Research Revealed: PR tips, lab notebooks, energy-efficient freezers
October 2019 | Information & Support for the BU Research Community
Insider Insights
- Sparking a National Dialogue on Mental Health. In August, BU public health researchers Sarah Lipson and Julia Raifman published a first-of-its-kind mental health study that made waves on social media and in traditional outlets. Learn about their PR strategy
- How Questrom’s Mark Williams teamed up with students from the Spark! X-Lab to build an app to track Major League Baseball umpire stats (BU Hariri Institute for Computing)
- Choosing just the right words to communicate your research (University of Houston)
- Tips for keeping a lab notebook (Science)
Find Funding
- Interested in federal funding? Federal Relations just posted a 19-page list that includes major opportunities from federal agencies spanning the sciences and humanities.
- Limited submissions are funding opportunities that limit the number of applications from one institution. All current limited submissions at BU are listed in InfoReady. If you are considering a limited submission not listed in InfoReady, reach out to the Office of Research on the Charles River Campus or Dr. Andrew Taylor on the Medical Campus.
- The BU-BMC Cancer Center is issuing a call for pre-proposals for cross-disciplinary,
translational projects that address cancer health disparities by Wednesday, November 13. Projects focused in areas such as head and neck cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, or hematologic malignancies are strongly encouraged. - Technology Development is seeking pre-proposals for its Ignition Award program by Friday, November 1. The awards support research projects with clear commercial potential.
Manage an Award
- International collaboration, integral to research at BU, requires openness and transparency in our evolving regulatory environment. Last month, we updated both the proposal summary form and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research performance progress report summary form with a checklist of considerations related to what the NIH calls “foreign components”: any significant scientific element or segment of a project performed outside the US. We encourage faculty to review these checklists carefully when submitting proposals, and to learn more here.
Conduct Research
- The Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD) is one of 40+ core research facilities available to BU faculty. BU-CMD connects chemists who make unique molecules with biologists looking to test them for activity. It also provides state-of-the-art, high-throughput compound purification and sample management to synthetic chemists, as well as instruments for analysis and synthesis. Learn more
- A compressor-based ultra low temperature (ULT) freezer uses more energy per year than the average American home. BU is offering cash incentives up to $4,660 to labs that trade in an old ULT freezer for a more efficient option. Learn more and apply by Wednesday, November 20.
- Hazardous waste pick-up requests can now be submitted through BioRAFT for laboratories across all BU campuses.
- BU’s Animal Science Center will be rolling out a new software system in 2020. Labs will use the new software to request animals, imports, exports, and veterinary services; reserve procedure space and equipment; and much more. Sign up for email updates to stay informed about trainings.
Promote Your Work
- The Industry Engagement office offers individualized support to BU researchers by facilitating the process by which research moves from the lab to become products, services, or businesses. Visit the new website to find an action guide for researchers, including frequently asked questions, success stories, and key contacts; or contact the team to set up a meeting.
- There’s a new monthly newsletter for BU doctoral students, postdocs, and interns interested in start-ups, licensing, or other paths to commercialization of research. The newsletter will share resources, events, and programs, such as these new biweekly workshops and training opportunities. Subscribe to the email or share with trainees.
- Equalize 2020, a pitch competition and symposium showcasing women inventors with start-up technology, seeks pitch applications by Friday, November 15. BU’s Technology Development office will cover travel costs for any BU community members invited to present.
Notes & News
The Center for Network Systems Biology held its inaugural symposium on October 21.
The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future launched 20 Years of War, a research series marking the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the post-9/11 wars and exploring their costs and consequences.
The Office of Research will be hosting officials from several federal agencies in the coming months: Dr. Sandra Cauffman, Division Director, NASA Earth Science, on November 1; Dr. Larry Tabak, Principal Deputy Director, NIH, on November 18; Dr. Skip Lupia, Assistant Director, National Science Foundation Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate, on January 29; and Dr. Alison Gammie, Director of the Division of Training, Workforce Development and Diversity, NIH, on February 11.
Professor & Associate Dean for Research Swathi Kiran, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SAR), was named James & Cecelia Tse Ying Professor in Neurorehabilitation.
Professor Ann McKee, Medicine (MED), received a 2019 Service to America Medal and the Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal from the Partnership for Public Service.
Professor Andrei Ruckenstein, Physics (CAS), was awarded a $150k planning grant from the National Science Foundation as part of the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes program.
Professor Michael Siegel, Community Health Sciences (SPH), testified before Congress on youth vaping on October 16.
Useful Links
- Research with Human Subjects: Forms and guidance if you’re working with human subjects in a research project.
- Animal Care & Use: Information on working safely and responsibly with animals at BU.
- Laboratory Safety: Support and resources for keeping a safe lab, shop, or studio environment.