November 2017
Valuable faculty feedback for research priorities update
The deadline to provide your feedback on Mississippi State's research priorities is coming up at the end of the week. I encourage you to review them at https://w.msstate.edu/research-focus-areas/priorities/index.php and offer your thoughts before the online survey closes on Friday. We've received very good comments so far, and will be considering all of them as we move toward finalizing the priorities in the next month or two.
Please let me take a moment to give you a brief update on a few of our other activities in the Office of Research and Economic Development.
David Shaw is vice president for research and economic development at Mississippi State University.
Sponsored Projects names new DAWG class
Congratulations to the Office of Sponsored Projects' newest class of Departmental Administrators Working Group (DAWG) class: Latara Arterberry, T.K. Martin Center; Belinda Betts, University Television Center; Natalie Carpenter, Office of Sponsored Projects; Michelle Martin, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems; Valisa McNeil, Extension-Delta Region; Lester Mitchell, Coastal Research and Extension Center; Lori Staggs, College of Education; Laikyn Starkey, Poultry Science; Kelsey Stewart, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & Biotechnology; Yolanda Tate, Center for America's Veterans; Kristen Thompson, Delta Research and Extension Center; and Stephen Williams, Student Leadership and Community Engagement. The primary goal of DAWG is the development and application of knowledge and skills in the area of sponsored project administration. It also helps departmental administrators grow professionally and create relationships with their peers across campus.
Research proposals and the winter break holidays
It's that time of the year when we need to remind those of you working on research proposals that may be due during MSU's winter break between Dec. 21-Jan. 1 that the Office of Sponsored Projects closes along with the rest of the university. If you have a special need for OSP support over the holidays, please coordinate that with Jennifer Easley prior to the break. Her e-mail address is jeasley@osp.msstate.edu or call 662-325-3751.
New biosafety officer joins team
Please join me in welcoming Trent Peacock as the university's new biosafety officer. Dr. Peacock earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from N.C. State, and has worked for the Army as a clinical and research microbiologist in a variety of national and international locations. He replaces Patricia Cox, who announced her retirement earlier this fall. We appreciate her outstanding service to Mississippi State, and wish her the best as she begins a new chapter. Thank you, Pat!
Delay in Common Rule changes announced
An update from September's letter: Revisions to the human research regulations known as the Common Rule came out in January 2017. They gave institutions like MSU a year to prepare for the changes. Soon thereafter, the White House implemented a regulatory freeze to review all last-minute rules released by the previous administration. Based on information posted in October on the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website -- https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=127614 -- it appears that the effective date of the revised policy may be delayed by one year. Additional information isn't available at this time, but our Office of Research Compliance will update MSU's research community as the situation moves forward.
Kudos and congratulations
I always look forward to sharing success stories about our faculty and staff with you, and here are a few that have come across my desk the past few weeks:
* Kudos to Dave Marcum, chief scientist at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who was recently honored with the International Meshing Roundtable 2017 Fellow Award. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4317
* Congratulations to Kari Babski-Reeves, Wes Burger, Will Evans and Leslie Hossfeld for selection to the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4345.
* Kudos to Dongmao Zhang, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, who was recently named Chemist of the Year by the American Chemical Society's Mississippi Section. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4337.
* Congratulations to Jeffrey Leffler, an assistant professor in the Division of Education at MSU-Meridian, and Brad Skelton, a project manager for the Research and Curriculum Unit, who are participating in the Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship Program. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4341.
* Kudos to Dan Petrolia, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, who has been named an editor of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4331.
* Congratulations to Brent Funderburk, Giles Distinguished Professor of Art and 2015 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award winner, whose watercolor "Angelus Vitae" was recently featured in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition in Evergreen, Colorado. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=4328.
* Kudos to the Northern Gulf Institute team for their work with the Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force that was cited recently in a report to Congress -- www.epa.gov/ms-htf/hypoxia-task-force-reports-congress?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
Final words
As we look forward to a short break next week, I hope that each of you enjoys a very happy Thanksgiving. 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 www.research.msstate.edu.