|
|
|
In this Issue: *Please note: The CUR National Office has been having technical difficulties with our Association Management Software and the system used to send the CUR E-News. We apologize if you have received this E-News multiple times, if there have been errors in the text, or if you have received a blank email. We strive to keep our communications as professional as possible, and apologize for any inconvenience these messages may have caused you.*
National Office News:
Dr. Moses LeeCUR Biology Division Travel Awards The CUR List-serv has Moved Call for Applications for the 2009 Posters on the Hill Event Call for Facilitators and Coordinators of CUR Institutes Newsletter Subscriptions This Week in WashingtonCUR Welcomes New Institutional Members
CUR Institutes:
Ongoing CUR Offerings:
Advocacy:
Opportunities and Announcements:
National Office News:
New CUR Publication: Broadening Participation in Undergraduate Research:
Fostering Excellence and Enhancing the Impact:
Editors: Mary K. Boyd, Dean of the College of Arts &
Sciences, University of San Diego (mboyd@sandiego.edu)and
Jodi L. Wesemann, Assistant Director for Higher Education, American
Chemical Society (j_wesemann@acs.org)
Learn how to connect key players and integrate undergraduate
research into the fabric of your institution, increasing the
effectiveness and sustainability of your program. In this collection
of 21 chapters and 17 short insights, community colleges, primarily
undergraduate institutions, minority-serving institutions,
comprehensive universities and research universities share their
motivations, strategies, and stories.
Pricing and release information to be announced. To add yourself to the pre-release mailing list, please visit: http://www.cur.org/publications/broadening.html
Call for CUR Fellows Awards:
The Council on Undergraduate Research requests nominations for the CUR Fellows Awards. The CUR Fellows Awards are presented at the biennial National Conference to two CUR members who have developed nationally respected research programs involving undergraduates. Each CUR Fellow will also be awarded a Brian Andreen-CUR Student Research Fellowship that they will give to a deserving undergraduate at their respective institutions. Awardees have established outstanding records of obtaining funding for their work and for their students, and have published research findings with undergraduate co-authors. They reach out to students of all backgrounds, incorporate research activities into the courses they teach, and lead efforts to institutionalize research on their campuses and across the nation. In sum, they are leaders and role models for countless faculty and students. Full details of the CUR Fellow criteria and biographies of past CUR Fellows are available at
http://www.cur.org/CUR_Fellows.html
Any member of CUR may submit a nomination for the CUR Fellows Awards. A nomination consists of a two-page letter highlighting the nominee’s contributions to all areas of undergraduate research. Additionally, a two page C.V. of the nominee should be included. Although abbreviated, the CV should detail the nominee’s contribution to undergraduate research, ranging from mentoring undergraduate students with resulting publications to promoting undergraduate research beyond the local level.
Both documents should address the criteria used by the selection committee (found at the website given above). The letter and C.V. must be submitted to the CUR National Office as a single PDF document, uploaded via the following nomination website: http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/submissions/substart.asp
Please note that you will need your Members Only username and password to submit a nomination.
The deadline for nominations is December 5th, 2008.
Questions may be addressed to cur@cur.org
Two CUR Members Receive Awards:
Dr. Moses Lee
, who is dean for the natural and
applied sciences and a professor of chemistry at Hope College, is
receiving the 2009 "American Chemical Society (ACS) Award for
Research at an Undergraduate Institution," which honors a
chemistry faculty member whose research in an undergraduate setting
has achieved wide recognition and contributed significantly to
chemistry and to the professional development of undergraduate
students.
The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate as well as a $5,000
grant by Research Corporation, the award's sponsor, to Hope in support
of Lee's research.
For more information, please visit: http://www.hope.edu/pr/pressreleases/content/view/full/20151
Dr. Jill Singer
, professor of earth sciences and director of the Undergraduate Research Office, has received the 2008 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, honoring her exceptional service to Buffalo State College and the State University of New York.
Chancellor’s Awards are system-level honors conferred to provide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence.
For more information, please visit: http://www.buffalostate.edu/bulletin/announcements.xml?aid=1338
CUR Biology Division Travel Awards:
The Biology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is offering a limited number of travel grants, up to $250 each, for undergraduate students presenting original research results at a regional or national, discipline-specific meeting during the fiscal year
2008 - 2009. Award recipients are required to acknowledge CUR for support of their travel in their talk or poster.
