The College of Science is a partner with the Oregon Museum for Science and Industry (OMSI) for the SciComm Fellowship program. The training program is open to any STEAM professional from graduate students through faculty. Application deadline is Dec. 20. There will be an information session at 1:30 p.m., Dec. 2 in Kidder 128.

The Family Resource Center Kids Gift Closet helps OSU families provide gifts for their children during holidays and celebrations. Thanks to our generous sponsors, each year’s gift closet is a huge success and we have many grateful families. You can give in a variety of ways: Amazon registry that ships directly to FRC; the Toy Factory in downtown Corvallis (you can leave the gift in our donation box), or you can bring in any new and unwrapped gifts to Our Little Village in the lower level of Milne. We will be collecting gifts until Dec. 13. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this program, please contact familyresources@oregonstate.edu.

Dear OSU Community Members,

Advancing safe working, learning, and living environments is at the heart of all that we do within the university. We recognize that inclement weather, hazardous conditions, extreme heat, and unhealthy air quality are environmental situations that can affect your wellness and safety, and the successful operations of the university.

There are circumstances in which the president, or designated OSU leaders, might determine it necessary to delay the opening or close the university’s operations while maintaining ongoing essential residential and research functions. Recognizing that fall, winter, spring, and summer terms each come with unique weather events and potential for conditions that may be hazardous, this communication is focused on inclement weather (snow, ice, heavy rain) and conditions (flooding, icy roads, fallen trees) which may occur during fall and winter terms.

Announcements of Closure or Curtailments of Operations

To inform OSU community members and to contribute to continuity of services, the university will make every effort to announce campus or university closures or curtailment decisions as soon as possible. The information will be distributed or posted no later than 6 a.m. and, when possible, earlier. An announcement of closure or curtailment of operations will be distributed as follows:

Corvallis campus: Posted on the OSU Home Page with a headline linking to the Campus Alert website. Additionally, OSU’s Department of Public Safety will maintain a recorded phone message reporting the operating status of the Corvallis campus and providing information related to an emergency, delayed opening, or closure situation. This information is accessible 24/7 by dialing 541-737-8000.

OSU-Cascades: Posted in an alert bar on the OSU-Cascades Home Page and Emergency Status web page. Additionally, see OSU-Cascades’ Weather Delays and Closures web page for complete list of delay or closure notifications. OSU-Cascades’ phone line will include recorded information updating closure or delayed opening details. That number is 541-322-3100.

Hatfield Marine Science Center: Noted on the HMSC website by 6:30 a.m.

OSU Portland Center: Sent to employees by email by local leadership.

Experiment Stations and Extension programs:  Sent to employees by email by local leadership.

General Closure and Curtailment information:

·        The university will provide information on closures, delayed openings, and curtailment of operations to local media. A detailed listing can be found at Closures or Curtailment of Operations.  Employees are encouraged to monitor local media to stay informed of university conditions.

·        If an OSU campus or facilities are closed or operations curtailed, supervisors should confirm with affected employees who are assigned to on-site work whether the employee can perform their work duties remotely. Employees who are already working remotely may continue to do so as normal.

·        Employees whose position description designates them as performing essential work are required to work on-site at their regularly scheduled time during a closure or curtailment unless otherwise specified by their supervisor. An employee may temporarily be designated to perform essential work by their supervisor due to an urgent or critical need.

·        For additional information and resources, see the Closures or Curtailment of Operations policy, which includes links to a quick reference guide and information on how to report time during for inclement weather closures or curtailment of operations

During inclement weather or hazardous conditions, I encourage all students, faculty, and staff to utilize this information and always carefully consider their personal safety and local conditions when making decisions about their commute to work or campus, and travel across an OSU campus or center.

The College of Science is a partner with the Oregon Museum for Science and Industry (OMSI) for the SciComm Fellowship program. The training program is open to any STEAM professional from graduate students through faculty. Application deadline is Dec. 20. There will be an information session at 1:30 p.m., Dec. 2 in Kidder 128.

