ResearchandScholarshipCommitteeMeeting February21,2014
Present:MichaelHarold,WynneChin,PradeepSharma,MariaSolino,KarlTitz,
RobertPalmer,MichaelZvolensky,AlessandroCarrera,GreggRoman,T.Randall
Lee,AlanBurns,RichardBond,GeorgeZouridakis,AbdelhakBensaoula,Christie
Peters,RathindraBose,MaryAnnOttinger,JenniferDuncan,CrisMilligan,Kirstin
Rochford,RuthShapiro,JoanNelson,RozlynReep,AshleyMerwin
Absent:GregoryMarinic,EzemenariObasi,HalukOgmen,GangbingSong,Stuart
Long,JackFletcher,StuartDryer,LuisTorres,AllanJacobson,JacquelineHawkins,
MarkClarke,SelestaHodge
TheChaircalledthemeetingtoorderat1:36pm.
WelcomebytheChair:Dr.Haroldwelcomedeveryonetothemeeting.
ApprovalofJanuaryMinutes:Dr.HaroldthankedRozlynReepfordoingan
excellentjobwiththeminutesandaskedforamotiontoapprove.Dr.Leemadethe
motionandDr.Romanseconded.Theminuteswereapproved.
StatusReportbyVC/VPDr.Bose:
Dr.Bosestartedhisreportbysayinghewasdelightedtobeatthemeetingandthat
itisanexcitingtimefortheDivisionofResearch.TheProvosthasmetwithmany
distinguishedcandidatesforFall2014hire,whowillcontributeasexcellent
scholars.ThiswillbringchallengestoDORintermsofstartuppackages,
laboratories,etc.Theywanttoprovideacompetitivepackageandareworkingwith
theProvostofficetolookathiringplans.Dr.Boseisgoingtodohisbesttoattract
thebestandbrightesttocampus.Theseindividualswillsetthedirectionforwhere
theinstitutionwillgointhenext20‐30years.Heurgesdeansanddepartment
chairstogoafterthebestintheirsearchesforcandidates,evenifitmeansfilling
positionsataslowerpace.
Dr.BosecontinuedhisreportbysayingonechallengetheDivisionofResearchfaces
istheA‐81.Thispolicywillimpacthowthedepartmentmanagesgrants,etc.Next
weekhewillbeattendingaconference(CouncilonGovernmentalRelations)in
Washington,D.C.andwillreceivemoreinformationtoinformthecommitteeand
campus.
Dr.BosestatedthatsincehisarrivalattheUniversityofHoustonhehaswantedto
createaresearchadministrationthatwasthebestinthecountry.Hewashappyto
reportthatDORatUHisthesecondmostefficientunitoncampus,secondtothe
parkingdepartment.Dr.Bosebeganrestructuringtobringthatlevelofefficiency
whichtookhimlongerthananticipated.Alotofpeopleleftinoperationsandhehad
toomanydirectorswhodidnotworkwelltogether.Thelastpartofreformwas
findingaPre&PostAwardexpertwhoworkedwellwithfaculty.Dr.Bosebelieves
hehasfoundthisindividual.ThispersonisJenniferDuncanandsheisthenew
AssistantVicePresidentforResearchAdministration.Ms.Duncancamefromthe
UniversityofMissouri.UMwasexperiencingissueswiththefederalgovernment
andMs.Duncanwashiredtohelpresolvethoseissues.Theyhadacleanbillof
healthlastyearduetoherhardwork.JenniferDuncanandBeverlyRymerwillbe
workingtogetherwithPre&PostAwardandresearchfinancialservices.Dr.Bose
introducedMs.DuncantotheCommittee.
JenniferDuncantoldthecommitteeshewashappytobethereandthathergoalisto
servefaculty,haveaworldclasssystemandbuildcommunicationswithothers.
JennifergavethecommitteeanoverviewofUniversityofMissouri(UM)via
PowerPoint:
 UMhad$2milliontotalrevenue.
 Grants&Contractproposedbudgetwas$1,494.2million.
