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| Call for Participation - Clean Energy Jobs Conference in Springfield Nov. 22 |
| UMass Amherst departments and programs offering educational and research opportunities related to clean energy are invited to participate in the Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair, Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. This event will get information about your programs in front of students and professionals seeking education and training for careers in the clean energy sector -- one of the Commonwealth's strategic growth industries. Contact Karen Hayes Research Liaison and Development 545-9586 for details on how to participate. Faculty are also encouraged to tell their students about this event. Student scholarships are available and the Opportunity Fair is free, though registration is required. Conference information and registration can be found on the Clean Energy Connections web site |
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Report Predicts Growth in Mass. Life Sciences Jobs |
By 2014, the bioscience industry in Massachusetts will add more than 10,000 new jobs, according to a new report written by the UMass Donahue Institute and entitled "Growing Talent: Meeting the Evolving Needs of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Industry." About 8,100 of the new jobs, many requiring interdisciplinary skills, will also require four years or more of higher education, the report predicts. UMass Amherst has a number of programs that will prepare students for these new jobs, contributing to the pipeline of available talent. For example, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Undergraduate Science Program trains biological science students for success in the interdisciplinary research environments of the future. The campus's Institute for Cellular Engineering (ICE) provides interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate training opportunities in understanding cellular function and manipulating cells/tissues, which is the basis for many ventures in the biomedical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Graduate and post-graduate training is provided, for example, by the UMass Amherst Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in Biology workshop series. FEA is a computer-based tool used by engineers and scientists to understand the mechanics of physical systems. The UMass workshops provide resources, guidelines and tools that facilitate the use of FEA in biological research. A glimpse of other UMass Amherst educational programs that influence Life Sciences workforce development can be found on the Bioportal web site run by the UMass Office of Research. |
| Central Microscopy Facility Completes Transfer to Greener Digital Imaging |
A decade ago, the recording of microscope images was almost entirely film-based, requiring a photographic darkroom for developing and printing micrographs. Now, it is possible to record microscope images digitally using CCD (charge coupled device) cameras. For the user, the huge advantage is instant feedback, since the result of an exposure is displayed immediately on a video monitor. If the image is imperfectly focused or otherwise unsatisfactory, the microscope can be adjusted and the image retaken. Then, instead of having to wait hours to remove, develop, and replenish film, users simply send selected images over the network to the remote computer of choice. The environmental impact of "wet photography" in film and printing operations is significant. Elimination of these aspects of image collection is an important step in the "greening" of our operations. Central Microscopy Facility Director Chris Woodcock thanks Vice Provost for Research Paul Kostecki for making the recent CCD acquisition possible. Information about the Central Microscopy Facility is here. |
| Funding Opportunities |
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National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance
Award Sizes: Vary
Deadlines: Vary UMass Amherst is a member of the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, a national organization based in Hadley, Mass. The Alliance "fosters invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship in higher education as a way of creating innovative, commercially viable, and socially beneficial businesses and employment opportunities in the United States." Fall 2008 RFPs are now open. See the NCIIA website for more information. The Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center Fiscal Year 2009 Request for Proposals
Award Size: Contingent upon Congressional approval of FY 2009 funding for the National Water Institute Program, one $30,000 and three $5,000 proposals will be awarded. Application deadline: November 3, 2008. Awards will be announced by December 19, 2008. The anticipated start date for funded projects is April 1, 2009. Please consult application guidelines.Proposals must be submitted on line here Any questions, email Françoise Walk or call her at 413-545-5531 Foundation Funding Faculty interested in applying for the following foundation-sponsored opportunities are encouraged to contact Susan Worgaftik (413-547-2956) for assistance. American Council of Learned Societies 2009 Brookdale Leadership in Aging Fellowship Program Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Related Funding |
