ANNUAL REPORT
(June 1, 2014 – May 31, 2015)
NEIL H. RINGLER, VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH
07/09/15
I.
Summary
This was a pivotal year for research at SUNY-ESF, with the arrival of President Wheeler
coupled with new visions and ultimately goals at the College, as well as new potential for our
research portfolio. While the statistics summarized below help portray a success story, we also
recognize the positive outlook of ESF faculty and collaborators. Pitching of major proposals,
collaborating in new ways, posing new questions of global importance, and integrating research
with course/service opportunities and new patent/license avenues are all on the upswing.
The keyword for the year is “collaboration.” The Office of Research Programs takes
pride in seeing ESF faculty energetically embrace collaborative opportunities: The $1.3 M
biofuels facility is now functional with a grant-supported project (SBIR) underway. Four ESF
faculty members are actively engaged in the Biotechnology Accelerator (BAC). Faculty
members in several departments have won collaborative grants through the Hill Collaboration in
Environmental Medicine, published papers from them, and participated in an evolving
(Challenge 2020) Institute for Environmental Health and Environmental Medicine. The
Research Foundation has responded to the needs of New York State and beyond with the
Networks of Excellence. ESF has been among the most active in supporting these Networks,
particularly the 4E and Materials and Advanced Manufacturing. Our winning of another
Challenge 2020 grant supporting the Water Research and Education Center (Onondaga
Environmental Education Center) will accelerate solutions to water research and education state
wide, and capitalize on decades of research and teaching in our watersheds.
A second keyword this year is “challenge,” perhaps equivalent to “compliance.”
Incorporation of the new Proposal and Compliance System (PACS) to replace aspects of COEUS
and PI/AI will ultimately be of great benefit, but the changes come with a startup cost of
learning. Our faculty are gradually coming to appreciate the College’s need to heighten
compliance in every aspect of the proposal, IRB, and expenditure process: state and federal
regulations are simply more demanding and far less forgiving than in prior years. Audits are real
and remarkably detailed. A simple example is the disallowance of office supplies on most
federal grants: an annoyance to busy faculty, but a financial fact of life. ORP will continue to
work toward thoughtful education of the needs for compliance and the tools to achieve it.
This year has largely been a financial success in the research life of ESF, reflecting high
levels of research productivity by the faculty, abundant graduate student support, and record
expenditure levels of $16 M and a complementary $16.7 M in new awards. Virtually every
metric (key indicator) met or exceeded last year’s goals. Our five-year performance remains
remarkably stable during times of increasing competition for extramural funds. A total of 375
funded projects are underway, including several won through the SUNY-RF Networks of
Excellence. Our record per-capita research expenditure level of $119.7 K (vs. $108.7 last year)
remains well ahead of all SUNY doctoral-granting units except for Albany. ESF again won a
SUNY grant in support of the Entrepreneur in Residence Program, which provides a new venue
for young investigators/entrepreneurs. The SUNY 4E program, led by SUNY-ESF, Binghamton
University, Stony Brook and SUNY Albany, is far ahead of the other five Networks of
Excellence, with a total of $1.9 M utilized for seed grants and workshops. A record number of
proposals (335 vs. 308 last year!) were submitted to a diverse group of private, state and federal
entities, providing a yield on base proposals (i.e., < $2.5 M) of 41%. Large awards were won
from the National Science Foundation, USDA Cooperative State Research Service-McIntireStennis, and the NYS Department of Conservation. A successful $2.0 M NIH grant, received
jointly with Upstate Medical University, brought a new 800mhz NMR to campus during the fall
of 2014. We are virtually assured of receiving NSF support for a state-of-the-art $1.6 M electron
microscope, which will be jointly funded by ESF (A&TS facility), Syracuse University and
Upstate Medical University.
Energies of the Office of Research Programs included contributions to the strategic
planning of the Research Foundation and the SUNY system, as both become a more fully
integrated and influential academic force. SUNY is ranked fourth in the nation in research
expenditures. In addition to active participation on the Research Council, we teamed with three
Vice Presidents/Provosts for Research, who are integral to the SUNY Networks of Excellence.
ESF is playing a leadership role in the 4E Network, which seeks to stimulate federally funded,
collaborative research in Energy, Environment, Education and Economics. A 4E Charrette at
SUNY Stony Brook in early June 2015, was a great success in recognizing the contributions of
collaborative participants across our SUNY system: not only by the recognized research
institutions, but comprehensive and community colleges as well.
Continued growth of the Hill Collaboration in Environmental Medicine has included
expansion of the topics sought in the 2015 RFP. This program formed the base of a successful
proposal to the Challenge 2020 program ($15 M), shared with Upstate Medical University,
SUNY Oswego and Onondaga Community College: The Institute of Environmental Health and
Environmental Medicine (IEHEM). An informative seminar by Dr. Mark Polhemus (UMU)
launched the program in November 2014; Dr. Chris Nomura followed up with a great
presentation in April 2015. We are seeking ways to connect, e.g., by a Director position, the Hill
Collaboration with the IEHEM. Our formal relationship with Binghamton University continues
to stimulate our intellectual property development: 14 new technology disclosures were filed.