 Statesupportwasdecreasingwhilemorerevenuewascominginviatuition.
 WasAwarded208million(2006)to228million(2013).
 Organizationalstructure:
o OfficeofResearch(cores&centers,compliance,administrative
support,technologytransfer).
o Sponsoredprograms(cradletograveapproachandhigh
specializationopportunities).
 BigWins:
o Overallenhancedtechnicalexpertise
o A‐133Audit(cleanbillofhealth)
o PHSconflictofinterest(99%complianceapprovalrate)
o Electronicapprovalsimplementation(proposalsapprovedwithin
PeopleSoft.)
o Specializedresearchadministrationtraining(NCURAtypetrainingfor
campus;certificateseriestraining);trainingguides–SPPG(procedure
guide).
 Opportunitiesforbestpractices:
o OMBreforms;unfundedmandates;continuingresolutions;
sequestration;tenurepolicy;technologyimplementations;
facilitating/managingresearchcommunications;staffing;growing
researchwithshrinkingfederaldollars.
Ms.Duncanaskedthecommitteeforanyquestionsorcomments.Dr.Sharma
mentionedthathewouldliketoseestaffaddedtoPost‐Award.Dr.Harold
expressedagreementwithDr.Sharma.Ms.Duncanrespondedbysayingthatthey
needtomakecareersinPre&PostAwardmoreattractiveandlearnhowtoretain
staff.Ms.DuncanalsostatedthatperhapstherolesinPre&PostAwardandCentral
(collegeRA’s)needtobemoredefinedandmakesurethereiscollaboration.
Dr.BensaoulaaskedMs.DuncanaboutcomplianceissuesandideasregardingITAR.
Ms.Duncanrespondedbysayingitwasagoodquestionandstaffareawareofthe
issues.ShewilltalkwithDr.BoseandseewhatresourcestheyneedinDOR,but
believesit’sCentral’sroletoprovidethattypeofguidanceandstressed
collaborations.
Dr.HaroldtoldMs.Duncanthatthecommitteelooksforwardtoworkingwithher.
SubcommitteeReports:
NewFaculty&SmallGrants:Dr.Torreswasunabletoattendthemeeting.His
updatewastabledforthenextmeeting
Excellence&Research:Dr.Leereportedthathissubcommitteehasallofthe
nominationsandtheyareintheprocessofdeterminingawards.
GEAR:Dr.Ogmenwasunabletoattendthemeeting,butDr.Haroldstatedthatthe
subcommitteewaswaitingforcollegestosubmitproposalstoDORandthe
committeewillhearfromthemincomingweeks.
Centers&Institutes:Dr.Zouridakisreportedthathissubcommitteewascharged
withthereviewoffourcenters:1.)TexasObesityResearchCenter;2.)Centerfor
AdvancedMaterials;3.)UHCoastalCenter;4.)CenterforAdvancedComputingand
DataSystems.
Thesubcommitteecameupwithevaluationsandrecommendationsforeachcenter:
1.) TexasObesityResearchCenter(TORC):Thecommitteeagreedthatthe
performanceoftheCentermettheobjectivessetintheCenter’smission
statement.Theyrecommendedthatfuturereportsincludeadditionaldetails
ontheCenter’sactivitieswhichwouldfurtherstrengthentheirassessment.
2.) CenterforAdvancedMaterials(CAM):Thecommitteeagreedthatthe
performanceoftheCentermettheobjectivessetintheCenter’smission
statement.Therewerenorecommendations.
3.) UHCoastalCenter:ThecommitteeagreedthattheperformanceoftheCenter
mettheobjectivessetintheCenter’smissionstatement.SincetheCenteris
slatedtochangestatusfromaUniversityCentertoaDepartmental/College
Center,theybelieveitwouldbeintheCenter’sbestinteresttoinitiateamore
rigorousfee‐collectionmechanism,asitwasrecommendedinprevious
reviewcycles.OtherwisetheCenterisnotviable.
