Mississippi State University faculty, researchers and other personnel may be interested in submitting a white paper for the EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Track-2 (RII Track-2) that was released last October.

Since Louisiana and Mississippi are currently participants in an existing Track-2 project, these states were not eligible to submit a proposal under the terms of the solicitation for the Jan. 30, 2013, deadline, but they are eligible to submit a proposal for the Jan. 29, 2014, deadline.

The primary drivers for RII Track-2 investments are 1) consortium-based science and engineering research and 2) development of a diverse workforce. It is expected that these drivers will be sustained beyond the project period. The project description must include a strong rationale for the establishment of the consortium and place the project in a regional, national, or thematic context. Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully study the RII Track-2 Program Description in Section II of solicitation NSF 13-509.

This solicitation seeks collaborative proposals from teams that must include investigators from both states. It is the responsibility of the proposers to assemble a consortium that can collaboratively undertake a project that show that the consortium is well positioned to produce project results that cannot be obtained by any single partner working independently. The proposal must clearly address the Track-2 program description as outlined in Section II of solicitation NSF 13-509 in relation to the following theme, which is based on regional research strengths and interests in Louisiana and Mississippi:

Strengthening the scientific basis for decision making within the context of manufacturing. The proposed research should tie to next generation component design that may include material synthesis, non-destructive evaluation and testing with emphasis on physics-based models and associated computational aspects.

Funding for Track-2 projects is $1.5 to 2 million per year per consortium for three years. NSF anticipates funding four awards, depending upon the quality of proposals and availability of funds.

Specific questions concerning this RFP and the requirements set forth herein should be directed in writing to Jim Gershey, by sending an email to jim.gershey@la.gov. Questions will be accepted and answered through Sept. 20, 2013.

The deadline for proposals is Oct. 2, 2013. To download the RFP, please click here.

As we rapidly approach the end of the spring semester, I know that many of you are looking forward to the summer and catching up on all of those projects that you weren't able to get to during a busy academic year. This is the perfect time to work on proposals, and if you are doing so, please keep in mind that we are here to assist. Dr. Teresa Gammill and our entire office are available to help identify opportunities for you, and the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration is prepared to get them submitted. As we continue to work through the current uncertainties of federal funding for research, thank you for your efforts to secure funded grants and contracts. I appreciate your many contributions.

As many of you know, Dr. Ray Vaughn has been named Vice President for Research at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and he will be starting his new position in June. In his many roles for our university, most recently as associate vice president for research, Ray has provided leadership, offered insight and contributed significantly to the success and national prominence of our research enterprise. He is also a really great guy. Please join me in congratulating him on this new opportunity at UAH, and thanking him for his hard work on behalf of MSU. While we are reluctant to say goodbye to Dr. Vaughn, we look forward to working with him collaboratively at UAH in the future.

Efforts underway to accredit Human Research Protection Program
The MSU Human Research Protection Program (HRRP) has completed the first step of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) application process. We expect to hear from them very soon concerning the scheduling of a site visit to our campus. Researchers at MSU will be asked to meet with the AAHRPP team to answer questions about the HRPP. We will provide more details as the time nears, but I ask for your cooperation if contacted.

This accreditation is very important to the overall regulatory compliance efforts that are among the responsibilities of my office. In the meantime, please take a few minutes to review the Human Subjects website at http://orc.msstate.edu/humansubjects -- paying particular attention to the standard operating procedures (SOPs), as many of them have changed as we prepare for the site visit.

IRB training reminder
Please remember that all students, faculty and staff engaged in human subject research need to participate in Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) training. If you are in need of IRB refresher training, we are offering a live training session on April 17 at 10 a.m. in Tully Auditorium.

This session will be the last live training offered until the fall semester. For more on training requirements or opportunities, please contact Ms. Jodi Roberts, IRB Officer, at jroberts@research.msstate.edu or 662-325-3294. You may register online anytime at https://ssl2.msstate.edu/orc/workshops/login.php

NIH program manager to visit
Dr. Franziska Grieder, the newly appointed Director of the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs at NIH -- http://dpcpsi.nih.gov/orip/index.aspx -- is planning to visit Mississippi State on Aug. 15. It is always helpful to our faculty and the university as a whole to have program managers visit, and we thank the College of Veterinary Medicine for coordinating this visit in cooperation with ORED.

