The Office of Research and Economic Development, in partnership with a research task force, has developed a website to guide Nebraska researchers in planning for COVID-19. At this time, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not plan to restrict access to research spaces and will continue submitting proposals as normal.
“This is a challenging time for the university community, and the health and safety of our campus is our top priority as the situation evolves,” said Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development. “Research remains important to making progress toward the university’s long-term goals and we are committed to ensuring our faculty can continue their groundbreaking work with minimal disruptions.”
Topics addressed on the website, which will be updated as more information becomes available, include:
Instructions for research groups on how to prepare in the event that full access is restricted, including identifying emergency personnel, setting up remote work options and meeting proposal deadlines.
Resources developed, including a spreadsheet on continuity planning for laboratories and research spaces.
Guidance from the Office of Sponsored Programs for grants and contracts, how to continue submitting proposals and meeting proposal deadlines under extenuating circumstances.
Guidance from the Institutional Review Board on conducting human subjects research during this time.
University travel guidelines.
Contacts for specific questions about how COVID-19 may affect research operations.
Resources from local, state, national and international sources, including how federal awards may be affected.
The research task force is meeting regularly to develop guidelines for ensuring the university’s research continuity and identifying potential issues. All task force recommendations will be made in alignment with university policies and procedures. Official updates about the overall university response are available on the COVID-19 website.
Researchers are encouraged to identify areas that could be impacted by this evolving situation. If you have questions or concerns about how COVID-19 may impact research operations, contact Deb Hamernik, associate vice chancellor for research, at unlresearch@unl.edu.
