Volume 14, Number 6: December 5, 2007

CAMPUS NEWS

Recent Enhancements to RAMSeS

The Office of Sponsored Research has announced several new enhancements to RAMSeS, including:

Proposal Dashboard: RAMSeS users can now view human and animal research compliance information for their submitted proposals. Also, a request for a Financial Guarantee can be initiated and electronically routed for approval.
Award Dashboard: Users who have been granted access can now view active and inactive award information for their research team or department.
New Research Contacts Role: The department's role manager can now assign additional roles to individuals to view proposal and award information. Contact your department's role manager to request access rights. To identify your department's role manager, go to Research Contacts.

If you have questions about RAMSeS or these enhancements, please contact the ORIS Help Line at 843-2594. Feel free to send your feedback to Andrew Reynolds or Jim Peterson at any time.

For more information about the enhancements, click here (pdf).

Changes to the Tar Heel Certificate Program in Research Administration

The Tar Heel Certificate Program in Research Administration curriculum has been revised to focus even more on the regulations that govern research administration and the roles and responsibilities of the campus and central offices. Participants who complete the entire program will receive a certificate of completion and will qualify to test for Level I Certification. For those who have already completed the Tar Heel Certificate Program, an on-line competency test will be available in January 2008 to receive Level I Certification.

Level I Certification is the prerequisite to Level II Certification, which will offer more in-depth coverage of topics including RAMSeS and the eIPF, federal government forms, contracts, budget/budget justification, award terms and conditions, award transactions, reporting to sponsor agencies, subcontracting, and others. These courses are still in development and will be offered beginning in early spring 2008.

Please contact Phyllis Daugherty or call 843-2609 for more information.

Visualization and Collaboration Facilities at the Health Sciences Library

The Health Sciences Library (HSL) Collaboration Center, in room 237 of the renovated HSL, was developed in partnership with the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) in 2005. The Collaboration Center offers advanced visualization and collaboration technologies that can be used for research, community outreach activities, clinical applications, or educational programs. Through the center, research teams can visualize their data in large format and high resolution and share their data, applications, and visualizations with colleagues around the world. For example, students and faculty can virtually attend a biomedical conference taking place on another campus or in another country.

The center also provides technology orientation and dedicated visualization programming expertise.

Collaboration Center technologies include:

A 10'x8' high-resolution display wall, capable of resolution of 12.5 million pixels (4,096 x 3,072 pixel native resolution). Compatible with both Linux and Windows applications.
The Access Grid multicast system, which allows multiple groups worldwide to collaborate in real-time and to share data and applications.
A “smart” whiteboard that captures notes and diagrams during brainstorming sessions.
Software tools, workstations, and an LCD projection system.

To use, see a demonstration, or learn more about the HSL Collaboration Center, contact the Collaboration Center Manager at 962-0264.

NCSRA 2008 Annual Meeting

Date: March 10 to 12, 2008
Place: Embassy Suites, Concord, North Carolina

The North Carolina chapter of the Society of Research Administrators International (NCSRA) invites all Carolina research administrators to attend its annual conference. The meeting provides research administrators the opportunity to learn about grants and sponsored research opportunities, policies, and procedures. Join your colleagues from around the state for this chance to learn, network, and develop new prospects for collaborations.

Identifying Funding Sources in Public Health: Workshop for Faculty

Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008
Time: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Place: 307 Health Sciences Library

The GrantSource Library and the Office of Research at the School of Public Health invite faculty to a hands-on workshop on identifying funding sources for your research, programs, and other scholarly endeavors. Susan Gramling, GrantSource Librarian, will provide time-saving tips for conducting a funding search and an overview of resources and services available through the library. Each participant will have access to a computer for searching.

Seating is limited to 20 participants, and advance registration is strongly recommended. Your registration will be confirmed by email. For more information, email the GrantSource Library or call 962-3463.

Faculty International Expertise Database

The Faculty with International Expertise Database streamlines access to information on the international expertise of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty. It is free of charge and available to faculty, students, and the public. Check out the newly revised profiles and learn more about faculty with expertise on a topic or region of the world in which you are interested.

Bayesian Analysis Workshop

Date: January 7 to 8, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Place: 01 and 14 Manning Hall

The Odum Institute is offering a two-day workshop on Bayesian Analysis. The instructor, Scott Lynch, is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Princeton University. To register, click here.

New Award Manager in OSR

The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) would like to announce their new Award Manager, Allison Maultsby. A list of her areas of responsibility can be found here. She can be reached at 962-4677.

New Staff in ORIS

Mark Wampole has joined the Office of Research Information Services (ORIS) as Associate Director of Client Services and Systems. He has worked in ITS for the past eight years, supporting the chancellor's and provost's offices as well as many offices reporting to them. Prior to coming to UNC, Mark spent ten years in the biomedical and computer fields, and brings with him a wealth of technological knowledge and experience.

Mark can be reached via email, office phone (843-5847), or cell phone (923-9001).

Postdoctoral Scholar Orientation

Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Time: 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Place: Medical Biomolecular Research Building G202

The spring orientation is an opportunity for new postdoctoral scholars to be introduced to the staff of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and gather information about health insurance, benefits, and other resources that are available to them during their appointment as a postdoctoral scholar at Carolina. There will be a welcome address from Tony Waldrop, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, and a peer panel discussion on the topic of "Making the Most of Your Postdoc".

Please contact the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at 962-9982 for more information.

New Patents and License Agreements

The Office of Technology Development (OTD) reports that the university received one U.S. patent and executed two license agreements in November.

Exigent Pharmaceuticals seeks to discover and develop new pharmaceutical treatments for bacterial and infectious diseases using technologies developed by Matthew Redinbo, Steven W. Matson, and Scott A. Lujan.

To learn more about these new patents and license agreements, please contact otd@unc.edu or call 966-3929. For other information on licenses and agreements, click here.

Previous Campus News