Announcements |
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Campus Compact Seeks Nominees for New Leadership Award Deadline: October 17, 2008; Estimated Award Size: $2,000 and Recognition Plaque Campus Compact, of which UMass Amherst is a member, seeks nominees for its new Leadership Award for Campus and Community Engagement. The objective of the Award is to recognize the work of community engagement professionals who advance their campus's civic vision and the field by creating and/or coordinating high-quality campus and community engagement initiatives, contributing significantly to the development and sustainability of strong, reciprocal partnerships between higher education and communities, and fostering a deep culture of engagement on their campus. Clean Energy Connections Exhibitor Tables Available On Saturday, November 22 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts career seekers, students, entrepreneurs and business developers will converge on one event: The Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair. Exhibitor tables available now. Conference program and exhibitor information: Michelle Wonsey, 413-545-2706. Improvements Made to Grants and Contracts Database Interface UMass Amherst Principal Investigators who use the Jordan On Line (JOL) database to get information on research grants and contracts will find the database has a new look and should be easier to use. "Data is now easier to sort and save," said Wayne Gelineau, database manager for the UMass Amherst Office of Grant and Contract Administration, of the new version of JOL. "When you save to text, it gives you two options: to open the data directly into Excel, or save to a file." A function called "My Proposals and Awards" allows a PI to see their research using their NetID. Another function, "Proposals and Awards Status," allows users to monitor the status of research funding proposals and awards using their Peoplesoft ID. The "Awards by Major Budgetary Unit (MBU)" function gives users a list of all awards for the MBU/college they select, for a specified date range. Finally, the "PI and CO-PI Awards By OU" function reports all awards granted to a specified department for a specified date range. The UMass Amherst Office of Grant and Contract Administration received help with making these improvements from the campus's Center for Educational Software Development. Wayne Gelineau said he welcomes feedback on the changes. Research Area Consolidates Website for Funding Opportunities In order to provide easier access for faculty seeking funding, the Research Area has recently redesigned its website to include a single, consolidated webpage listing grants, awards, and other sponsored research opportunities. The information on this page brings together opportunities that were previously listed by ORA and OGCA separately. Video Available of Speech at UMass Amherst by Sept. 11 Fund Director UMass Amherst alumnus Kenneth R. Feinberg directed the $7 billion fund created by Congress to assist the families of those killed or injured in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Feinberg spoke to an overflow crowd at UMass Amherst in the Bernie Dallas room of Goodell Hall on the seventh anniversary of the attacks. Video of his speech is available here. OPEN ACCESS DAY at Du Bois Library The Libraries and the Graduate School will participate in the first International Open Access Day on October 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons, Lower Level, Du Bois Library. The event will include an international webcast, speakers, and a discussion session. Researchers, educators, librarians, students, and the public are invited to attend. UMass Amherst Libraries is one of more than 65 libraries around the world participating in Open Access Day. Open Access is the principle that research should be made freely available via the Internet, especially in the case of publicly funded research. Open Access literature is digital, online, free of charge, and often free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. The international webcast will highlight important open access issues and provide a call to action. RSVPs are requested to scholarworks@library.umass.edu by Monday, Oct. 13th. For more information, contact Marilyn Billings at (413) 545-6891, or Open Access Day. See the full press release for more. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Deadline November 1, 2008 for the June 9-11, 2009 International Conference on the Environmental Implications and Applications of Nanotechnology in Characterization, Detection, and Analysis of Nanomaterials, Green Nanotechnology, Bioavailability, Toxicity, and Exposure Environmental Fate and Transport Pollution Control and Remediation Nano Regulatory and Policy Issues. Details here. Deadline January 30, 2009. Sixth Annual Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center Conference: Water Dependencies in New England: Systems, Stresses and Responses - April 7, 2009 in Water Availability and Quality for Human Consumption, Ecohydrology, Climate Change Adaptations and Impacts, Water Treatment and Reuse, Hydrologic Prediction and Estimation under Non-Stationarity, Alternative Energy Impacts on Water Resources, Monitoring & Modeling of Fluxes and Storages, Groundwater Recharge, Water Management and Planning. Details here. |