For further information and the application requirements, please visit
http://www.cur.org/biostudenttravel.html
Direct inquiries via email to Larry Wimmers, CUR Councilor: lwimmers@towson.edu
The CUR List-serv has Moved:
The Council on Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce
a new CUR list-serv, hosted by CUR. This list-serv is open to
any one that wishes to join to network regarding Undergraduate
Research opportunities and best practices. All posts reflect the
opinion of the sender, and do not represent the opinion of the Council
on Undergraduate Research.
Please take a moment to visit the following website to subscribe. http://www.cur.org/curlsubscribe.html
Only list-serv subscribers may post to the list (by sending an
email to curl@lists.cur.org),
and verification of your email address is required before becoming a
subscriber. Other information about the list-serv is available on the
CUR website at: http://www.cur.org/curl.html
Call for Applications for the 2009 Posters on the Hill Event:
Nothing more effectively demonstrates the value of
undergraduate research than the words and stories of the student
participants themselves. In the Spring of 2009 the Council on
Undergraduate Research (CUR) will host its 13th annual undergraduate
poster session on Capitol Hill. This event will help members of
Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by
talking directly with the students whom these programs impact.
CUR is calling for students to submit an abstract of their research
that represents any of CUR's divisions (Arts and Humanities, Biology,
Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematics/Computer Science,
Physics/Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences).
Abstract submissions will only be accepted by using our on-line
submission form. Prior to submitting the form, students should
gather the contact information for all co-authors, advisors and
sponsors (if applicable), prepare a short vitae/resume, and poster
abstract.
For more information, and the link to submit an application, please visit: http://www.cur.org/pohcall.html
Call for Facilitators and Coordinators of CUR Institutes:
CUR is calling for applications for facilitators and
coordinators of CUR Institutes. Facilitators at CUR institutes
typically make one or more presentations in a content area of the
institute and work with small groups to facilitate the development of
the product of the institute (i.e. a strategic plan, proposal etc).
Coordinators of CUR institutes are responsible for the overall
management of the institute and serve as the liaison with the National
Office. More details regarding the role and responsibilities of
these individuals are listed in the applications.
Link to facilitator application: http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/submissions/substart.asp?action=welcome&cid=22
Link to coordinator application: http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/submissions/substart.asp?action=welcome&cid=26
If you have already started an application, you may use the above links to login to view your submission and make edits if necessary.
Newsletter Subscriptions:
The
CUR E-News
is a membership benefit for
individual members and contacts designated on CUR Institutional
Memberships. Should you know anyone that would like to receive a
subscription, please encourage them to become a member by visiting http://www.cur.org/membership.html
CUR is pleased to announce two additional newsletters also
available to CUR Members:
This Week In Washington
is a weekly newsletter prepared by the staff at Washington Partners that provides an overview of
upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education.
Deadlines and Upcoming Events
is a newsletter published by the CUR National Office which sends reminders of
submission deadlines, event registrations, and other important dates
in the CUR Community.
To subscribe to either of these newsletters, please login to the members only website,
click "Review My Membership Information" and submit an update of your
membership profile.
CUR Welcomes New Institutional Members:
Baker University CUR Institutes:
Proposal Writing Institute:
The deadline for application is May 15, 2009. Application is available by visiting: http://www.cur.org/institutes/proposal.html
Ongoing CUR Offerings:
Web Page on Advocacy and Government Relations Issues:
The staff at Washington Partners has put together a web page of materials for CUR
Member reference. The web page houses information on advocacy
and government relations issues. Topics of interest include
legislative and event summaries, information on on federal funding
resources, ongoing update on the higher education act, and a learning
and links section with descriptions of common government processes and
links to useful websites. To access this page, please visit the members only page from the
CUR homepage. Please note that you will need your members only
login to access the page. Should you have any questions or
comments regarding this page, please direct them to wpllc@cur.org
CUR Logins:
Undergraduate Researchers' Graduate School Registry:
Please encourage your students to sign up
for the Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry. The
purpose of this registry is to facilitate connections between
undergraduates and graduate schools seeking high quality students who
are well prepared for research. More information and the
submission form are available at:
http://www.cur.org/ugreg/
Graduate Schools that are interested in purchasing a subscription to
the registry should contact Robin Howard at
robin@cur.org
Developing and Sustaining a Research - Supportive Curriculum:
A Compendium of Successful Practices:
This publication is available for
purchase via the
order form. The cost is $45.00 plus shipping costs, and individual
members are eligible for a reduced rate of $35.00, plus shipping costs.
