Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC)

Applications are being accepted for Fall, Winter and/or Spring Term(s) 2014-15

Application Deadline to the Research Office: Monday, May 5, 2014

Program description and application: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/urisc

The Research Office URISC program supports undergraduate research activities from all academic disciplines within Oregon State University. “Research” at OSU is interpreted broadly to reflect what goes on not only in laboratories and field stations, but also in libraries, art studios, and music practice rooms. The URISC program is intended to enable OSU undergraduate students to develop a scholarly relationship with faculty early in their academic careers.

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Special Science Call for Proposals is now open for high-impact research that advances BER scientific missions by taking advantage of recently established or developing technical resources at EMSL.

This call focuses on research in selected topics that would be enabled by the following unique scientific resources in EMSL:

Proposals may be submitted at any time before September 15, 2014, and external review and award decisions will be made upon receipt of the proposals to expedite access. A limited pool of staff and instrument time has been set aside for this Call, and researchers are encouraged to submit early to be considered.

Applications must be submitted electronically through EMSL’s User Portal, and adhere to the 2014 Proposal Guidance. Preference will be given to BER-sponsored research proposals and those proposals that are ready for an immediate start to accelerate scientific advancement and impact. Proposals that demonstrate the value of integrating these capabilities with other EMSL capabilities are especially encouraged.

Questions regarding EMSL’s user program or specifics about this new Call opportunity may be directed to the User Support Office (509-371-6003,emsl@pnnl.gov).

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Grand Challenges Explorations, Round 13

http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Pages/ApplicationInstructions.aspx

Gates Foundation Deadline: May 6, 2014

Funding: $100,000 for Phase I Grants

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Grand Challenges Explorations Round 13, Phase I program.

Explorations Round 13 Topics:

  • New Ways of Working Together: Integrating Community-Based Interventions
  • Explore New Ways to Measure Fetal and Infant Brain Development
  • Inciting Healthy Behaviors: nudge, disrupt, leapfrog, reach
  • Novel Enabling Tools and Models Supporting Development of Interventions for Enteric Dysfunction
  • Innovations in Feedback & Accountability Systems for Agricultural Development

For related questions, contact Aaron Shonk, Director, Foundation Services at OSU Foundation at 541-737-6961 or aaron.shonk@oregonstate.edu.

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The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences 2014 Funding Opportunity

Dreyfus Foundation Initial Inquiry Deadline:  June 5, 2014

Dreyfus Foundation Proposal Deadline:  August 18, 2014

http://dreyfus.org/awards/special_grant_program_chemical.shtml

The Special Grant Program encourages proposals that are judged likely to significantly advance the chemical sciences. Examples of areas of interest include (but are not limited to): the increase in public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the chemical sciences; innovative approaches to chemistry education at all levels (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate); and efforts to make chemistry careers more attractive.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Phillips, Director, Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu.

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-National Science Foundation (NSF)- Innovation Corps Sites Program (I-Corps Sites)

NSF 14-547

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14547/nsf14547.htm

Research OfficeOffice for Research Development Letter of Intent submission deadline:  Monday, May 5, 2014

Synopsis of Program:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon research to guide the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society.

In order to contribute to a national innovation ecosystem, NSF established the NSF Innovation Corps Sites Program (NSF I-Corps Sites). Sites are funded at academic institutions, having already existing innovation or entrepreneurial units, to enable them to:

  • Nurture students and/or faculty who are engaged in projects having the potential to be transitioned into the marketplace. I-Corps Sites will provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training and modest funding to enable groups to transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I-Corps Team applicants (see NSF Innovation Corps Program, NSF 12-602).
  • Develop formal, active, local innovation ecosystems that contribute to a larger, national network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.