Faculty leadership program seeks nominations
For the 2013-2014 academic year, we will again be conducting an academic leadership orientation program for selected faculty at Mississippi State University. This program has been very successful in the past, and many of its participants serve in key leadership positions on campus today. For the upcoming year, attendance will be limited to approximately 12 individuals who will be chosen from those who apply. Any faculty member is eligible to attend, but must be nominated by their center director, department head or dean. To apply, interested faculty should send a one-page summary addressing their future career plans, a current CV, and a one-page nomination letter from their center director, department head or dean. These materials should be sent to Ms. Jessica Northcutt at jnorthcutt@research.msstate.edu no later than Friday, May 31.

Kudos to our faculty and staff
One of the highlights of my job is to learn about the outstanding work that our faculty, staff and administrators do on a daily basis, and then to share their honors and awards with you every month. Here are a few that have come to my attention recently:

* Dr. Mark Novotny, Physics and Astronomy department head, has been named a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor. This achievement is the highest honor that a faculty member at MSU can earn, and it recognizes the many successes and contributions that Dr. Novotny has made.

* The Department of History had two major accomplishments that I would like to share. First, Dr. Alexandra Hui was awarded an NSF grant for a project titled "Threshold Spaces of Mind and Music: A History of the Science of Background Music, 1900-2000." Additionally, Dr. William Anthony Hay was awarded a 2013 Harry Frank Guggenheim Research Grant by the Guggenheim Foundation. Congratulations to both!

* Dr. Bob Collins will retire on May 1 from his position as Director of University Health Services. Dr. Collins has provided invaluable service to the Office of Research and Economic Development through his service on multiple regulatory compliance committees over many years. We are very grateful for the time and expertise he gave to us, and wish him well in his retirement endeavors.

* Dr. Ron McLaughlin, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, was selected to fill a national role with the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians as their President. Congratulations to Dr. McLaughlin.

* Dr. Li Zhang, an associate professor in Civil Engineering, will serve a nearly three-year term on the task force for emergency evacuations of the Transportation Research Board, a division of the National Research Council. The 26-member task force focuses on preparing for emergency evacuations from natural or man-made hazards.

Final words
As you might expect, we have launched a national search to fill the associate vice president for research position. The job details are available from the Human Resources Management website by searching for "Vice President for Research" in the department field on the Search Postings page. We are working diligently to fill this critical position, and I will update you on our progress in the coming weeks. Please consider asking a colleague that would be a superb fit for this position to apply, as it is critical that we have the best possible individual in this role.

Thank you for taking a few moments to read this letter. If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns about Mississippi State's research and economic development endeavors, please feel free to contact me at dshaw@research.msstate.edu

Go Dawgs!

David Shaw
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Mississippi State University

For the 2013-2014 academic year, the Office of Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President will again be conducting an academic leadership orientation program for selected faculty at Mississippi State University.

This program has been very successful in the past, and many of its participants serve in key leadership positions on campus today. For the upcoming year, attendance will be limited to approximately 12 individuals who will be chosen from those who apply.

Any faculty member is eligible to attend, but must be nominated by their center director, department head or dean.

To apply, interested faculty should send a one-page summary addressing their future career plans, a current CV, and a one-page nomination letter from their center director, department head or dean. These materials should be sent to Jessica Northcutt at jnorthcutt@research.msstate.edu by no later than Friday, May 31, 2013.

Selections will be made and announced prior to the start of the Fall 2013 semester.

The format of the leadership program consists of two-hour seminar sessions once per month from September to May. A wide variety of topics will be covered by senior leaders at MSU.

Questions about the program should be addressed to ORED at 662-325-3570.

As we reach the middle of the semester, I know that many of you are happy to see spring break on the calendar, and I hope that you will have some time to enjoy it. Spring is always a busy time of year on our campus, and this year is no exception. Our faculty and staff are making significant contributions to our overall research program, garnering national and international recognition, and advancing our land-grant mission for the state of Mississippi and beyond. It is a great time to be a part of Mississippi State University, and I appreciate your efforts on behalf of our research and economic development enterprise. Please let me share a few items:

Composites in Transportation Symposium on campus March 14-15
Later this month, we will bring together industry, government and academia for the first-ever Composites in Transportation Symposium at MSU. Taking place March 14-15 at Colvard Student Union, participants will discuss collaboration opportunities for advancing composites technologies — modeling, design and manufacturing — and training a skilled workforce. Dr. Ratan Jha, director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, along with MSU researchers and our Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (OETT), will host the special event. For more information, please contact Ms. Jo McKenzie at Raspet at 662-325-3797.