Newswise Press Release
Subscription Service:
Newswise
is an academic news distribution service that provides media with news
leads from our member institutions.
Journalists receive this news by subscribing to an emailed Daily
Wire.
From the wire, they review news releases and decide whether or not
to follow up on any leads and contacts.
Upcoming Thematic Wires:
Environment: Due to the popularity of environmental topics in the media, Newswise has created a special environment-themed wire that will be distributed once a month. This month, the deadline for contributing to our
Environment: Sustainability, Technology, Climate Change, and Health Wire, is
5PM ET on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. Possible topics include, but are
not limited to: government and energy, sustainability and renewable energy,
living "green", global warming/climate change, off-shore drilling, etc. CUR
Institutional Members may submit releases to Nancy Hensel at
nancy@cur.org. Please indicate
whether your press release is for a thematic wire, or a general wire.
For more information, please refer to the following document:
http://www.cur.org/pdf/newswise%20flyer.pdf
Advocacy: CUR Signs onto Coalition for National Science Funding Letter:
CUR In the News:
Federal Funding Opportunities Section of Members Only Website is Now Active:
Washington Partners News October 1, 2008
Column:
Washington Update
Anyone who reads the paper knows there is a lot of activity on Capitol Hill as the 110th Congress tries to complete its business and its members are eager to go home to their districts and, for many of them, hit the campaign trail for themselves or their colleagues. The math of the continuing resolution, the tax extender package and the proposal for an investment in the country's financial markets that would ostensibly stabilize a shaky economy is daunting.
Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, on September 10th, the House Science and Technology Committee's Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the Basic Energy Science program at the Department of Energy's Office of Science. The hearing focused on light and neutron source facilities and recent initiatives to advance fundamental research on energy technologies. In his opening statement, Chairman Nicholas Lampson (D-TX) noted the current attention being paid to developing clean energy technologies, but asserted that strengthening fundamental research programs in order to make technologies such as clean energy possible warrants commensurate attention. The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science's Basic Energy Science (BES) program can play an important role in remedying this situation, according to Chairman Lampson. The Chairman pointed out the importance of the major research facilities run by BES, which are used by over 9,000 people each year, including professors and students from higher education institutions.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health proposed enhancements to the NIH peer review process. Some in the research and higher education communities felt these changes could disadvantage schools and applicants without the resources and relationships of larger research universities. Working with like minded interests in the broader community, CUR asked Washington Partners to sharpen a letter to NIH Director Zerhouni pointing to the potential unintended consequences of the new guidelines and asking for the convening of a joint NIH- Research Administration working group to assist the community with the new guidelines.
Washington Partners, LLC worked with the STEM Education Coalition recently to convey the Coalition's proposed priorities for the National Science Foundation's Education and Human Resources Directorate as it looks to FY 2010. Earlier this year, representatives of the STEM Education Coalition, including Washington Partners to represent CUR's concerns, met with Dr. Cora Marrett, Assistant Director of NSF's EHR Directorate, to discuss the many programs she oversees. Building on her keen interest in undergraduate research, and her agreement that there are many cross-directorate efforts that support undergraduate research, the letter points to the many benefits of engaging faculty and undergraduate in this endeavor at both smaller institutions and community colleges.
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) recently created a new website meant to facilitate advocacy supportive on NIH and its efforts. The site, found at
http://nihadvocacy.org/, provides many facts and figures that are useful in communications and campaigns that aim to increase federal investments in NIH. FASEB is labeling it a "one-stop shopping site" for organizations.
A new Administration will mean many changes at federal agencies in the coming months. Two individuals who head up agencies have already announced their imminent departures. In September, The New York Times announced that Dana Gioia would be stepping down as Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts in order to return to writing. NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni has also announced that he will be stepping down from his post at the end of October to "pursue writing projects and explore other professional opportunities."
Opportunities and Announcements:
LI-COR Biosciences Offers $1.75 Million in Matching Funds for Undergraduate Genomics Education: LI-COR® Biosciences announces an enhanced matching funds program to
support undergraduate hands-on education in genomics. $1.75 million in
matching funds is available with LI-COR providing 60% of the funding to
each qualifying institution. The Genomics Education Matching Funds (GEMF)
program now features a streamlined application process to help colleges
acquire LI-COR DNA sequencing systems for use by undergraduate students
studying molecular biology and related fields.
