Positioning KU for future opportunities

Seven years ago, KU published its 2014-2024 Campus Master Plan, which set forth “an ideal for a modern research university that can advance our mission of educating leaders, building healthy communities, and making discoveries that will change the world.” Some of the goals in that document already have been accomplished; others are decades and dollars away from realization — or, perhaps, reconsideration. But one project moved closer to reality this month.
 

Research highlights

KU researchers developing quick-turnaround COVID-19 test

The team, which includes a half-dozen graduate students in bioengineering and chemistry, is repurposing “lab on a chip” technology previously developed by Steven Soper to give doctors simple tools to more easily and quickly diagnose conditions ranging from stroke to colon cancer. 

Steven Soper | Foundation Distinguished Professor | Chemistry + Engineering

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Police use of excessive force influences core beliefs of civilians, study shows

“These tragic events are having an impact on the broader public. Many people aren’t just reading about them and moving on with their day. We’re finding it’s actually changing people’s beliefs.”

Kevin Mullinix | Assistant Professor | Political Science

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KU astronomer helps confirm first-ever planet found orbiting white dwarf star

“Instead of going through a process, I’m asking them, how do they want to learn?" one teacher said. "We discuss their strengths and also what they want to improve on. Then I’m able to incorporate that into my teaching.”

Ian Crossfield | Assistant Professor | Physics & Astronomy

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New awards

KU investigators are developing, delivering and supporting statewide learning assessments for Kansas students; advancing understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Americans who don’t have easy access to the internet; probing the causes and consequences of streamflow depletion across the U.S., and more — all with the aid of external funding awarded in the past few months.

Safeguarding research security at KU

KU’s conflict of interest reporting deadline for fiscal year 2021 is tomorrow — Thursday, Oct. 1 — and there’s no better time to talk about the importance of transparency and risk management in the face of increasing threats to America’s research security.  
 
So much of our innovation and discovery thrives on collaboration with international partners. As we engage in that work, it’s critical that we remain cognizant of the ways foreign governments are attempting to exploit our openness to gain access to intellectual property and sensitive information.
 
KU has been recognized as a leader in confronting the threats that face major research institutions, and Kelvin Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, visited our campus virtually this month to talk about “Enhancing the Security and Integrity of America’s Research Enterprise.” He shared examples of risks to research security and provided an update on steps that OSTP and agency partners are taking to address risks to security and integrity while maintaining an open and collaborative environment.
 
What can you do? 

• Comply with requirements designed to protect individual and institutional integrity, such as conflict of interest and commitment reporting.
   
• Engage with the Office of Global Operations & Security when collaborating with international partners, welcoming international visitors or traveling abroad, securing sensitive data, sending goods and technology beyond the United States, and more.
   
• Work with the Office of Research or your preferred research center when writing and submitting proposals and managing sponsored projects. Trained staff will guide you through KU and agency requirements and negotiate agreements on your behalf.
   
• Follow recommended cybersecurity practices while working remotely, during the pandemic and always.
   
• Request security or export compliance training from GOS for individuals, small groups or entire departments.
   
• Continue collaborating, innovating and advancing knowledge that benefits humanity — and valuing the contributions of international scholars — with awareness of policies and resources that KU and funding agencies have in place to safeguard you.

Unsung heroes

Negotiating research agreements, relationships with grace

Laura Irick is not easily intimidated.
 
As an Office of Research contract officer, she’s part of a small team that reviews more than 1,000 documents a year, ensuring compliance with university, agency, state and federal regulations and policies; obtaining authorized signatures for agreements; and issuing subaward agreements. It’s a complex task, and no project ever looks exactly the same.
 
But Irick tackles those challenges with curiosity, creativity, care and charm. This year she successfully negotiated an agreement with a pharmaceutical company to obtain thousands of chemical compounds for a KU researcher at no cost to the university.
 
“Her perseverance to resolve the complexity of the language in the agreement and find a middle ground for a win-win deal between KU and the company was exceptional,” a colleague said.
 
Negotiating contracts is both a science and an art. Irick is “extremely diligent in researching laws, rules and regulations pertinent to research at the state and federal level.” At the same time, she employs nuance, personability and expert timing to achieve successful outcomes.
 
“She recently completed a very long negotiation with an industry partner. She persisted for almost nine months,” a colleague reported. “When it went dormant on the industry side, she kept it on the table and knew when to prod. Personality-wise, that requires acuity in reading an exchange.”
 
That power of perception extends to Irick’s interpersonal relationships with coworkers, who describe her as an empathetic, approachable, helpful team player. When KU Research staff dispersed this spring to work remotely, Irick sensed the need for connection and composed a song to “make people smile and lift spirits.” She sang and played ukulele in the recording, which celebrates the work that goes into supporting the KU research community. As one peer noted, “She never forgets to give credit to a colleague who deserves it.”