The purpose of an I-Corps Site is to nurture and support multiple, local teams to transition their ideas, devices, processes or other intellectual activities into the marketplace.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $1,500,000

Estimated Number of Awards: 15 I-Corps Sites awards annually, pending availability of funds

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1

Guidance for preparation of letter of intent to the Research Office, Office for Research Development:: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-icsp

Submit electronically as a MSWord or PDF document to: debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

For further information, please contact Mary Phillips, Director of the Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu

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-National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

NSF 14-548

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14547/nsf14548.htm

Research OfficeOffice for Research Development Letter of Intent submission deadline:  Monday, April 21, 2014

Synopsis of Program:

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development of bold, new, potentially transformative, and scalable models for STEM graduate training that ensure that graduate students develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program initially has one priority research theme – Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (DESE); in addition, proposals are encouraged on any other crosscutting, interdisciplinary theme. In either case, proposals should identify the alignment of project research themes with national research priorities and the need for innovative approaches to train graduate students in those areas. The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon research to guide the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $24,000,000 to $30,000,000

Estimated Number of Awards: 8-10

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 2

Guidance for preparation of letter of intent to the Research Office, Office for Research Development:: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-nrt

Submit electronically as a MSWord or PDF document to: debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

For further information, please contact Mary Phillips, Director of the Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu

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The Research Office, Office for Research Development is requesting letters of intent for the NSF – Scalable Nanomanufacturing (SNM) program

Deadline to submit letters of intent to the Research Office: Monday, April 21, 2014

Synopsis of Program:

NSF announces a fourth year of a program on collaborative research and education in the area of scalable nanomanufacturing, including the long-term societal implications of the large-scale implementation of nanomanufacturing innovations. This program is in response to and is a component of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Signature Initiative: Sustainable Nanomanufacturing – Creating the Industries of the Future (http://www.nano.gov/node/611.) Although many nanofabrication techniques have demonstrated the ability to fabricate small quantities of nanomaterials, nanostructures and nanodevices for characterization and evaluation purposes, the emphasis of the scalable nanomanufacturing program is on research to overcome the key scientific and technological barriers that prevent the production of useful nanomaterials, nanostructures, devices and systems at an industrially relevant scale, reliably, and at low cost and within environmental, health and safety guidelines. Competitive proposals will incorporate three elements in their research plans:

  • A persuasive case that the nanomaterials, nanostructures, devices or systems to be produced have or are likely to have sufficient demand to justify eventual scale-up;
  • A clearly identified set of research issues for science and engineering solutions that must be addressed to enable the production of high quality nano-enabled products at low cost; and
  • A compelling research plan with clear research objectives and approaches to overcome the identified research issues.

Proposals submitted to this program should consider addressing aspects of the nanomanufacturing value chain:

  • Novel scalable processes and techniques for large-area or continuous manufacturing of nano-scale structures and their assembly/integration into higher order systems;
  • Fundamental scientific research in well-defined technical areas that are compellingly justified as approaches to overcome critical barriers to scale-up and integration; and
  • Design principles for production systems leading to nanomanufacturing platforms; identification of metrology, instrumentation, standards and control methodologies needed for process control and to assess quality and yield.

Competitive proposals are expected to address the training and education of students in nanomanufacturing. While not required, the involvement of an industrial partner or partners is strongly encouraged and has the potential to significantly strengthen a proposal.

Guidance for preparation of letters of intent to the Research Office: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-snm

NSF – SNM program information: http://nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14544/nsf14544.htm

Information: Mary Phillips, Director, Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu

Submit letters of intent electronically to Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

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The Research Office, Office for Research Development is requesting letter of intent for the NSF – Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) program.

Deadline to submit letters of intent to the Research Office: Monday, April 21, 2014

Synopsis of Program:

In this solicitation, significant changes have been made to the long-standing Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (EESE) program. To better reflect the program’s new focus, we have decided to change its title to Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM). Whereas EESE was centered on graduate education, this new solicitation is directed towards research that addresses the formation of ethical STEM students, faculty, and researchers at all levels, through a variety of means beyond conventional classroom instruction.

Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) funds research projects that identify factors that are effacacious in the formation of ethical STEM researchers in all the fields of science and engineering that NSF supports. CCE STEM solicits proposals for research that explores the following: ‘What constitutes ethical STEM research and practice? Which cultural and institutional contexts promote ethical STEM research and practice and why?’ Factors one might consider include: honor codes, professional ethics codes and licensing requirements, an ethic of service and/or service learning, life-long learning requirements, curricula or memberships in organizations (e.g. Engineers without Borders) that stress social responsibility and humanitarian goals, institutions that serve under-represented groups, institutions where academic and research integrity are cultivated at multiple levels, institutions that cultivate ethics across the curriculum, or programs that promote group work, or do not grade. Do certain labs have a ‘culture of academic integrity’? What practices contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical cultures and how can these practices be transferred, extended to, and integrated into other research and learning settings?

