The Research Office - Oakland University

Notice to all Principal Investigators submitting proposals:

Due to time constraints imposed by the University's participation in the federal work-share program and other challenges imposed by COVID-19 response, The Research Office must adhere firmly to our Proposal Submission Policy, commonly called the "5-day rule." As we enter a busy season that involves the NSF CAREER proposals, as well as the NSF CRIIs, we anticipate a rush of requested submissions. Therefore, and consistent with our procedures and best practices, we will need final proposal documents 5 business days in advance of the deadline. Complete proposals will be prioritized for submission. Said another way, we cannot guarantee submission of proposal documents sent within the 5 day window.

COVID-19 Research Continuity Guidance

REOPENING RESEARCH CHECKLIST (as of 6/16/20):

Note: the Guidance has been updated to include field research, and there is now a Template for Fieldwork Safety and Security Plans in espace (link below).

To be completed once, before restarting:

Review Guidance on Reopening Research at OU document (copy in espace: https://espace.oakland.edu/course/view.php?id=1392)
Complete a Safety and Security Plan using the Template for Laboratory Safety & Security Plans (copy in espace: https://espace.oakland.edu/course/view.php?id=1392)
Submit Safety and Security Plan using PerfectForm: https://eforms.oakland.edu/PerfectFormsSSO/player.htm?f=wQgAgAgE
Complete Return To Work online training
Fill out the Google document to certify that you have completed the training
Wait for final approval of your Safety and Security Plan from your Research Development Officer

To be completed daily by each person coming to the lab, prior to arriving on campus, once research begins:

Complete the confidential online screening form: https://eforms.oakland.edu/PerfectFormsSSO/player.htm?f=oQgAgAgD

Note: It will not work to bookmark this URL for the online screening form on your phone. Because of single sign on, you have to bookmark an OU page where the form appears, then navigate to the form. Examples:

https://wwwp.oakland.edu/coronavirus/ (open the COVID-19 menu to see the Health Screening Form)

https://oakland.edu/uts/efficient-processes-forms/forms/ (scroll down to COVID-19 Employee Health Screening Form)

(for issues with the Safety & Security Plan, contact Michael Spires: mspires@oakland.edu. For issues with the espace, contact Caity Conley: conley@oakland.edu)

Virtual Info Sessions and Workshops

Virtual Research Town Hall, August 14, 1:00-2:00pm
IRB Cayuse Training - Ongoing
Food for Thought Writing Circle, July 7, 2:00-4:00pm

IRB Updates:

Temporary Stoppage of In-Person Research Procedures
Considering the current public health concern with the fast spread of the Coronavirus, and the recent actions taken by the state of Michigan, Oakland University is mandating a temporary stoppage of all in-person human subjects research procedures, effective immediately. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Research Continuity Guidance website: https://wwwp.oakland.edu/research/covid-19-research-continuity-guidance/

Cayuse for IRB submissions is Live
Anyone submitting applications to the IRB for human subjects research should now use the Cayuse application: https://oakland.cayuse424.com/

More information can be found here: https://wwwp.oakland.edu/research/compliance/irb/

For assistance, contact Judette Haddad (haddad@oakland.edu) or Kate Wydeven (kwydeven@oakland.edu).

FIND US ON TWITTER! @OaklandResearch #OaklandResearch

Click here for the ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT (FY19)

Quick Links:

Upcoming Workshops and Events

Virtual Research Town Hall, August 14, 1:00-2:00pm

Dear Research Colleagues,

The disruptions caused by COVID-19 have raised many questions among researchers at the university. Throughout this crisis, I have been actively participating in the ongoing emergency management efforts on campus. I have also been in regular communication with chief research officers around the country about how they are handling matters on their own campuses. Andrea and I have also been in touch with federal agency staff and leadership over the last two weeks so that we understand how they are trying to manage their research portfolios and address these challenges within existing, and in some cases changing, policy frameworks.

