and running the academy. When an institution doesn't collect indirect costs, it must find funds to cover these expenses from other sources in its budget. Click here for the full article and the answers to the following questions:

What are the consequences for modifying indirect costs?
When is it appropriate to modify indirect costs?
What's the proper procedure for seeking modification-- an Indirect Cost Variance (ICV)?

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Thanks again to everyone who took the Research ACCESS survey this fall. About 18% of our readers responded. When asked what type of content readers would like to see more of in ACCESS, National Research Funding Trends, State and Regional Research Initiatives, Research Area News and Grant/Award Announcements were the top suggestions. Readers offered a few technical suggestions which we are currently evaluating (see the audio enhanced version of the Fueling the Future article below). The most consistent message we heard was that our readers in the Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Isenberg School of Management would like to see more content relevant to them.

Over the past few issues we've kept this feedback in mind. For example, our Lab Profile this issue highlights an important resource that's available to faculty and students from all areas of campus, the Open Source/Linux Lab. Housed in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), this facility provides the space, technology and technical support to help those who are interested in using Open Source software in their teaching and research and can be used by faculty and students outside SBS.

We'd also like to include more funding opportunities and announcements that target HFA, SBS and ISOM, such as the Community Foundation of Western Mass Grant opportunity listed in this issue. As you hear of these opportunities or have any suggestions on where to look for them, please email Karen Hayes in RL&D.

Though the survey is over we are always interested in you feedback and suggestions and would like to hear from you. Drop us a line anytime at rld-news@research.umass.edu.

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Click here for an audio-enhanced version of this article.

Innovative solutions to today's most urgent energy issues - that's the focus of the new Fueling the Future Chemical Bonding Center at UMass Amherst. With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), this interdisciplinary center will investigate the fundamental chemistry of proton transfer in hydrogen fuel cells and in doing so it becomes one of only three centers of its kind in the nation focused on tackling today's clean-energy problems. Center scientists anticipate that the knowledge they develop will lead to the production of more efficient and cost-effective fuel cell power systems.

The initial $1.5 million award to the UMass Amherst team positions the campus to garner $30 million in additional funding, according to the NSF. Developing industry collaborations, a major focus of this "Phase One" center, are important to continue the research and for a successful bid for a "Phase Two" center.

To learn more about the Fueling the Future Chemical Bonding Center please visit their website.

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Texas Instruments (TI) University Medical Technology Research Grants
Deadline: December 31
TI will award a total of $15 million to qualified universities worldwide to fund research programs that focus on the research and development of key emerging medical technologies that will improve the quality of healthcare and life. To be eligible for funding, projects must advance medical science or solve a problem in medical care/treatment through innovative use of existing semiconductor technologies and/or development of new semiconductor technologies. Go to the TI Technology for Innovators webpage for information and an application.

'08-'09 IBM Herman Goldstine Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mathematical Sciences
Deadline: January 5
The Goldstine Fellowship provides scientists of outstanding ability an opportunity to advance their scholarship as resident department members at the IBM Mathematical Sciences Research Center in Westchester County, New York, and provides an atmosphere in which basic research is combined with work on technical problems arising in industry. One fellowship of between $95,000 and $115,000 will be awarded. If you intend to apply to this fellowship, please notify Karen Hayes (545-9586) RL&D, so that we can alert the campus's IBM partnership executive to enable him to track the progress of the application appropriately. Access the Goldstine Fellowship website for the application and more information. Though online submittal of these proposals may be required, all proposals should be reviewed by OGCA first.

CVIP Technology Development Grants
Deadline: January 7
The UMass System Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Properties (CVIP) Office is accepting proposals for the spring 2008 Technology Development Fund. The purpose of the fund, which was established by the UMass President's Office in 2004, is to assist faculty and the CVIP offices with the commercial development of important technologies discovered on our campuses. The fund is not intended to support basic research but rather close the gap between the research discovery and proven technology. CVIP anticipates granting eight awards at a maximum of $30,000 per award. UMass researchers must apply through their campus CVIP office. For UMass Amherst, apply to cvip@research.umass.edu, fax to 413 545-3632 or call 413 545-3606. Other questions should be directed to Michele Bernier, CVIP/MTTC Awards Manager, at mbernier@umassp.edu. More information, including application instructions is available on the campus CVIP website.

Community Foundation Competitive Grants
Deadline: January 11
The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, which administers an $85 million charitable endowment, is currently accepting applications for the competitive grants process. The Community Foundation encourages creative and collaborative responses to existing or emerging problems or opportunities, and projects that leverage additional support for programs from other private and public funding sources. Competitive Grants are made in the areas of arts, culture, education, environment, health, housing, and human services. Historically, 80 percent of the grant awards have been for $10,000 or less. More information, including an application, is available on the Community Foundation website.

Armstrong Fund for Science
Deadline: February 1(revised date)
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research announces the second annual grant competition for the Armstrong Fund for Science. The grant is intended for faculty members involved in research that represents a new, bold initiative in a science field. Junior faculty and female faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are encouraged to apply, but applications representing a new direction of research from senior faculty are welcome. The application and RFP are available here.

Hewlett Packard (HP) Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative
Deadline: February 14
In 2008, HP will award nearly $7 million in cash and equipment to colleges and universities through North America and to K-12 schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Technology for Teaching Higher Education awards are valued at approximately $77,000, which includes $57,000 to go towards equipment and $20,000 towards implementing and supporting the program. Based on the outcomes of the projects funded through this initiative, HP may offer some grant recipients additional, higher-value grants in 2008. Go to the HP grants webpage for information and an application.

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Jan. 4: Conti Fellow nominations due in Academic Deans' Office
Jan. 8: STEM Pipeline proposals. Contact Alan Feldman.
Feb. 1: Academic Technology Grant proposals due.
Feb. 1: Conti Fellow nominations due in Office of Research Affairs
Mar. 14:Faculty Research/Healy Endowment grant proposals due.