Successful proposals will include a comparative dimension, either between or within institutional settings that differ along these or other factors.

CCE STEM research projects will use basic research to produce knowledge about what constitutes responsible or irresponsible, just or unjust scientific practices and sociotechnical systems, and how to best instill students with this knowledge.

Guidance for preparation of letters of intent to the Research Office: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/nsf-cce-stem

NSF – CCE STEM program information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14546/nsf14546.htm

Information:  Mary Phillips, Director, Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu

Submit letters of intent electronically to Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu

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The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry

Please forward this funding opportunity to faculty that may be interested.

Dreyfus foundation Deadline:  August 11, 2014

Funding:  $120,000 over two years

Applications should describe innovative fundamental research in the chemical sciences or engineering related to the environment. Examples include but are not limited to the chemistry associated with: the climate, the atmosphere, aquatic or marine settings, toxicology, soil or groundwater. Also of interest are chemistry-related energy research (renewable sources, sequestration, etc.), and new or green approaches to chemical synthesis and processing both with a clearly stated relation to the environment.

Applications are accepted from principal investigators who have well-established research efforts in environmental science or engineering.

Complete program details: http://dreyfus.org/awards/postdoctoral_program.shtml

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Phillips, Director, Office for Research Development at mary.phillips@oregonstate.edu.

The Powered By Orange office is looking for members of the Class of 2014 to profile in conjunction with commencement.  Interested??  Contact Callie Newton.

Callie Newton
Writer/Editor
Interactive Communications
Oregon State University

callie.newton@oregonstate.edu
cell: 541.990.7573 | office: 541.737.8323

Here’s some examples from last year:
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/14/hyung-seok-lee-loving-learning/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/12/ryan-connolly-entering-the-real-world/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/10/alexa-ortiz-moving-forward/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/07/alfonc-rakaj-challenge-yourself/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/05/stephanie-mcgregor-people-matter-the-most/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/06/03/eder-mondragon-quiroz/
http://poweredbyorange.com/2013/05/30/alexandra-gulick-from-halfway-to-around-the-world/

Walt Loveland, et. al, recently published a paper in Physical Review Letters.  As part of the publication and promotion, Physical Review Letters, requested a short summary of the article be written in layman’s terms.  Below is that summary:

OSU Scientists Explain Synthesis of New Chemical Elements
Exploring the limits of existence of the chemical elements is a driving force for chemists and physicists. OSU scientists (Yanez et al.) have reported (in Physical Review Letters) an important step in understanding
the production of the heaviest chemical elements and their survival.  Their novel approach, data and interpretation are ” of key importance for a better understanding”,  of the synthesis reactions.

The heaviest elements have been produced by hot fusion reactions at unexpectedly high rates.  The authors have measured the survival probability of one of these nuclei, 274Hs, at high excitation energy, finding a unusually high survival and have shown that survival is due to dissipative effects during de-excitation. These dissipative effects decrease the probability of fission occurring in these nuclei and thus increase their survival.  This finding helps explain the paradox of hot fusion reactions that make nuclei at high excitation energies (where the effect of nuclear shell structure is “washed out”,  and the apparent stabilizing effects of “the island of stability”  in these synthetic reactions.

Congratulations all!

Please stay tuned for links to the article!

 

 

Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunity: The Research Office is accepting applications for the Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Creativity (URISC) program for Fall, Winter and/or Spring term(s) 2014-15. This program supports undergraduate research activities from all academic disciplines within the university. Program description and application: http://oregonstate.edu/research/incentive/urisc. Information: Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu. Deadline: May 5.

Congratulations to our Winter 2014 Honor Roll Students!!  Great job everybody!

Chadd Armstrong
Dakota Backus
Scott Best
Corinne Brucks
Abigail Chitwood
Tora Cobb
Andrea Domen
Tony Duong
Brandice Durfee
Robert Figura
Elizabeth Gass
Erin Hanson
John Hergert
Joshua Holmes
Michael Hughes
Michael Jagielski
Reid Kinser
Shan Lansing
Jamy Lee
Sarah Melancon
Lindsey Michaud
Monica Mueller
Chen Ng
Dang Nguyen
Dallas Niemeyer
Thu Pham
Gary Points
Kristin Potter
Jacob Ramsey
Jason Sandwisch
Allie Schultz
Kenneth Stout
Halley Todd
Drew Van Anrooy
Tianqi Zhang
Karen Zhen

There is a sign-up sheet for the men’s chemistry softball team in the Chemistry Office. All levels of players are welcome. Games are held once a week in the evenings from May 11th to the end of July.  The cost to the players is $25/person to cover league fees. Sign up deadline is April 15th. More information is on the sign-up sheet and for other questions email Ryan McQuade: mcquadry@onid.orst.edu

We already have quite a few players so come sign up while you have a chance!

