Reflecting on Baltimore Stories Event

Saturday, December 3, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Performing Arts & Humanities Building, UMBC
Registration and sign in 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Free parking!

We invite you to join us to reflect on a year of programs exploring identity in Baltimore, as part of the “Baltimore Stories” project. Opening with remarks from UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski and University of Maryland, College Park President Wallace D. Loh on the role of the public university in the community, the event will consider how narratives about Baltimore are made and disseminated in and through media, who speaks for Baltimore, and what these stories mean for the future of the city. Humanities scholars, cultural organizers, partners, and other guests will discuss their efforts over the past year to help amplify the voices of Baltimore communities and use narrative to move towards change. Young people will share media projects highlighting the importance of their stories to the Baltimore's future. 

Information: dreshercenter@umbc.edu

National Biosafety Stewardship Month is a period during which institutions, such as UMBC, are encouraged to focus  efforts on promoting awareness of investigator responsibilities and sustaining a culture of safety/responsibility in life science research.

 For more information and materials about biosafety stewardship, please click on the IBC website or contact Environmental Safety and Health at safety@umbc.edu or the ORPC at compliance@umbc.edu.

The CAHSS Dean’s Research Fund (CDRF) provides a biannual (proposals due Oct 1 and Apr 1) competitive funding opportunity for up to $5,000 to support the research endeavors of CAHSS tenured and tenure-track faculty and lecturers. Funds will support developing or established scholarly and creative projects. Faculty on visiting or short-term appointments are not eligible to apply. Awarded funds will be available through the end of the fiscal year following the award year. After completion of the grant term, awardees must provide evidence of work produced and a short report describing how funds were spent and how any equipment purchased has been designated for continued College use.

Items that are eligible for CDRF funding include: travel, equipment, supplies, books, research participant costs, undergraduate or graduate student support, and other items necessary for research endeavors. No faculty salary support or course releases may be funded through this initiative. Funds supporting this initiative are provided by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Applications will be reviewed by the CAHSS Research Advisory Committee, which will make recommendations to the Dean. Proposals will be judged on: the quality of the proposed project, feasibility of the work, and how the project will benefit from CDRF assistance.

Limit one application per faculty member per funding cycle. Limit one award per faculty per two years.

Link for application materials: http://cahss.umbc.edu/cahss-deans-research-fund/ 

Information from CAHSS Dean's Office

The UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research has issued a Call for Applications for the NEH 2017 Summer Stipends program as a Limited Submission Opportunity. UMBC may select two nominations to advance to full proposals to be submitted to the NEH by September 29, 2016. The deadline for internal nominations is July 15, 2016.

NEH Summer Stipends support individuals in advancing research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources. Though this is an NEH program, many faculty members in the arts and social sciences work on projects that the NEH might fund. 

Summer Stipends support projects at any stage of development. Outright awards of $6,000 will be given for two consecutive months of full-time research during summer 2017. 

Click here for more information on the NEH program.

Contact Rachel Brubaker, Assistant Director for Grants and Program Development, Dresher Center for assistance (lead time is essential).

Federal policy requires that if you are going to use live vertebrate animals in NIH funded research, you must adhere to the requirements in the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the NIH Grants Policy Statement and also in the instructions for the PHS398 and SF424 application forms. These requirements state that the specifics of animal use should be described in the grant application. For contract proposals, you should follow the instructions that accompany the request for proposal. 

If you are proposing the use of animals in your research application OLAW has a new podcast  on writing the Vertebrate Animal Section in your grant application or contract research proposal. Dr. Patricia Brown, OLAW Director, discusses why this application section is required, what reviewers look for, and more. 

For more information check out “Writing Your Vertebrate Animals Section” (mp3 | transcript) and other All About Grants podcasts.

The Office for Human Research Protections provides leadership in the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of subjects involved in research conducted or supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. OHRP helps ensure this by providing clarification and guidance, developing educational programs and materials, maintaining regulatory oversight, and providing advice on ethical and regulatory issues in biomedical and social-behavioral research.

Visit OHRP’s newly designed website at www.hhs.gov/ohrp/ to find the same helpful content and additional information in a new, easy to navigate format. 

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) was approved in 2015 by the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities. The IBC is responsible for ensuring that all recombinant DNA or synthetic nucleic acid moleculesresearch as well as research with transgenic animals and biohazardous materials (such as bacterium, fungi, algae, potential infectious agents and select agents) conducted at UMBC and sponsored by external/internal funding be performed in compliance with the NIH Guidelines and with proper concern for the safety of research personnel, the environment, and the surrounding communities.

For further information and assistance in preparing IBC applications, please contact us at 5-2737 or compliance@umbc.edu.