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Show Campus News Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 Page 3 Grant money will further professors' research BY MEGAN ALLEN assistant news editor given. "The SPARC program provides support for interdisciplinary research teams to work together in developing complex proposals," Dorward said. Broadbent said applications for the grants are due Oct. 15. Deans from each of the eight USU colleges have been asked to collect proposals and rank them by who they would select. The university typically funds 12-16 grants every six months. "The applications are then reviewed by a committee that I chair, which includes representatives from each of the academic colleges," Broadbent said. These grants give faculty members the opportunity to make new developments in their research and increase the potential for them to get their name out there, said Jagath Kalurachchi, associate dean for the College of Engineering. "The seed grant proposal program has been very helpful for our faculty, especially junior faculty members where they use the seed funding to make preliminary investigation into a good research idea," Kalurachchi said. With these new findings, the faculty gets the opportunity to develop the research ideas to full maturity, so they can send good proposals to potential external funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health." These grants help researchers develop ideas and get help. The more developed ideas become, the more likely applicants are to receive grant money from federal agencies, Kalurachchi said. "These new programs have been much more USU professors and researchers have until Saturday, Oct. 15 to apply for the opportunity to further their research and teaching through university-funded seed grants, distributed by the Office of the Vice President for Research. The program was started in 2008, said Vice President for Research Jeff Broadbent. "The idea was based on recommendations from a task force that explored the best practices for growing research," he said. Prior to 2008 a different seed grant program existed, he said, but the new programs have created a more strategic connection between internal seed funding and faculty pursuit of external research funding. There are three types of seed funding grants available for researchers to apply for, Broadbent said. James Dorward, associate dean for research for the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, described the grants that are available and the eligibility requirements for them. The Grant Writing Experience Through Mentorship (GEM) Grant is offered to a tenure-eligible assistant professor or research professional who has been at the university for at least four years. Recipients are given one year of funding of up to $5,000 to establish active collaboration between a new USU investigator and a more established colleague willing to serve as a research and proposal writing mentor. "The GEM program provides faculty with mentors who have established records in targeted external programs," Dorward said. All tenured or tenure-eligible university faculty and research professionals are eligible for the Research Catalyst Grant. Recipients are given a year's worth of funding, up to $20,000, that can be used to fund salaries, travel expenses and the cost of supplies needed to complete the project. Dorward said the money helps recipients develop new initiatives or directions in their discipline that will lead to new externally funded grants. • "The (Research Catalyst) program, with its emphasis on proof-of-concept pilot research projects, can provide the type of evidence and credibility that agencies like to see in proposals," he added. arkillm The third option available, according to Dorward, is the Seed Program to Advance Research Collaboration. The SPARC Grant is similar to the RC Grant, but the recipient must utilize the skills and i knowledge of faculty members from at least one other department, research center or institution. A maximum of $35,000 over the course of one year is targeted toward improving the quality of proposals to federal and foundation programs," Dorward said. "Our faculty have greatly benefited from this seed grant initiative and have been successful in getting seed funding for their innovative research ideas," Kalurachchi said. - megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu Briefs Campus & Community Professor awarded Fullbright grant A professor in USU's department of plants, soils and climate was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach and research in Cambodia beginning February 2012. David Hole is one of seven faculty members at Utah State University who received the grant this year. He hopes the award and subsequent research will contribute to ending food shortages around the world. "This is an opportunity to make a difference in agricultural education in an area of the world that suffers from high levels of poverty and where food security is not some buzzword but is a very real concern," Hole said. A goal of Hole's research is to create food security around the world, including the state of Utah. His current project focuses on creating wheat and barley that is resistant to disease and insects. By traveling around the world and searching out the best genetic traits of a species of plant, Hole is able to create new breeding systems. This leads to better quality and a higher yield of crops which, in turn, feeds more people higher quality food. He said the Fulbright grant is a big step in helping him fine-tune his research and enhance his teaching experience. Satellites ready for Oct. 27 launch AP photo illustration Soaking professorsfor SEED Two USU-completed Dynamic Ionosphere Cubesat Experiment (DICE) satellites have been delivered to the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, for final launch readiness. Cal Poly will place the two National Science Foundation funded miniature spacecraft in an ejection canister and verify that the assembly is ready for launch. Following final stowing, the DICE satellites will be integrated onto a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for a launch scheduled for Oct. 27. During a 90-day mission the DICE satellites will map geomagnetic Storm Enhanced Density (SED) plasma bulge and plume formations in Earth's ionosphere. Two identical spinning spacecraft will measure plasma density and electric fields to determine the how and why of variations in ionospheric plasma density that affects the performance of communications, surveillance and navigation systems on Earth and in space. Data from the DICE satellites will enable scientists to understand the larger question of how the Sun induces magnetic storms which can tear away parts of Earth's ionosphere to be lost to space. UPR earns top broadcast awards NICK GUO, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE, splashed into a chilly dunk tank by the library for a SEED fundraiser. Students in Management 3110 are spending the semester executing projects iwith a goal to raise $1,000 for SEED.. KATRINA PERKINS photo. From Page 1 Project Sole will donate $2 for every pair of shoes collected has promised to donate $2 for every pair of shoes collected, according to entrepreneurship major Kyle Ivins, another group member. "We didn't want to do the boring, regular project people usually do for this class," Ivins said. "This way we're helping two organizations at once and making a bigger difference." Although this is the first Project Sole drive that has taken place at USU, the organization has collected shoes all around the country. Last year, the group collected more than 300,000 pairs of shoes, Wilson said. The organization works with Boy Scouts of America, high schools and other charity groups to collect shoes to ship to these countries. After collected, shoes are shipped to the nearest Project Sole warehouse. Once there, the shoes are cleaned, paired together and sent around the world. Organizers work with other non-profit groups to match wish lists and needed supplies, Wilson said. There are boxes set up in buildings around campus where shoes can be donated, Salmon said. We didn't want to do the boring, regular projects people usually do for this class" — Kyle Ivins, senior, entrepreneurship The group is oping to collect at least 500 pairs of shoes, she said, but would love to get more than that. The Sports Academy has planned to donate shoes as well, by giving all the shoes left in its lost and found, Ivins said. Scout troops and school groups from around Cache Valley and other parts of Utah are also collecting shoes, Ivins said. "By doing this we are helping our community environmentally by getting rid of used shoes that will otherwise be thrown away," Reed said. "We are helping people in other countries who don't have access to good footwear, and we are helping SEED help other people start their own businesses so they can become self-sustaining. The best thing is we aren't asking for money or blood or anybody's time, all someone has to do is donate a pair of old shoes, and by virtue they are also donating $2 to a very, very worthy cause." "We would love to help SEED, but shoes are the priority. If we can raise the money, great, but it's just a side effect," Salmon said. "We just want to get campus involved in any way we can." - megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu Journalists of Utah Public Radio, a service of USU, were among top honorees at the Utah Broadcasters Association's 2011UBEE Awards dinner held Sept. 29 in Salt Lake City. Storee Powell '11 received a Gold award for "Best Single Event News Coverage." Mary-Ann Muffoletto MA'95 and Kathryn Hopkins Peterson MS'll were honored with a Gold award for "Best Feature Story or Program." Utah Public Radio is Utah's oldest non-commercial, educational radio service and is heard by listeners across Utah and southern Idaho via a network of five full-power HD-enhanced stations and 30 translators. ClarifyCorrect The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find in error, please contact the editor at 797 1742, statesman@aggiemaiLusu.edu or come in to TSC 105. - Compiled from staff and media reports |