-Ryan McQuade

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is recruiting experienced graduate students to serve as part of our 2014 GTA Mentors team. The GTA Mentors Program provides an opportunity for experienced GTAs to gain valuable teaching experience and participate in advanced trainings and professional development. The CTL is seeking twelve motivated and qualified graduate students from a variety of disciplines to serve in this leadership role during the spring, summer, and fall of 2014.

GTA Mentors’ primary responsibility will be planning and facilitating the fourth annual New GTA Orientation event in September. In doing so, GTA Mentors will be required to attend four trainings throughout the summer and the New GTA Orientation September 18 & 19. All GTA Mentors will be compensated $250 in professional development funds upon completing their training and facilitation duties.

Applicants must have completed at least two terms of teaching at OSU by the end of the 2014 spring term and should have a record of high quality and innovative teaching. Applicants must also have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at OSU to be eligible. We have extended the application deadline by one week, completed applications must now be received by April 8, 2014, at 5:00 PM.

If you would like more information about the program, please contact Tess Collins at tess.collins@oregonstate.edu or check out the following link for application information: Apply Here.  Faculty and staff are encouraged to forward this email to those they think may be interested or to nominate outstanding GTAs within their departments by sending the GTA’s name and email address to Tess Collins.

Who is your PI? – David Ji

How did you get into Undergraduate Research? – I got into UG research because I heard of it from a T.A. at the Mole Hole.  He, like me, had a scholarship requiring a certain amount of credits, and he told me that it was a nice way to help fulfill that requirement while gaining real work experience and helping others.

What advice might you have for other Undergraduate students thinking of pursuing research or just getting started? – I am very happy with my UG research position. I enjoy going in for UG research, and learn a lot from it.  I also really like the UG research system, as it is a symbiosis, with both parties benefiting. It is difficult to tell others what to expect in the position, because that will vary greatly depending on what T.A. he/she works for, and what department of chemistry he/she works under.  In general, you should expect to aid the graduate student with their experiments in any way he/she asks, be it preparation work, clean up, experiment assistance, individual conduction of experiments, etc.
The best advice I have regarding UG research is to meet with the T.A. that you will be working for during the first week of the term and set up a timetable detailing what days and how many hours you will be coming in to work, fitting this timetable around both you and your T.A.’s schedule.  This assures that there will be no time conflicts for either of you, and will allow the research to run smoothly.

It is with tremendous enthusiasm that we recognize your early contributions to the field of Environmental Science and Engineering through the ACS ENVR 100th Anniversary Emerging Leader Award. Your accomplishments and dedication to the field in this early stage of your career are to be celebrated and encouraged – and we can’t wait to do just that!

In the spirit of the Centennial of the Division of Environmental Chemistry of ACS, a “Women in Environmental Science and Engineering” Symposium will highlight advances and pioneering efforts made by women in the field. This symposium will feature keynote and invited presentations from top women in our field. We will have an awards ceremony in the afternoon of this session[1] where you will have the opportunity to introduce yourself to the ENVR and ACS Community in the presence of well-established researchers. We are highlighting your work at SciMix and as a “Newsworthy” participant at this event. In addition, we have taken the liberty of including your abstract in this Symposiums poster session (to be held Wednesday Aug 13, optional). Your abstract submitted with your nomination from your advisor will appear in the ACS program book.

This award comes with a $500 travel grant. To receive this stipend, you must be present at both the WIESE Symposium (where the awards will be presented) and SciMix Poster session (to be held on Monday, August 11, 2014). We are sincerely looking forward to recognizing your early achievements in the field, introducing you to some of today’s leaders and legends, and welcoming you into this tremendous community. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jillian Goldfarb at jilliang@bu.edu. We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco! Congratulations!

Sincerely,

The Women in Environmental Science & Engineering Symposium Committee