Investing in Innovation Day in April
Our second-annual Investing in Innovation Day, or I3 Day, will celebrate innovation on our campus on April 5 as part of Innovation Week, featuring Patent Recipient Awards, Business Plan Competition Finale, presentations by MSU Extension, OETT and others. There will also be technology and start-up company poster sessions. Sponsors include the Office of Research and Economic Development, OETT, MAFES and the College of Business, as well as private contributors. The theme of this year's event is "Inventing Solutions." Numerous business plan competitions will be held throughout the week leading up to Friday and the main events of I3 Day. Contact Sheree or Donna in OETT at 662-325-8223 for additional information.

SEC visiting faculty travel grants awarded
You may be surprised to find that the Southeastern Conference supports research as well as athletics, but it does. The SEC supported the competitive award of four $2,500 grants to faculty at MSU to travel to another SEC campus for the purpose of an exchange of ideas, develop grant proposals, conduct research, meet with peers and students, and/or give lectures or other presentations. Congratulations to our 2013 SEC visiting faculty travel grant recipients Richard Baird, Matthew Berg, Islam El-adaway and Giselle Thibaudeau.

Supporting Oktibbeha County School District students
As you may have read in a recent Starkville Daily News story, our university is working with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and Oktibbeha County School District to boost student achievement and raise graduation rates among students in the district. I appreciate the efforts of the College of Education, the Research and Curriculum Unit, the Early Childhood Institute and others for their efforts and applaud their commitment to these students. Ultimately, we want to help develop high-performing schools in Oktibbeha County, as well as anywhere else in our state where our expertise and resources could be utilized at the request of MDE.

Kudos to our faculty and staff
A highlight of my job is to learn about the outstanding work that our faculty, staff and administrators do on a daily basis, and then to share their honors and awards with you every month. Here are a few that have come across my desk recently:

* Dr. Kent Hoblet, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected president-elect for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. He will serve in this role until he becomes president of the association in July 2013. The association represents more than 4,000 faculty, 5,000 staff, 10,000 veterinary students, and 3,000 graduate students. This appointment brings great recognition to our university and the work within CVM.

* Dr. Mark Novotny, Physics and Astronomy department head, has been named an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in Physics for his efforts to advance science and its applications. A Fellow of the American Physical Society, he also recently was named a Dynasty Foundation Visiting Scientist.

* The Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Department has had a number of achievements that they shared with me. Among them: The newly elected leadership of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society are all alumni of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture at MSU. Dr. Donald Jackson received the C.A. Schultz Conservation Award from the Mississippi chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and Dr. Kevin Hunt received an award for his service to the chapter. Additionally, Dr. Wes Neal has been elected president-elect of the chapter. Dr. Steve Demarais was named the 2012 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year by the Mississippi Wildlife Federation.

* Dr. Lou D’Abramo, dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president for academic affairs and an MSU Giles Distinguished Professor, was named a Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society for his contributions to the advancement of global aquaculture. He is one of three experts elected as fellows in 2013 to honor outstanding achievements in aquaculture science, industry, outreach or extension.

* Dr. Bill Herndon, associate vice president of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, received the 2013 Southern Agricultural Economics Associate Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes significant and enduring contributions in scholarship or public service to agricultural economics in the South.

* Dr. Li Zhang, associate professor in Civil Engineering, has been named to an emergency evacuations task force of the Transportation Research Board, a division of the National Research Council. This 26-member task force focuses on preparing for emergency evacuations from natural or man-made hazards.

Final words
Let me again thank you for your efforts on behalf of Mississippi State. Your hard work is paying tremendous dividends that benefit the entire university community. In closing, I want you to know that MSU’s research expenditures — an important benchmark for determining research activity and productivity — totaled $233 million in 2012. That amount is the highest we have ever achieved at MSU, and it is a testament to each of you. Thank you!

Go Dawgs!

David Shaw
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Mississippi State University

NASA released the cooperative agreement notice (CAN) for the 2013 EPSCoR Competition on Feb. 13. Mississippi is eligible to submit one proposal. It is anticipated that five to eight awards of $750,000 each (to be expended over a three-year period of performance) will be made.

The Mississippi NASA EPSCoR Office is soliciting two‐page white papers from potential proposers at Mississippi universities. One of these papers will be selected by the Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC) for development into a full proposal to this NASA program.

To be seriously considered for selection, white papers must demonstrate:

— direct ties with, and responsiveness to the objectives of a NASA Center or Directorate;

— a collaboration among two or more Mississippi colleges or universities; and,

— involvement of faculty/students from groups underrepresented/underserved in STEM.

The most competitive white papers may also demonstrate partnerships or cooperative arrangements with one or more of the following: other government agencies, business/industry, private research foundations, jurisdiction agencies, local agencies, and/or additional academic institutions.