4.) CenterforAdvancedComputingandDataSystems(CACDS):Thecommittee
understandsthattheCenterisundergoingatransitionandisremakingitself
intoahigh‐performancecomputingcenter.Basedonthedocuments
provided,theyunderstandthat:
A.)
CACDSabsorbedthecomputerfacilitiesofRCC(Maxwell
cluster)andasaresult,allusersandprojectsthatwere
B.)
C.)
D.)
E.)
F.)
G.)
previouslyRCC’sMaxwellarenowpartofCACDS.Isthis
thebasisfortheindicationthatCACDShasreceived44
awardsandprovided“supportforresearchefforts
involving$27Mofexternalfundingandresultinginover
100scientificcontributions?”
A“dualreportingline”forfourfull‐timeRCCstaffwas
created.Isthisthebasisforthereportof18FTEfaculty
andstaffand42students?
TheexactmembershipofCACDSisunclear.
NofacultyislistedassplittingcreditwithCACDS.The
numberofproposalsortotaldollaramountcreditedto
CACDSisnotclear.
Thereislittleinformationonspaceuseofthesecondfloor
ofthePGHbuilding:whousesthisofficespace,which
housedseveralfaculty,studentsandpostdocsandformer
TLC2staff?Thewebsiteisoutofdate.
Thestrategicplandoesnotprovidespecificinformationon
expendituresanduseofrevenues.
ThereisnoinformationonwhoandhowCACDSdealtwith
“legacyissues”intheannualreport.
Thecommitteerecommendsthatforthepurposesofbetterunderstanding
thereportandtheCenter’sspecificactivities,thattheCenteraddressthe
pointsaboveinmoredetail,possiblyasanaddendum,sothatafull
evaluationispossible.
Dr.Bosestatedthatheappreciatesthesubcommittee’sreportandtheCACDS
Directorwillberespondingtothepointsraised.Heappointed2committees:
ExternalAdvisoryCommitteeandInternalAdvisoryCommitteetohelpshapethe
center.TheInternalAdvisoryCommitteehadabout5‐7membersthatincluded
biologists,engineers,computerscientists,etc.togivespecificrecommendations.
TheExternalAdvisoryCommitteeconsistedofworldrenownedpeoplefromallover
theUSwhoagreedtohelpDr.Bose.Hefeltthefundamentalissuewasthatthe
Centerisaresearchcenterandthefocusneededtobeonresearch.Hetookadvice
fromtheInternalandExternalAdvisoryBoardsandlastyear’sevaluationfromRSC
whichrecommendedthattheCenterbemorelikeaservicecenter.Hisintention
wastocreateahighperformancecomputercenter,anditisultimatelyaresearch
servicecenter.EngineeringhasdecidedtoworkwiththenewCACDSandtomove
theirserversoitcanbecentrallymanaged.Therewasalsoaconversationwith
GeosciencesandIT(MaxwellRCC),whichmeantthereweretwoseparatecomputer
centers.OneoftheAdvisoryCommitteesaskedwhatthepurposewasinhavingtwo
Centers.SoMaxwellmergedwithCACDSandemployeesweretransferred.Ithas
onlybeen1yearsincethetransitionbegan.Dr.Bosefeelsthesubcommittee’s
commentsareaccurateandwillbefolloweduponbytheDirector.TheDirectorfor
CACDSishighlyproductive,andweneedtoworkwithherandgivehertimeand
resources.It’sveryimportantthatsheaddressesissuesforthecommittee.
Dr.Haroldmadeamotionforthesubcommittee’srecommendationstobeapproved.
Themotionpassed.
OldBusiness
Dr.HaroldintroducedJoanNelson,ExecutiveDirectorforHumanResourcestogive
anupdateonhiringpracticesforPostDocsandResearchAssociates.
Ms.Nelsongreetedthecommitteeandreferencedthe“ProceduresforHiring
PostdoctoralFellowPositions”draftthatwasdistributedtocommitteemembers.