"Students who have the hands-on experience using the LI-COR system
have a distinct advantage when they seek jobs and admission to
post-graduate programs," says Jackie Potts, LI-COR GEMF coordinator.
"GEMF-partner schools tell us that integrating the 4300 provides a
competitive advantage for students and their department, noting that work
on the sequencer allows students to be knowledge producers not just
knowledge consumers."
More than 200 undergraduate programs are currently benefiting from the
GEMF program.
LI-COR genomic analysis systems are used in academic labs worldwide for
a variety of research applications including sequencing, microsatellites,
AFLP®, SNP discovery and reverse genetics research.
Complete information on how schools may apply for a grant is available
at www.licor.com/gemf. Deadline
for submission of grant requests is November 7, 2008.
NSF Initiates Search for Assistant Director for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
(SBE): The Assistant Director, SBE, manages a Directorate comprised of three
divisions: Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS), Social and Economic
Sciences (SES), and Science Resources Statistics (SRS). Employment may be
on a temporary or permanent basis in the Federal Service or by temporary
assignment under provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act.
Dr. Jeremy A. Sabloff of the University of Pennsylvania has agreed to
head the Search Committee. The NSF seeks your help in identifying
candidates with the following qualifications: outstanding leadership; a
deep sense of scholarship; a grasp of the issues facing the social,
behavioral and economic science communities in the areas of education and
research; and the ability to serve effectively as a key member of the NSF
management team. The NSF is especially interested in identifying
women, members of minority groups, and persons with disabilities for
consideration. Recommendations of individuals from any sector -- academic,
industry, or government -- are welcome.
Please send your recommendations, including any supporting information
that you might be able to provide, to the AD/SBE Search Committee via
e-mail (sbesrch@lists.nsf.gov)
or at the following address: National Science Foundation, Office of the
Director, Suite 1205, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230. The NSF
would appreciate receiving your recommendations by November 15,
2008.
Department of Energy Internship Opportunities: The DOE Career Intern Program is an intensive two-year entry-level
employment opportunity that provides training and career development in
basic core competencies needed across DOE. The program is open to US
citizens who hold at least a bachelor's degree. The majority of the
positions, unless otherwise noted, are in the DC Metro Area; and most
positions at this time require master's degrees.
Opportunity 1: Civil Engineer Degree in engineering with experience in
construction management, master's preferred. Commercial construction
management preferred.
Opportunity 2: General Engineer Degree in engineering with experience
in clean coal/carbon sequestration, master's preferred.
Opportunity 3: General Engineer Degree in electrical engineering with
experience or research on the nation's electric grid, master's
preferred.
Opportunity 4: Human Resources Master's degree in human resources with
experience in federal government HR, especially classification and
processing.
Opportunities 5&6: Human Resources Master's degree in human
resources with project management experience. Federal government HR
experience preferred.
Opportunities 7&8: Human Resources *Located in Albuquerque, New
Mexico Master's degree in human resources with project management
experience. Federal government HR experience preferred.
Resumes and unofficial transcripts should be faxed to ORISE in care of
Barbara Dunkin at 865-576-0734. Please indicate the opportunity for which
you are applying.
Department of Commerce Internship Opportunities: The Department of Commerce (DOC) announces opportunities for both
summer and academic year paid internships. Currently, there are 4
internships open for the following majors and locations: Communications/Government, Washington, DC Economics or Business Administration, Atlanta, GA Students interested in being considered for opportunities under the Department of Commerce Postsecondary Internship Program should directly contact Alicia Wells at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) by e-mail at Alicia.Wells@orau.org or visit www.orau.org/doc to find out more about eligibility criteria, program benefits and the application form. NIH Funding Opportunities:
National Center for Research Resources Releases Strategic Plan:
If you have problems viewing this newsletter, please contact robin@cur.org. To view this email as a website, please visit: http://www.cur.org/newsletter/newsletter100708.htm |
| 734 15th Street NW • Suite 550 • Washington, DC 20005 • Phone (202) 7834810 • Fax(202) 7834811 • cur@cur.org • http://www.cur.org |