| Events |
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October 9, 16, 23, 30: National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Seminars: 4:30pm, Conte Research Center A110-111. Details are here. October 14, 21, 28: (Group 1) Successful Proposal Development, for New Faculty presented by Bruce McCandless, Director, Office of Research Affairs: 9:00-11:00am, 104 Research Administration Building. October 15, 22, 29: (Group 2) 2:00-4:00pm. Register by email with Bev Strakose. October 9: OGCA Brown Bag Series: Proposal Budgeting Steps and Budget Justifications; noon to 1:00p.m., 104 Research Administration Building October 16: OGCA Brown Bag Series: Open NSF Session-Q&A; noon to 1:00p.m., 104 Research Administration Building October 22: OGCA Brown Bag Series: The Landscape Ahead: Anticipated Changes in Research Administration; noon to 1:00p.m., 104 Research Administration Building October 29: OGCA Brown Bag Series: NIH eSNAP Progress Reports; noon to 1:00p.m., 104 Research Administration Building November 5: OGCA Brown Bag Series: Information Session: Using GAMS, PureEdge, & Adobe forms to submit Grants.gov applications October 14-16: The Center for UMass/Industry Research on Polymers, Polymer Science & Engineering Department, and Materials Research Science & Engineering Center present the Fall 2008 Polymer Event at the UMass Conte Center for Polymer Research. Featuring lectures, workshops, poster sessions, and a symposium on topics such as polymer uses in biofuels, ionic liquids, and biomedical applications. October 23: UMass Amherst Chemistry Department's annual William E. Mahoney Seminar featuring Dr. Patricia Dehmer, Deputy Director for Science Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. Student Union Ballroom. October 23: Pioneer Valley STEM Showcase and Symposium, 4-6 p.m., Holyoke Community College. Representatives from the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be present at this event, as well as many of the school districts and colleges in the area. October 24: Part of the Fall 2008 INFORMS Speaker Series, Professor Senay Solak (Finance and Operations Management, UMass Amherst Isenberg School) will speak on "Air Traffic Flow Management in the Presence of Uncertainty". 11am-12pm, Isenberg 112. October 30: Chemistry Department's Proctor & Gamble Lecture Series featuring Professor Victoria McGuffin from the Center for Integrative Toxicology at Michigan State University. 10:45am, Lederle 1634 Math Lounge. October 30-31: The Center for Research on Families announces a two day symposium: "WOMEN AND WORK: Choices and Constraints"; University of Massachusetts Amherst. Register here. This event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Vice Provost of Research's Research Leadership in Action Awards Program. November 22: Clean Energy Connections, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass. Clean Energy Connections is a career and business development information and networking event. REGISTER now and SAVE! For more information, see article at the top of this ACCESS issue. |
| OGCA Histograms |
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| New Faculty |
| The Research Area looks forward to working with more than 60 new faculty this year from schools and departments across campus. Research ACCESS began profiling the new faculty last issue and will continue in the next two issues. Click on a person's name for their email address. Click here to see the research interests of these faculty. College of Humanities and Fine Arts History; Suet Ying Chiu Languages, Literatures, & Cultures; Zhijun Wang Languages, Literatures, & Cultures; Kathryn Lachman Languages, Literatures, & Cultures;Luiz Amaral Spanish and Portuguese; Lisa Lehmberg Music and Dance; Hazel Sabas-Gower Music and Dance; Ernesto Garcia Philosophy; Marcus Gardley Theater; School of Nursing Karen Kalmakis Nursing School of Public Health and Health Sciences Frances Burns Communication Disorders; Yu-Kyong Choe Communication Disorders; Estelle Klasner Communication Disorders; Edward Debold Kinesiology; Erin Snook Kinesiology; Richard Wood Nutrition (contact via Nutrition Department Chair Mokhtar T. Atallah); Raji Balasubramanian Public Health; Katherine Reeves Public Health; Brian Whitcomb Public Health |
Research done in the Exercise Physiology Lab at UMass Amherst has helped other researchers develop and implement better methods to assess physical activity behavior. This work will advance methods of how scientists quantify the dose of activity leading to a variety of health outcomes such as risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. "Our lab has made a major contribution to how scientists around the world quantify how much activity a person does," said Patty Freedson, professor and chair of the Kinesiology Department, and director of the lab. 