ShestatedthatthefocusofthedraftwasonPostDocpositions.Aspromised,she
lookedatPostDochiringproceduresattheUniversityofTexas,TexasA&M,and
TexasTech.Inthedraftprovided,thedocumentproposesthatPostDoc
assignmentscanbeupto3years(36months),andiftheywork20ormorehours
perweekfor4.5monthsorlongerinafiscalyeartheyareeligibleforbenefits.Ms.
Nelsonworkedwithlegalonendassignments.Theycameupwiththefollowing:
A.) Terminationatthedirectionofthefundingagency.
B.) Terminationduetolossofpositionfunding.
C.) TerminationforviolationoflaworUniversityofHoustonpolicy.
Dr.LeetoldMs.Nelsonhewouldliketosee“lackofperformance”addedtotheend
assignments.Dr.Sharmawasinagreement.Ms.Nelsonagreedtoaddthe
suggestiontotheproposal.
Dr.HaroldtoldMs.Nelsonheappreciatestheproposalandthatit'sabig
improvementandmeetsallofthenecessarycriteria.
Ms.Nelsontoldthecommitteetheycanputthepolicyintoeffectnextmonth(March
1)ifthecommitteeagrees.Thecommitteeexpressedtheiragreement.
NewBusiness
Dr.HaroldintroducedKirstinRochford,DirectorofResearchCompliancetogivean
updateontransitioningHIPPAreviewtoUHIRBandtheGulfCoastConsortium
(GCC)ReciprocityAgreement.
Ms.RochfordgreetedthecommitteeandintroducedRuthShapiro,SeniorAssistant
withGeneralCounsel.Ms.ShapirowasstandinginforDonnaCornell.Ms.Shapiro
toldthecommitteeshedealsalotwithHIPPA.Inreviewingcomplianceand
research,shestateditwouldbemoreproductiveifwehadIRBandHIPPAmore
centralized.Ms.RochfordfolloweduponMs.Shapiro’scommentsbytellingthe
committeesheisgettingformsreadyforIRB.
Ms.RochfordcontinuedherreportbysayingsheisworkingcloselywiththeGulf
CoastConsortium.Theyareclosetohavingafinaldocumenttoallowreciprocity
betweenmemberIRB’sforthereviewofhumansubjectresearch.
SubcommitteeReportsContinued
Resources&CoreFacilities:Dr.Burnstoldthecommitteetherewasnothingnew
toreportatthistime.Dr.Ottingerisresolvingsomemodificationstotheguidelines
andwillprovidethosechangestoDr.Burnsandhissubcommittee.
ConflictofInterest&Compliance:Dr.Burnsreportedthatit’sanevolvingprocess
andthattheyhavegooddiscussions.Theypayparticularattentiontogetting
informationtofacultyaboutwhattheyshouldbereporting.It’saveryorganized
meetingheldeachmonth.Dr.HaroldtoldDr.Burnsheappreciateshisroleonthe
committee.
IntellectualPropertyCommittee:Dr.DryerandDr.Clarkewerenotpresent.An
updatewastabledforthenextmeeting.
Old&NewBusinessContinued
ResearchFacultyRoles:Duetolackoftime,ResearchFacultyRoleswastabledfor
thenextmeeting.
ResearchGrantMatchingPolicy:ResearchGrantMatchingPolicywastabledfor
thenextmeeting.
IndirectCostPolicy:Dr.HaroldgaveabriefoverviewontheflowofIndirectCosts
(IDC).Drs.Sharma,JacobsonandFletcherserveonDr.Carlucci’sIDCtaskforce.Dr.
HaroldwouldlikeforthecommitteetogivesuggestionstoDrs.Sharma,Jacobson
andFletcher.Dr.HaroldencouragedeveryonetovisittheIDCwebsitewhichgives
backgroundinformation: http://www.uh.edu/af/committees/idc.htm.
Theon‐campusIDCrateiscurrently50.5%oftotalindirectcostswhichusually
excludesequipment.Theoff‐campusrateis26%.Somesponsorswillnotallow,per
agreement,thefullIDCrate.ThestateofTexas,forexample,maxesoutat15%.
