The fall UNL Research Fair is Nov. 10-11. The event features sessions on enhancing research collaborations and competitiveness, information on state economic development programs and grand opening events for the new regional Research Data Center, along with celebrations of faculty and postdoc achievements.
The biannual event is sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development in cooperation with campus partners. All events are free but some require registration. The schedule and links to online registration are available on the Research Fair website.The social media hashtag is #UNLRF.
Research Fair kicks off at 8 a.m. Nov. 10 at the Nebraska Union Centennial Room with the annual Faculty Recognition Breakfast, which celebrates faculty research, scholarship and creative activity. Registration is required.
A full day of events follows the recognition breakfast, beginning with grand opening events for the regional Central Plains Research Data Center. Speakers and workshops will enable participants to learn about research opportunities available through the center. Established in March 2015 in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, the RDC gives researchers access to restricted federal data. It is one of 20 federal statistical research data centers across the United States.
From 9:30 to 10 a.m., dignitaries from the Census Bureau will discuss RDC collaborations. The featured speaker is John H. Thompson, director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Other speakers from the Census Bureau are Shawn Klimek, research director, Center for Economic Studies; Barbara Downs, director, Federal Statistical Research Data Centers; and Lisa Harris, specialist, Center for Economic Studies. From 10 to 11:30 a.m., researchers from other universities who have worked with a regional RDC to enhance their research will discuss their work. These events are in the Nebraska Union, Colonial Rooms A and B.
Professional development and mentoring for postdocs is the focus of a workshop and awards luncheon hosted by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies. From 9:30 to 11 a.m., Robert Tillman, associate director of faculty and academic development at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will present “Professional Skills Development Workshop: Three Underused Considerations in Mentoring.” Tillman also will give a keynote address, “Mentoring in the Moment,” at 11:30 a.m. for the awards luncheon, which celebrates outstanding postdocs and their faculty mentors. These events are in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, Unity Room (212) and registration is required.
A luncheon and panel discussion, “Research with the U.S. Department of Defense,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wick Alumni Center will provide tips on how UNL faculty can work with Department of Defense command elements. Speakers and topics are Eric Van Gieson of the University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); Jon Mogford of the Texas A&M University system, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); and Mark Cromer, U.S. Strategic Command, USSTRATCOM. Bill Charlton, UNL associate vice chancellor for research and NSRI research director, will moderate. Registration is required.
Events on Nov. 10 wrap up with a reception and panel discussion from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on building a culture at UNL that encourages major faculty recognition and national awards. Registration is required.
The research fair lineup on Nov. 11 begins with a breakfast meeting and panel discussion, “Leveraging the Ethical Dimensions of Research as a Broader Impact: One Approach to Increase Proposal Competitiveness,” from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Wick Alumni Center.
Another morning event, the Environmental Health and Safety Colloquium, offers two tracks on safety apparel and equipment. “Protective Apparel for Laboratory Safety,” presented by Loka Mistretta, Cintas Higher Education Solutions, is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Nebraska Union and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the East Union. “National Fire Protection Association Electrical Safety Protective Apparel,” presented by Joe Liberti, Cintas Protective Clothing Apparel, is 11 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the UNL Facilities Management and Planning Shops. Participants should choose one session per track.
UNL’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium will host a luncheon and panel discussion, “Building Transdisciplinary Research Collaborations,” from noon to 2 p.m. at the Wick Alumni Center and requires registration. Featuring presentations from UNL researchers involved in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations, topics include computational creativity, minority health REU, cloud-map, obesity, climate and groundwater, drought mitigation and text analysis. After the panel discussion, participants will work in small groups to discuss strategies for successful collaborations. Events on Nov. 11 conclude with 3 p.m. concurrent sessions.
Joe Fox, business innovation manager in the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, will lead a panel discussion in the Nebraska Union, Colonial Room B, on Innovation Act programs to support researchers’ business ventures. Ravi Saraf, chemical and biomolecular engineering and president of Vajra Instruments, will discuss Nebraska’s Small Business Innovation Research initiative. Yongfeng Lu, electrical and computer engineering, and Kyle Kraudy, Conductix-Wampfler Inc., will discuss academic research and development support for Nebraska-based university-industry collaborations. UNL Industry Relations hosts this session.
“Data Management Plans,” presented by University Libraries assistant professor Jennifer Thoegersen in the Nebraska Union, Colonial Room A, addresses how to collect, organize and store research data.
For more information on the fall UNL Research Fair, click here.