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FY '07 Research Reports Now Available
The Research Area produces two complementary publications that report on the campus's fiscal year research activities. The Office of Grant and Contract Administration has issued the Fiscal Year Sponsored Activities Annual Report. This detailed piece includes views of FY'07 proposal and award activity, distribution of award and proposal dollars by sponsor, distribution of award dollars by MBU, proposal and award trends and much more. The UMass Amherst Report on Research is a marketing piece designed to give our constituents a broad view of the campus's strategic research initiatives, technology transfer, private donations for research and Research Area internal grant programs in addition to sponsored activities. The FY07 edition will be online in early January. Both reports are available in PDF on the Research website. The Report on Research is also available in print for campus recruiting or other marketing needs. Please contact Karen Hayes, RL&D (545-2706) if you are interested in receiving copies.

Call for Papers
Deadline: February 15: The deadline for submitting paper proposals for the "Landscapes of Violence: Conflict and Trauma through Time" conference is February 15th. The co- chairs of this interdisciplinary conference aimed at examining violence through ideological connections between the material world and social discourse, specifically focused on uncovering the motives, dynamics and functions of violence, are looking for individual and symposia presentation proposals, as well as volunteer moderators. The conference takes place in April. For more information, please contact the co-chairs: Ventura R Perez , PhD from the Department of Anthropology and Linda Tropp, PhD part of the Psychology of Peace and Violence Concentration in the Department of Psychology. Submission of proposals and participation in the conference are restricted to UMass faculty and students but conference attendance is open to all.

Research Area Staff Changes

Martha (Marty) Martin Retires
After almost 40 years of dedicated service to the campus Martha (Marty) Martin, Assistant to the Vice Provost for Research, will be retiring next month. Her extensive and valuable service at UMass Amherst began in March of 1969, in the Department of Sociology. Marty spent many years assisting top administrators in the Graduate School as well as Research. In September 2003, Marty began her tenure in her current position as Assistant to Paul Kostecki, the Vice Provost for Research. Marty was an integral member of the Research Area staff and she will be missed by those who worked with her. We wish her the very best. An Open House in her honor is scheduled for December 14 between 1 and 4 pm at 239 Whitmore. Come wish Marty well in her retirement!

New Assistant to the VPR
With Marty's departure, we welcome her replacement, Kim Fill. Kim has been on campus over fifteen years, coming to Research from Alumni Affairs. Earlier in her career she was administrative assistant to Royster Hedgepeth, previous Vice Chancellor of University Advancement. We are very fortunate to have someone of Kim's skills and engaging personality. Please feel free to welcome her at kimfill@research.umass.edu.

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OGCA processed 179 proposals for a total of $20,086,660 in November 2007. How does that stack up against last year and previous months? Have a look at the histograms to find out.

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The Research Area looks forward to working with the over 60 new faculty this year from schools and departments across campus. This month Research ACCESS welcomes part of the new faculty from the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and Isenberg School of Management. Click here for a listing of these faculty and their research interests.

Enhua Zhang, Asian Studies and Chinese.
Joselyn Almeida-Beveridge and Janine Solberg, English.
Jose Hernandez and Anna Taylor, History.
Brent Auerbach and Arturo O'Farrill, Music and Dance.
Gina Kaufmann, Theater.
Brian Brown, Marketing.

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Alpert, Peter
Biology
Sponsor: University of California Davis
Title: Control of Exotic Grasses in Natural coastal Grasslands Using Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Total Award: $22,157

Ash, Michael
Economics
Sponsor: University of California
Title: Hospital Unions, Staffing, Wages and Patient Safety
Total Award: $50,111

Avrunin, George
Mathematics and Statistics
Sponsor: University of Delaware
Title: Collaborative Research: Finite-State Verification for High-Performance Computing
Total Award: $164,273

DeGroot, Don Johan
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Title: Developing International Protocols for Offshore Sediments and Their Role in Geohazards: Characterization, Assessment and Mitigation
Total Award: $486,785

Hollingsworth, Craig
Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences,
Sponsor: Natural Resources Conservation Services
Title: Conservative Effects Assessment Project
Total Award: $120,749

Jerry, Joseph D.
Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Sponsor: Avon Foundation
Title: Effects of Age and Parity on Gene Expression Signatures and p53-Mediated Prophylaxis
Total Award: $200,000

Matthews, William J.
Student Development and Pupil Personnel Services
Sponsor: Chicopee Public Schools
Title: Extended Learning time Assistantship
Total Award: $13,851

Militello, Matthew
Educational Policy Research & Admin
Sponsor: MA Department of Education
Title: DOE Principal Standards and Assessment
Total Award: $108,428

Mulholland, Mitchell T.
Anthropology -- Archaeological Services
Sponsor: Camp, Dresser and Mckee, Inc.
Title: Saugus, Malden, Revere, Route 1 Phase 1 Archaeological Survey
Total Award: $15,810

Puleo, Elaine M.
Public Health
Sponsor: Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Title: A Web-Based Smoking Intervention for Childhood Cancer Survivors
Total Award: $71,565

Rodriguez-Mongu, Maria R.
Sponsor: MA Department of Public Health
Title: The Economic Burden of Overweight and Obesity on Ethnic and Racial Minorities in Massachusetts: A Health Disparities Analysis
Total Award: $7,067

Van Emmerick, Richard E.A.
Kinesiology
Sponsor: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Title: Dynamic Balance Control and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
Total Award: $117,024

Yun, Min S.
Astronomy
Sponsor: California Institute of Technology (JPL)
Title: Star Formation in the Tidal Streams of the M81 Group
Total Award: $39,500

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