January 2019
R1 Carnegie Classification and your very high research activity
I hope your new year is off to a terrific start, and I also hope that you've seen the great news about the university's R1-Very High Research Activity classification by the Carnegie Foundation. This classification represents the highest level of research activity for doctorate-granting universities in the country, and it is a true testament to the remarkable work and contributions of so many of you. As you'll recall, we are also the highest ranked university in the state in the recently released National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey for Fiscal Year 2017 with more almost $241 million in R&D expenditures. Read more about the R1 Carnegie Classification at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2018/12/mississippi-state-again-recognized-one-nation-s-top-research-universities.
David Shaw is vice president for research and economic development at Mississippi State University.
Join me for strategic research investments discussion
Our Spring Research Seminar Series is well underway, and on January 30th at 2 p.m., I'm looking forward to leading a discussion with many of you about how the university's targets for strategic research investment could affect your research. I look forward to seeing you there. You can learn more about the entire seminar series and pre-register for a session at https://www.research.msstate.edu/seminars.
Watching Washington
As you'd imagine, we are closely monitoring the ongoing federal government shutdown and any potential impacts to the university's research enterprise. If you have questions related to the funding of your work, please contact Kevin Enroth -- the director of our Office of Sponsored Projects -- at (662) 325-7404 or enroth@osp.msstate.edu.
Changes to human subjects research regulations
As a final reminder, the regulations governing human subjects research have been updated, and these changes are scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 21, 2019. This revision includes changes to the categories of research that are considered "exempt" as well as elimination of continuing review for "expedited" categories of research. As I've mentioned, the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) team will shift their efforts from continuing review to expand the post-approval monitoring (PAM) program.
And on a related note, the HRPP staff will have a skeleton crew with Nicole Cobb on maternity leave from January through mid-March and Riley McCormick on military leave from mid-January through mid-May. Please bear with us as the remaining staff do their best to keep things running as smoothly as possible. If you have questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact the Office of Research Compliance at 662-325-3294 or irb@research.msstate.edu.
Kudos and congratulations
Every month, I look forward to sharing faculty and staff success stories with you, and here are a few that have crossed my desk recently:
* Kudos to all of the newest graduates of the Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program, including Bailey Anderson, a senior accountant here in the Office of Research and Economic Development. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2018/12/msu-staff-graduate-leadership-excellence-accomplished-professionals-program.
* Congratulations to Steve Demarais, the Dale H. Arner Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, who has been named the Taylor Chair in Applied Big Game Research and Instruction in the College of Forest Resources. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2019/01/msu-wildlife-professor-named-taylor-chair-applied-big-game-research-and.
* Kudos to Shane Miller, an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, who was recently honored with the C.B. Moore Award at the Southeastern Archaeological Conference's 75th annual meeting. The award was established by members of the Lower Mississippi Survey in 1990. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2018/12/msu-educator-receives-regional-archaeology-honor.
* Congratulations to Robert Grala in the College of Forest Resources for being named the Department of Forestry's first James R. Moreton Endowed Fellow. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2018/12/msu-professor-named-james-r-moreton-fellow-forestry.
* Kudos to Mimmo Parisi and the NSPARC team for their recent recognition at the Starkville PRAM Chapter PRism Awards program. Among their honors: the Top Dawg Award -- the highest honor at the chapter level -- for the Data Summit 2018; a PRism Award for the Data Summit; and Awards of Excellence for the Fall 2018 issue of Nexus magazine, the 10 Years of Data Science in Action coffee table book, and their 10-year anniversary video. They will compete at the state level this spring.
Final words
By now, I'm sure that most of you are aware that Dr. Judy Bonner will be retiring this year after a most distinguished career in higher education. She has been an outstanding leader and colleague as our provost and executive vice president, and it has been an honor for me to work with her to move Mississippi State University forward. Judy, all of us wish you the very best as you begin this new chapter in your life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this month's letter. Please feel free to contact me at dshaw@research.msstate.edu if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns about any of our research and economic development activities or visit https://www.research.msstate.edu.