Dear Colleagues,
I hope your new academic year is off to a good start. I am also very pleased to offer a warm welcome to you and all new researchers to our institution.
Our OORI team encourages you to engage with our research and innovation ecosystems by using our seed grants and services to help you to tackle and solve our world’s most complex challenges. I am incredibly grateful for your contributions to our institution and society.
In other news, this year, the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program received 80 applications from which 20 companies have been selected for rigorous mentoring and networking, including ten from USC faculty, three from alumni, and seven from students, representing Keck, Viterbi, Marshall, Dornsife, Ostrow, Mann, Annenberg and IYA. Of this cohort, we intend to spin out at least twelve successful ventures by May 2025.
Finally, as always, I look forward to having coffee with many of you this coming academic year!
With kind regards,
Ishwar K. Puri
Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation and Professor
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT: OORI funding opportunities – New Deadlines! We are happy to announce the new deadlines for OORI’s 2024-2025 awards and grants programs, listed here. Upcoming deadlines include: SBIR/STTR Planning Award (October 2nd), Generative AI Award (October 9th) and HHMI Mentorship Award (October 16th). As well, the deadline for nominations for the Associates Award for Creativity and Scholarship is September 25th. We look forward to receiving your proposals! Please do not hesitate to contact us at rii@usc.edu if you have any questions.
Center for Excellence in Research Training Workshops: Our fall 2024 workshops are now open for registration on our website! Zoom seminars and workshops include: Securing Corporate Funding for Research (Friday, September 20th, 12:00-2:00pm PDT), Effective Research Communications for External Stakeholders (Friday, September 27th, 12:00-2:00pm PDT), Writing Compelling NSF Proposals (Wednesday, October 30th, 12:00-2:00pm PDT), Funding/Grant Writing (NSF, NIH, NEH, foundations, corporate, etc.) (Friday, November 1st,
12:00-2:00pm PDT) and Developing and Submitting a Successful Mission Agency Grant Application (Wednesday, November 13th, 12:00-2:00pm PST). If you would like to be updated about upcoming workshops, please join our mailing list. Do you have an idea for a workshop? We would love to hear from you! We are looking for faculty or staff to teach a one to two hour-long workshop via Zoom this fall on topics such as research resources/methods, professional development, grant writing, etc. Any ideas you think would be useful are welcome!
FEDERAL LANDSCAPE UPDATES: Newly Released Opportunities: National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF released the funding opportunity “24-598: Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Mid-scale RI-1)” on August 19th (preliminary proposal deadline: November 18th). The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Program (Mid-scale RI-1) supports either design activities or implementation of unique and compelling RI projects. Mid-scale implementation projects may include any combination of equipment, instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, broadly used large scale datasets and the personnel needed to successfully commission the project. Department of Defense, Defense Health Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research (CDMRP). CDMRP recently released the funding opportunity “HT942524ATRPFRA, Arthritis Research Program (ATRP) Focused Research Award” (letter of intent deadline: October 16th, proposal deadline: October 30th). The vision and mission of the program is to fund high-impact research to optimize the health and well-being of all people affected by arthritis and improve Service Member readiness and retention, ultimately lessening the burden of, and cure, arthritis.
DEPARTMENT OF CONTRACTS & GRANTS: The Department of Contracts and Grants would like to remind the research community that the National Institutes of Health has issued a new resource to assist the research community in understanding how NIH policies guide artificial intelligence (AI)-related research. The purpose of the resource is to illustrate the applicability of existing policies and guidance to research involving AI technologies. The resource can be accessed here.
Monthly Training Dates for September:
The Department of Contracts and Grants offers on a monthly basis, and upon request, a pre-award and post-award training. The pre-award training walks administrators through the proposal process at USC covering; roles and responsibilities, how to route proposals through the Cayuse system, and USC processes and policies to be aware of. The post-award training provides an overview of roles and responsibilities, cost principals, common post award issues and how/when to seek sponsor prior approval. Below are the dates and times the trainings will be available in September:
Pre-Award Training: A Walk-Through Cayuse SP and the Proposal Process
Zoom Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/3436532845
Wednesday, September 25th from 1:30pm – 3:00pm PDT
Post-Award: Managing Common Post Award Issues and Questions
Zoom Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/3436532845
Friday, September 29th from 1:30pm – 3:00pm PDT
STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: The Stevens Center is growing to support your inventions! We have added two Technology Licensing Managers who will play a critical role in helping researchers develop their ideas, technologies, and inventions into opportunities that are attractive to industries and investors. In addition, we have a new Senior Financial Analyst to support our Operations Team. Here are their bios:
Veronica Go-Stevens, Ph.D.: Veronica is a seasoned life scientist with experience in the academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors. Prior to joining the Stevens Center, she held various positions in both business development and scientific research roles at City of Hope, Pfizer, AbbVie, and Convalesce. Most recently, Veronica was the Manager of Molecular Pharmacology at NeuroTrauma Sciences, where she was responsible for leading pharmacological studies for the development of stroke treatments and performing business development activities such as asset assessment, competitive intelligence studies, and market research. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics from Boston University, a Certificate in Bioscience Management from Keck Graduate Institute, and a dual B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Statistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Emily Morgan, Ph.D.: Emily is a materials scientist with seven years of experience in inorganic functional materials and recently passed the patent bar. Prior to joining USC, Emily was an associate in the Materials & Corrosion Engineering practice at Exponent, where she worked on litigation support and root-cause analysis for projects involving Li-ion batteries and consumer electronics. An NSF GRFP award supported her Ph.D. research, enabling her to use complementary experimental and computational techniques to study materials for battery, solar, and electronics applications. She earned a B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in Materials from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Benjamin Wang: Benjamin is the Senior Financial Analyst at the Stevens Center. Before joining USC, he was a Senior Financial Analyst at Sony Pictures and was responsible for preparing financial budgets, quarterly forecasts, and 10-year plans. He excels at developing forecasting models from scratch, transferring P&L forecasting data between systems, and compiling tracking production assumptions from product owners. In addition, Benjamin was a Financial Analyst and Developer at DCI International, where he focused on financial reporting, developing finance models, and enhancing financial management systems. He also has experience at JPM Media Corporation, where he provided IPO-related financial services. Benjamin holds a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Portland.