The ORBC will be holding a Pre-Proposal Research Meeting on Nov 22nd at 9am via Zoom only.  

This meeting will be a chance to review the ORBC research priorities for this RFP cycle.

  Researchers who are considering submitting proposals are encouraged to participate in order to review project ideas with the ORBC Research Committee.

ZOOM MEETING – 
Topic: ORBC  Pre-Proposal Research Meeting
Time: Nov 22nd, 9am – 10:30am 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92261456894?pwd=dE1uNlFqa2xBcG9mcmRaWEhwRUlaUT09

Meeting ID: 922 6145 6894
Passcode: 659895

Darcy Kochis

Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission Administrator & Marketing Director

PO BOX 56587 | Portland, OR 97238

darcy@oregon-berries.com | 503-208-5589

Welch Award in Chemistry
The purpose of The Welch Award in Chemistry is to foster and encourage basic chemical research and to recognize, in a substantial manner, the value of chemical research contributions for the benefit of humankind. In accordance with these principles, the award committee will consider any person who has made important chemical research contributions that have had a significant, positive influence on humankind. We intend that the award recognizes the contributions of an individual who has not previously been recognized in a similar manner.

Nominations due 1/31/25

https://welch1.org/awards/welch-award-in-chemistry

Today, the NSF posted guidelines for 25-508 Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF), with an application deadline of February 4, 2025. Awards are expected to range from $1,500,000 – $2,000,000 and have duration of four years.

As this is a limited submission (maximum of five applications per lead institution), we have created an InfoReady Limited Submission form with an internal deadline of Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

———————–

NSF DMREF Overview: DMREF will support interdisciplinary teams of researchers, working synergistically in a “closed loop” fashion, to build the fundamental knowledge base needed to advance the design, development, and “manufacturability” (i.e., properties relevant to manufacturing, process-property relationships, property-performance metrics, potential pathways for scale-up, economic feasibility, supply-chain considerations, or life-cycle issues) of materials. DMREF will drive the integration of experiment, theory, computation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, as well as the development of new tools, processing approaches, and infrastructure to achieve its objective. The program highlights three sets of goals: 

1.  Unify the Materials Innovation Infrastructure (MII), a framework of integrating advanced modeling, computational and experimental tools, and quantitative data; 

2.  Harness the power of materials data;

3.  and Educate, train, and connect the materials research and development workforce.

———————

Please feel free to share this opportunity with any interested applicants. Thank you very much!

Dear colleagues,

Even as we go on with business as usual, many of us are processing and absorbing the implications of national and world events. Opinions vary significantly across OSU regarding all of these events, and we as faculty and staff need to ensure that we are supportive of the needs of all of our colleagues and students across the political spectrum(s). The work we are doing to educate the next generation of scientists is more important than ever, but please take the time to take care of your own needs, those of your colleagues, and those of your students. The resources below may be useful.

Mental Health Resources

Corvallis-based students:

https://counseling.oregonstate.edu

Cascades-based students:

https://osucascades.edu/student-health-and-wellness/mental-health

Ecampus-based students:

https://counseling.oregonstate.edu/main/ecampus-students

Employees:

https://hr.oregonstate.edu/work-life/culture-care/mental-health-resources

Community Connections

Cultural Resource Centers in Corvallis:

https://see.oregonstate.edu/dce/cultural-resource-centers

Employee Affinity Groups:

Association of Faculty and Staff for the Advancement of People of Color (AFAPC)

President’s Commission on Indigenous Affairs (PCIA)

President’s Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff Affairs (PCSBFSA)

President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCOSW)

QueerPros: Please email the Office of Institutional Diversity at diversity@oregonstate.edu

to connect with QueerPros

Sincerely,
Eleanor

Eleanor Feingold

Dean

128E Kidder Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331

(541) 737-3886

Dear OSU Employees, 

Oregon State University is committed to creating a campus environment that supports the wellbeing of our community. Decisions about the use of alcohol and other substances remain a pressing concern for those on our campus, in our state, and across the nation. The information and resources provided in the attached annual university notification include offerings that may assist in the decision making process. The notification attached provides information about alcohol and substance use prevention and education resources, recovery and harm reduction resources for those who may be struggling with substance abuse or misuse, information regarding short and long-term health risks, as well as federal, state, local, and institutional sanctions.  