Faculty kudos

• Shannon Blunt, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Donna Ginther, professor of economics and director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research, and Kathleen Lynne Lane, professor of special education and associate vice chancellor for research, were named Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professors; and Sarah Deer, professor of women, gender & sexuality studies with a joint appointment in the School of Public Affairs & Administration, was named a University Distinguished Professor.
   
• Kristin Bowman-James, distinguished professor of chemistry, received the American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry. She is only the second woman to receive the award since its inception in 1962.
   
• Jim Butler, senior scientist and geohydrologist at the Kansas Geological Survey, received the National Groundwater Association’s 2020 M. King Hubbert Award. The association’s highest scientific honor, the annual award recognizes major scientific or engineering contributions that advance the understanding of groundwater through research, writing, teaching and practical applications.
   
• Claudia Dozier, associate professor of applied behavioral science, Ken Fischer, professor of mechanical engineering, and Scott Harris, senior specialist and KU Debate coach, received the Steeples Service to Kansans Award from KU’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The award goes to faculty who provide significant service to Kansans as a purposeful extension of their teaching and research.
   
• Sherry Fowler, professor of Japanese art, received a Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Research Fellowship in Buddhist Studies from the American Council of Learned Societies.
   
• Richard Godbeer, Charles W. Battey Distinguished Professor of History and director of the Hall Center for the Humanities, was named one of seven finalists for Mount Vernon’s 2020 George Washington Prize for his book “A World of Trouble: A Philadelphia Quaker Family’s Journey through the American Revolution.”
   
• Gregory Rudnick, professor of physics & astronomy, received the Community Engaged Scholarship Award from KU’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The award goes to faculty whose scholarship actively collaborates with a community partner, creating and disseminating knowledge while strengthening community well-being.
   
• Marina Suarez, associate professor of geology, and her sister, Celina, both KU graduates, were named among the 100 most inspiring Hispanic/Latinx scientists working in the U.S. by Cell Mentor.

Research development

2021 Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards

The KU Office of Research seeks nominations for the annual Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards. Late Distinguished Professor Takeru Higuchi and his wife, Aya, partnered with KUEA to create four awards that recognize individuals for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Faculty from any Kansas Regents institution are eligible, and your assistance in identifying outstanding candidates is critical. Winners receive $10,000 in support of research activities.

Awards include:

• The Balfour Jeffrey Research Award in the field of the Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Olin Petefish Research Award in the field of Basic Sciences
• The Dolph Simons Research Award in the field of Biomedical Sciences
• The Irvin Youngberg Research Award in the field of Applied Sciences

Nominations are confidential. Please share this call for nominations with your school, department or center.

Deadline: Nov. 1

Research achievement awards for KU staff + postdocs

The KU Office of Research seeks nominations for 2021 awards:

Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award
This award honors an outstanding unclassified academic staff researcher on the KU-Lawrence campus. Only individuals appointed as full-time, unclassified academic staff researchers in a KU-Lawrence academic department or research center for whom the KU Research Promotion Procedures apply are eligible. 

The award recipient will receive $10,000 in research funds and recognition at a spring awards ceremony.

Deadline: Nov. 1

KU Research Achievement Awards
The Postdoctoral Achievement Award and the Staff Achievement Award are intended to recognize the numerous contributions of unclassified professional staff and postdoctoral researchers to the research mission of KU, honoring outstanding individuals who have had a tangible impact on the research labs and projects in which they work.

The award recipients (one in each category) will receive $5,000 in research funds and recognition at a spring awards ceremony.
  

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Nuts & bolts

RESEARCH INTEGRITY
In-person human subjects research reactivation continues

KU's Human Research Protection Program is collaborating with investigators as they carefully consider how to reactivate in-person human subjects inquiry. Reactivation requests have included excellent supports to keep participants safe and reduce COVID-19 risks via detailed safety plans. Investigators leading eight studies have worked with HRPP to safely reactivate.

The program continues to consider applications for in-person research with appropriate risk mitigation. Investigators interested in reactivating in-person studies should complete an HRPP Reactivation Safety Plan and submit it with an RNI to the HRPP to begin the review process. Visit the KU Research website for detailed instructions on the application process.
 

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
New fringe benefits rates for faculty, staff researchers

Due to increased health care costs in the last few years, the rates to estimate fringe benefits costs are changing for faculty and staff included in proposal budgets submitted to external sponsors.

The new faculty and staff rates apply to research associates, postdocs and visiting scholars. Student fringe rates remain the same as before.
 

• Indicate the percentage of the award’s budget that was spent in a foreign country.
• Indicate if there has been a change in primary performance site location from the one originally proposed.
• Provide details about the impact on teaching and educational experiences.

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