Beginning on April 7, I will host a regular series of virtual town halls. The next town hall will be on Friday, August 14 at 1:00 PM. These sessions, which will be run through Google Meet, will be an opportunity for me to tell you what I know and to answer your questions, to the extent I can. If you have questions or concerns, please join us. While we will take questions via chat during the meeting, it will be helpful if you pose questions on the registration form so we can do our best to provide you with accurate information.

If you want to participate in the August 14 session and haven't already received an invitation or want to submit a question, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/kR9wpcZeggz6rsmh6 and you will be sent connection details for the Google Meet.

In the meantime, stay safe.

dave

Food for Thought Writing Circle, July 7, 2:00-4:00pm

The Research Office will continue Food for Thought, our writing circle for people looking for support and sustenance as they pursue their writing projects, even while working remotely. On July 7, we will open a Google Hangout space at 2:00. We will begin by discussing strategies for writing in turbulent times. Then we will go off separately, as we always do, to work on our own projects. At 3:45, we will gather again to check in, report progress, and assess whether this strategy is helpful to academic writers. Please pre-register so that you can receive the Google Hangout link, as well as a link to an article that might be helpful for our discussion.

If you want to participate, please sign up here: https://t.e2ma.net/click/m9a72c/21vuacb/68vaym

Access our workshop resources on espace.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) UPDATES

NSF Update (8/27/2020) - Virtual Fall 2020 NSF Grants Conference

Out of an abundance of caution in response to COVID-19, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has canceled the in-person Fall 2020 NSF Grants Conference that was scheduled to take place in San Antonio, Texas this October.

NSF is now planning to hold a Virtual Grants Conference in the November – December timeframe. To get notified, join the NSF grants listserv by signing up for the mailing list here.

In the meantime, please check nsfpolicyoutreach.com for the most up-to-date information, and view recordings of sessions from last year’s event.

NSF Update (5/22/2020) - Fillable PDF Templates Available

NSF has released the fillable PDF forms for the biosketch and the current and pending support forms that will become one of the two acceptable ways of providing this information for NSF proposals beginning October 1, 2020. (Updated from April 2020 announcement)

Access Dear Colleagues letter and templates on espace.

CAYUSE RESEARCH SUITE

As part of Oakland University's ongoing commitment to supporting faculty scholarship and growing funded research, we have upgraded our research administration software to the Cayuse Research Suite. This software solution will allow faculty investigators to submit and manage grant proposals in a web-based and user-friendly environment.* Chairs and deans will be able to approve proposals for submission and obtain real-time pictures of research activity in their departments. The software will enable all of this and more while also reducing administrative burdens. Please note that this system is for external proposals and not internal awards.

Click here for Fast Facts about the Cayuse Research Suite, including log-in information.

Click here for direct link for Cayuse production instance, USED FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS (not a training or practice instance)

For Deans/Directors/Chairs - How to Authorize a Proposal (step-by-step instructions)
For PIs - How to Certify a Proposal (step-by-step instructions)

Training sessions are required of research-active faculty who plan to submit grants, and will be offered again in Winter 2020. If you need immediate assistance with Cayuse, contract your grant officer in the Research Office.

*A note about IRB and Cayuse: Our new system will eventually have an IRB module, however, please continue to use IRBNet and/or RAM as appropriate until this module is live. (updated 1/15/19)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCING ARMS - Advanced Research Methodology Services

The Research Office provides Advanced Research Methodology Services (ARMS), which aims to help faculty improve the quality of the research design and data analysis sections of their grant proposals. The ARMS team will assist with research and analysis upon receipt of funding. We are in the process of building an ARMS team, and are seeking faculty to serve as methodological consultants in areas of their expertise. Contact ARMS Coordinator Dennis Condron to join the team, or to access ARMS for assistance with your own proposal.
Word documents with more information can be downloaded with the links below:

ARMS Recruitment (for faculty who would like to be part of the ARMS team)
ARMS Summary (for faculty who would like assistance with their grant proposal)

Oakland University is a member of the Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN), a statewide university network designed to create partnerships that will connect Michigan's corporations to critical university assets to help promote innovative research and grow Michigan's economy.