OSU provides prevention and education programs related to the use of alcohol and other substances to help community members with responsible use, including:

1. Student Health Services: The Health Equity & Wellness team supports the health and well-being of students through a variety of services, including alcohol and substance use prevention, education, counseling, and recovery support.  
2. OSU-Cascades Student Wellness: Student Wellness supports the emotional, social and physical well-being of OSU-Cascades students to help them reach their academic and personal goals and make the most of their educational experience.
3. Lyra Health: Oregon State University offers a comprehensive mental health and wellbeing benefit for employees through Lyra Health. This is a confidential and no-cost service for employees and their household members. Lyra Health offers a range of services, including access to a network of experienced and culturally responsive mental health professionals, therapists, and counselors who are available for in-person and virtual appointments. The Lyra platform also provides resources for self-guided support and emotional well-being tools to help members manage stress and improve their overall mental health. Employees have access to online resources and eight coaching or therapy sessions per a calendar year.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available. Please see below for supportive resources. A more extensive list can be found in the attached report. 

1. Student Health Services Substance Use Counseling: Short-term substance use counseling is available on the Corvallis campus through Student Health Services to students who have paid the health fee. Student Health offers individual sessions with a substance use counselor. These sessions are confidential and can help students create a personalized plan to meet their goals related to reducing or eliminating substance use. To make an appointment, call 541-737-9355.
2. The Joan and Tom Skoro Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP): The CRP seeks to engage and support the OSU community seeking recovery from substance use and those who are contemplating entering into recovery. For more information, call 541-737-9355, send an email to Recovery@oregonstate.edu, or visit  https://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/alcohol-drug-prevention-education#recovery
3. Recovery meetings: Recovery meetings are currently offered in person at the Memorial Union on the Corvallis campus each week. For more information, please email recovery@oregonstate.edu or visit https://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/alcohol-drug-prevention-education#recovery
4. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available on the Corvallis campus to students who have paid the health fee. CAPS is dedicated to addressing the challenges and difficulties students face. To schedule an appointment or learn about services, please visit: http://counseling.oregonstate.edu/ or call 541-737-2131.
5. OSU-Cascades Counseling: Counseling services are free for OSU-Cascades students. Please email Studentwellness@osucascades.edu to make an appointment with a counselor.
6. Lyra Health: This is a confidential and no-cost service for employees and their household members to use. Substance use treatment is built into the Lyra offerings. During intake Lyra screens for substance abuse concerns using evidence-based measures. Lyra providers use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat substance use disorders to help members develop coping skills, prevent relapses, and reduce harmful behaviors. If members need in-patient or long-term care, Lyra’s Care Navigator Team offers high touch, concierge support to help to locate resources through the Advanced Care Coordination program. This includes finding, vetting, and obtaining spots in treatment facilities. Lyra can also give resources and support to family members as they go through the process. Lyra’s Care Navigators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached via phone at or 1-877-235-7812 or e-mail care@lyrahealth.com. Detailed information about how to sign up with Lyra Health is located here: https://beav.es/lyra-health.
7. Employee health insurance coverage for treatment: PEBB HealthInsurance plans (PEBB Statewide, Providence, Moda, and Kaiser) providecoverage for substance abuse treatment. For questions or assistance with reaching insurance navigators for each medical plan please contact Employee Benefits in University Human Resources at 541-737-2805 or email employee.pebbbenefits@oregonstate.edu.
8. Time off work: Employees seeking treatment for substance abuse may be eligible for time off from work through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act(FMLA) and/or Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). Contact the Protected Leave Team in University Human Resources at 541-737-5964 or email fmla@oregonstate.edu for more information.