Others,suchassomecompanies,willnotsupportresearchunlesstheIDCrateis
reducedorzeroinsomecases,butithastobenegotiated.
InordertoprovideanoverviewofhowIDCisdistributed,Dr.HaroldshowedanIDC
flowchartfromFY2010asanexampleofhowthefundsweredistributedduring
thatfiscalyear.Oncefundsendupatadepartmentlevel,thedepartmentchaircan
determinedistributiontothefacultymembers.Dr.Haroldsaidthecommittee
voted(checkedwithDr.Lee)around2010torecommendthat5%oftotalIDC
generatedgobacktothePI.Unlessthecommitteefeelsdifferentlyaboutwhatwas
votedonseveralyearsago,it’sontherecordthatthecommitteerecommends5%.
TheIDCDistributionPolicyCommitteehasbeenconsideringtheseissuesandthe
RSChasfourmembersonthecommittee(forminutesofmeetings,see
http://www.uh.edu/af/committees/idc_meeting.htm).Dr.Haroldraisedtheissueof
theIDCreturntothecollegesandiftheRSCwishestoprovideinput.Hepointedout
thattherearetwoextremestoconsider:
• ReducedIDCreturntocolleges–centralizationofresources
• IncreasedIDCreturntocolleges/centers–decentralizationofresources
Dr.HaroldpointedoutseveralviewpointsaboutIDC:
• PI’saccumulateIDCreturntocreate“rainydayfund”
• Dept.ChairsuseIDCreturnasinvestmenttogrowresearch&scholarship
• PI’sareentitledtoincreasedsharebecausetheydidthework
• Administrationneedstheresourcesbecausetheresearchenterpriseis
expensive(start‐upfunds,etc.)
Dr.BoserespondedtoDr.Harold’sreportbysayinghecapturedalotofthings
correctlybutsomeitemsneedclarification.Ingeneral,withaDepartmentof
Educationgrant,it’sverydifficulttogetmorethan8%inIDC.Thesalariesand
benefitsforDORemployeeslargelycomefromIDC.Dr.Bosewentontoclarify
severalitemsontheflowchartandmentionedthatlastyearhehadmadesome
progress.Wegainedsome,althoughtotalresearchexternalfundingdidnot
increaseDr.BosestoppedmakingexceptionsforIDCrateunlessitwasneeded.So
theygainedanadditional$2millioninIDC.Thereisapolicy,$1.238million
(InstitutionalGeneralSupportonflowchart),thatgoestofacilities(Dr.Carlucci’s
office).HenegotiatedwithDr.CarlucciforafixedamountfromtheIDC.Soeven
withtotalIDCgoingfrom$12.5millionto$16million,Dr.Carlucciwillhave$1.238
million.The$861,480forCoreFacilitieswasreducedin2013byabout$500,000.
Dr.Boseistryingtoreturnmoremoneytocolleges.However,itdoesnotsolvethe
questionthatDr.Haroldraised,whichiswhetherPI’sshouldhaveaportionofIDC.
Dr.BosesaidtheyhavegivenDr.Carlucciinformationfrom94institutions
(UniversityofChicago,Stanford,etc).Thereisnosystematicformula,andthereare
institutionsthatdonotgiveanythingtofaculty.TheinstitutionDr.Harold
mentioned(GeorgiaTech)andtheUniversityofChicagoareexamples.However,
therearemanyinstitutionswheretheVPRoffice,facilities,departmentchairs,and
facultyreceiveaportion.Dr.BosetoldtheRSCthattheconcernhehearsisthelack
ofauniformapproachwithinthecollegeanddepartments.Dr.Bosestatedthat
thereneedstobeauniformpolicybytheUniversity.
Duetothetime,Dr.Haroldtoldthecommitteetheywillcontinuethediscussionat
thenextmeeting.
Dr.Haroldaskedforamotiontoadjournthemeeting.Dr.Palmermadethemotion
andthemeetingwasadjournedat3:08pm.
ThenextmeetingwillbeonFriday,March21,samelocationfrom1:30–3:00
pm.