On September 18th, two of our licensing team members, Bonnie Phan-Wolfe and Michael Norberg, will be attending the Research & Grant Success Info Fair hosted by the Keck School of Medicine. Our team will answer your questions about the Stevens Center and how our office licenses USC discoveries, promotes entrepreneurship, and stimulates innovation. Please RSVP for the event here.
HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION PROGRAM: We are excited to welcome Janet Sobell to the role of Chair for our Biomedical IRB 3. Janet has served as a member of BioIRB 3 for the last several years and we are looking forward to her leadership as Chair. We are also on the precipice of submitting our AAHRPP reaccreditation application. Once submitted, next steps include a response from AAHRPP and then a site visit in Spring 2025. Please keep your eyes open for information about the site visit as we get closer to Spring. We have also updated a number of pages on our website. Please take a look at our updated metrics and our revised organizational chart. You will also find an updated version of our Policy Manual available in early September. And finally, we have officially (re)launched our office hours and they are going great. Please join us on Mondays and Thursdays. We will have members of our team to answer your questions! If you can, reach out in advance to let us know you are coming. That way we will be best positioned to support you.
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL RESOURCES: Space Capacity and Planning: There has been increased compression of animal space at HSC and UPC. UPC animal facilities are 100% full due to new renovations, recruits, and expansion of existing animal work. DAR is tasked with assigning space when it is available and according to federal regulations. Unfortunately, we cannot create space. DAR is working on a space occupancy report that will be shared with all animal users next month. It is our hope that opportunities for sharing space and maximizing occupancy of underutilized spaces can be found. Conversations are ongoing with faculty, new recruits, and leaders to solve this emerging issue.
Upgrades in Animal Facilities: Essential upgrades are near completion in our animal facilities to improve efficiency for your research. DAR continues to oversee these projects for research continuity and animal welfare. Please see below for the timeline of completion:
- ZNI Bulk Sterilizer replacement project – September 2nd, 2024, pending city inspection
- RRI various rooms- Completed, animal moves scheduled after lighting and water fixes
- HMR freight elevator modernization project – Completed
Planning for animal costs: The 5 year rate schedule for per diem rate change is always posted for your award planning or changing purposes. You can also access the deck from the budget webinar on 6/14/24, which provided helpful tips on anticipating rising costs in animal proposals and explained the services, supplies, and costs that go into per diem and service rate calculations. Information and further details on the DAR cost structure and rate analysis from 2023 can always be found here.
Check Out: DAR’s informational table and chat with us at the Fall Research Info Fair on HSC on September 18th, 2024, from 11:30-1:30 pm PDT.
Did you know: DAR is a department full of diverse expertise? We have American College of Laboratory Animal Board Certified, California licensed, Fear Free certified, and USDA accredited veterinarians, accountants, training coordinators; licensed and lab animal science certified veterinary technologists, procurement coordinators, lab animal supervisors, technicians, trainers, facility manager, and animal research integrity specialists. DAR ensures that staff are properly trained, certified, and receive continuing education to stay current on the care and use of lab animals.
For additional resources, including over 19 sites for animal alternatives, contact information, training videos, and answers to FAQs, please visit https://dar.usc.edu/
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY: As part of USC’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for its community of faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, and visitors, the university maintains a Violence-Free Campus. Recently, California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) released new regulations that require employers, including USC, to develop a formal plan and train employees on workplace violence prevention. As a result, a new Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Training has begun rolling out to faculty and staff. Staff were assigned the training in TrojanLearn on July 1st, while Faculty will be assigned on September 9th. Please be on the lookout for this new annual training requirement.
Additionally, Environmental Health & Safety would like to remind researchers to avoid mixing guanidinium thiocyanate (GT) and bleach solutions used for disinfections. GT is a common chemical found in the lysis buffers of nucleic acid extraction kits (e.g., Qiagen kits). When combined with bleach, the mixture can react dangerously, posing a serious risk of exposure. There have been several recent incidents where researchers were nearly exposed to the toxic gas from this mixture. In light of these recent incidents, all researchers are reminded to: (1) avoid mixing GT and bleach solutions; (2) read the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all chemicals they use (including those contained in kits); and (3) properly dispose of and segregate chemical waste. Read the EH&S Guanidinium Thiocyanate Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.
Finally, October is ABSA International Biosafety Month. Stay tuned to the EH&S website for details on how to celebrate with us throughout the month of October.
Thank you for your commitment to the health and safety of the USC community!
Monthly updates are archived here.