All white paper submissions must be submitted to MS NASA EPSCoR Director Peter Sukanek at cmpcs@olemiss.edu by 5 p.m. Monday, March 4.

Dr. Sukanek will conduct the first‐stage review to assess the white paper’s responsiveness to the CAN solicitation. The white papers, along with the first-stage review assessments, will then be provided to the MRC, which will judge and select the best paper for development into a full proposal for submission to NASA.

Additionally, Mississippi State faculty who submit white papers are asked to CC: Assistant Vice President for Research Teresa Gammill at tgammill@research.msstate.edu with their submission to Dr. Sukanek.

Click here to download additional information about the solicitation of white papers.

The nomination period is open for Mississippi State University's 2013 Research Awards and the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award. Employees and students are encouraged to submit nominations for this year's program.

Research Awards recognize individuals who contribute significantly to the university's mission of research, as well as honor and reward students, faculty and staff for their accomplishments in research and creative endeavors. The awards also raise awareness of research programs and capabilities on campus.

The Powe Award is reserved for outstanding, nationally recognized, competitive researchers. Nominees should have a distinguished research career and a currently active research program. The award will be reflective of leadership, vision, facilitation, collaboration, problem solving and team building. The Powe honoree receives a gift of $1,500 and a commemorative plaque.

Recipients will be honored at a banquet April 2 at the Palmeiro Center.

Complete nomination packets for all awards are due in the Office of Research and Economic Development on or before March 1. Additional information and nomination forms are available for download at http://www.research.msstate.edu/rresources/awards.php

The awards program is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

For additional information, please contact Jessica Northcutt at 662-325-3571 or jnorthcutt@research.msstate.edu.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday break, and that you are as excited as I am about the prospects for 2013. The Office of Research and Economic Development staff and I are continuing our work of supporting Mississippi State University’s research enterprise, which is creating new opportunities that enhance the quality of our research, improving the quality of life for Mississippians, and growing our state’s economy. As we move fully into the spring semester, I wanted to take a moment to update you on a few of our activities.

SEC Visiting Travel Grant Program applications
We received a very good response to the recent call for SEC visiting travel grant proposals, and we are currently working with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost to select four awards of $2,500 each that will support collaboration with other SEC universities. The applications we received were very good, and I appreciate the efforts of those of you who applied. We should be able to announce the four awards by early February. It’s heartening to know that we have so many opportunities to work with our sister universities in the SEC.

Faculty and staff garner recognition
One of the best parts of my job is working with a lot of very smart and very talented people on our campus. Here are a few of the folks whose recent accomplishments have caught my attention:

* Dr. Jodi Roberts, the university’s Institutional Review Board officer who oversees our Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), submitted MSU’s application for accreditation to the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs Inc. (AAHRPP) in late December. AAHRPP is now reviewing this application, and we expect a site visit before the end of the spring semester. This is a very extensive application, and it requires a great deal of effort. Kudos to Dr. Roberts and her staff for their work.

* Dr. Kevin Armbrust, director of the Mississippi Chemical Laboratory, was nominated by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) to serve on the Food and Drug Administration's Food Advisory Committee last year. After an extensive selection process, he has been invited to serve on the committee for the next three years. This appointment to a federal advisory committee is a true testament to Mississippi State’s excellent faculty and research capabilities.

* Dr. Daniel Peterson, director of the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology and a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, will receive the 2012 Cotton Biotechnology Award from the National Cotton Council of America for his and his co-author’s efforts on the ‘gold standard’ D5 genome sequence and the associated paper published in Nature.

* Dr. Mark F. Horstemeyer, a chair professor in mechanical and computation engineering, is being recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Engineering Section at its annual meeting in February. Dr. Horstemeyer will receive the same honor from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International at an April ceremony. These honors bring his total Fellow titles to four, an unprecedented accomplishment within the Bagley College of Engineering.

* Dr. James C. Newman, the Richard H. Johnson chair of aerospace engineering and a Giles Distinguished Professor, received the Fatigue Damage of Structural Materials Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 International Conference on Fatigue Damage of Structural Materials in September. In February, he joins Dr. Horstemeyer in being recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Engineering Section at its annual meeting.

Steel research partnership underway
The Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and Severstal North America are launching the Steel Research Center (SRC) that will create a steelmaking technology hub at Mississippi State. This 4,000-square-foot SRC is located in the Edwards Reactor Building on Herbert Street on the university’s main campus. Dr. Roger King, director of CAVS, will oversee the creation of the SRC which will help drive advanced predictive capabilities focusing on steel manufacturing processes and the design of new alloys for key flat rolled products to support the steel consuming industries. Congratulations to all for moving this project forward. It is one of the many examples of how our researchers are partnering with Mississippi’s largest employers.

International activities accelerate
We continue to increase our international presence and research activity. I just completed a trip to Rome, along with Dr. Jerry Gilbert and Dr. Greg Bohach. We visited with a number of universities and government organizations that see value in working with MSU. We will continue to foster these relationships over the coming year, and I anticipate contacting various research groups for support as we work toward solid collaborations. In late January, Mr. Donald Tong, the Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, traveled to our state for meetings with MSU, the Mississippi Development Authority and other officials and business leaders. Mr. Tong spent time on our campus meeting with students, faculty and staff; toured many of our research facilities; and spoke in Jackson at the Janos Radvanyi Chair in International Security Studies Executive Lecture Forum luncheon. We are also growing our cyber security collaborations with universities in Australia, and executed an MOU with the University of South Australia formalizing our joint research efforts with them. As you can see, we are growing Mississippi State’s presence in the global community, and I look forward to sharing additional success stories about our efforts in the future.

nSPARC on move to Cochran Research Park
The National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center (nSPARC) under the directorship of Dr. Mimmo Parisi will soon be relocating to a new home. We have made arrangements for this highly productive research center to occupy space in the Powe Building, which is located in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.

Final words
I know I often tell you how much I appreciate your efforts, and I will continue to do so. Without you and your hard work, we would not have an internationally recognized research program. I am very aware that the funding landscape is becoming more and more difficult these days, but Mississippi State University continues to hold its own nationally. Thank you for all you do, and my best wishes for a productive new year.

Go Dawgs!

David Shaw
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Mississippi State University

Headlined by three keynote addresses from leading energy industry experts, the 2013 Southeastern Conference Symposium, titled “Impact of the Southeast in the World’s Renewable Energy Future,” will be held Feb. 10-12, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

The trio of keynote speakers includes Sam Baldwin, chief science officer at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy; Steven J. Mirshak, global business director for DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol; and Susanne Shine, Ambassador (Deputy Chief of Mission) with the Royal Danish Embassy.

The SEC Symposium addresses a significant scholarly issue across the range of disciplines represented by the Southeastern Conference’s 14 member universities. This event showcases their academic excellence and underscores their educational and economic contributions to the vitality of the region, nation and world.

To register, visit www.SECSymposium.com.

The Southeastern Conference Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program is intended to enhance faculty collaboration that stimulates scholarly initiatives between SEC universities. It gives faculty from one SEC university the opportunity to travel to another SEC campus to: exchange ideas; develop grant proposals; conduct research; consult with faculty and/or students; offer lectures or symposia; or engage in whatever activities are agreeable to the visitor and host unit.

Mississippi State University can select a maximum of four faculty members to receive 2013 travel grants of $2,500 each for transportation, room, board, etc., to use for travel to another SEC campus.

Travel dates for these visits are between February 2013 and June 30, 2013. The faculty member will contact a host unit that he or she wishes to visit to determine that unit’s receptivity and availability.

Click here to download the application form. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

Contact Assistant Vice President for Research Teresa Gammill via e-mail with questions.

It is no secret that funding for higher education faces significant challenges on campuses around the country. For major research universities like Mississippi State, external funding awards for sponsored programs provide the best alternative funding source for research when other options are limited.

By accepting funding from an outside source, we also accept the responsibility of being good stewards and accounting for those funds to ensure that they are spent properly. It is very important that we recover all of the costs of a project — direct and indirect — to the university.

And in tighter budget times, recovering indirect costs is critical. These dollars represent the cost of doing business, and they are real dollars being spent by Mississippi State to support all of our programs — including sponsored research activities. Without water, electricity and technology, it would be difficult to complete most research projects. Without university support for development of grant proposals, sponsored programs would not even exist. Since it's impossible to attribute these costs to a specific project, MSU must recover them some other way.

Enter indirect costs. Keep in mind that if we don't collect indirect costs, support for your research activities is reduced, and maintenance is deferred on your buildings and labs.

Have questions? Mississippi State's Office of Sponsored Programs Administration staff can give you answers about cost recovery and more, and you might also want to view a great video from the University of Idaho that offers an excellent overview of facilities and administrative (F&A) cost recovery.

The 15-minute production provides general info about F&A, and it's intended for a broad audience. Check it out at https://www.uidaho.edu/osp/training/ospintroductiontofa.