Our relationship with the NY Natural Heritage Program (26 employees of ESF via Research
Foundation lines) is in full swing; it will bring more than $2.5 M of research expenditures
annually to ESF, and a productive set of collaborations in support of conservation science. Our
future goal is to more directly involve SUNY-ESF graduate students in Natural Heritage
Program (NHP) projects.
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The large NSF revitalization of the aquatic laboratories in Illick Hall and at the Thousand
Islands Biological Station has been an overwhelming success, with utilization of the facilities
well underway, including a NOAA Sea Grant project. We plan formalization of approval for the
Center for Integrated Research and Teaching in Aquatic Science (CIRTAS) this fall. Several
additional grant-funded projects are booked to employ the facility. In part, these projects were
won because of the new lab, the sole ARRA (Stimulus) grant won by ESF. We see great
potential for further connectivity with the new Water Center in the Inner Harbor of Onondaga
Lake. Work continues to bring businesses and faculty to the Biotechnology Accelerator; four
faculty members now productively occupy three new labs for the next three years. The Syracuse
Center of Excellence (CoE) biofuels facility has emerged with the receipt and operation of $1.3
M in major equipment (fermenter, distillation column) for research and teaching, and completion
of infrastructure, insurance and permits. The biofuels facility has been configured to directly
support academic programs in Paper and Bioprocess Engineering, as well as ESF’s long-standing
biofuels initiative. An MOU has been signed for the operation of the facility.
The new budget for the coming year (RF Financial Plan: ~$2.8 M) will provide the
planning and financial base for programs that highlight and stimulate research, including
Exemplary Researcher, Seed Grants, Hill Collaboration, as well as vital enhancements to
compliance and reporting functions in the Office of Research Programs. We look forward to the
expanded collaborations among the Cabinet as the College financial planning continues to
evolve.
We are pleased to work with the Library via Jessica Clemons, who has taken over the
Research Times (RT) and access to related funding opportunities. This position complements
our renewed energy and projected success in finding, advertising and winning grants and
contracts at SUNY-ESF. Jessica has enhanced direct contact with graduate students as well. The
Office of Research Programs continues to energize faculty connectivity by direct contacts with
appropriate PI’s on a biweekly basis, as the RT is published. She also helped us properly
highlight and display our ESF patents for the first time since the College was founded.
Similarly, Donna Follett plans to expand our social media offerings and to upgrade and update
our website during the fall of 2015, and winter of 2016. ORP is capably supported by Dr. Arthur
Stipanovic, particularly on large grants and the activities of the CoE and BAC, and our
Entrepreneur in Residence Program.
Direct contributions by the Vice Provost for Research via teaching, research and graduate
programs in the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology are outlined in the attached
EFB report.
II.
Introduction
This annual report precedes the Office of Research Programs (ORP) Bluebook,
currently under revision, which includes the highlights described below and also the annual
financial statistics and related metrics. In previous years, the Bluebook also included the
goals for the coming year. We will accelerate the release date and modify the format of the
Bluebook as described below to better coincide with the Vice Provost’s report and the financial
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planning process. We have separated the Policies component of that document into a brochure
and website. The new 2015-2016 Performance Program of the Vice Provost for Research
(Attached) outlines the functions and responsibilities of the entire Office of Research Programs.
Many planned accomplishments were achieved in 2014-15, and several new initiatives
were undertaken as the College develops its strategic directions under President Quentin
Wheeler. The following components of last year’s Vice Provost for Research
Performance Program (2014-2015) provide a partial template to describe and
evaluate the year’s accomplishments:
A.
“2014-15 Goals, Plans and Initiatives of the Vice Provost for Research, in
conjunction with ORP professional staff” (The new Performance plan for
2015-16 is more complete and measurable!!!)
1.
Develop new forms of research opportunities in cooperation with faculty,
chairs, center directors and administration. These include initiatives of
RF/SUNY Networks of Excellence (4E, Materials and Advanced
Manufacturing); Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE), and Biotechnology
Accelerator (BAC) as well as newer agency sources (NIH); and increased
medical research interfaces at Veterans Administration, Upstate Medical
University and Syracuse University via monthly planning meetings and
seed grant programs of the Hill Collaboration in Environmental Medicine.
Complete the search for the new Associate Chief of Staff, Research at the
Syracuse Veterans Administration. Win one new NIH or comparable
grant resulting from this collaboration.
2.
Develop metrics and budget plans with a goal to achieve these Metrics for
2014-15:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Expenditures $16.0 M
Total Proposal Dollar value $70 M
Total Proposal No. 282; Base Proposal No. 278
Total Proposal Yield 30%
Base Proposal Yield 38%
New Award Value $19 M
3.
Promote submission of three large, collaborative research proposals, as
well as the more than 250 “base” proposals that we have a high probability
of winning. The NYSERDA Proof of Concept proposals represent three
opportunities for large grant promotion.
4.
Assist in ESF’s hosting of the NY Natural Heritage Program, through
collaborative meetings, graduate opportunities, and connectivity with
ongoing programs.
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5.
Assess the productivity, services and financing (budget allocation) of the
new Technology Transfer Program with Binghamton University, including
connection with all potential ESF inventors.
6.
Support, with Dr. Arthur Stipanovic, the RF/SUNY Entrepreneur in
Residence Program in conjunction with Syracuse University.
7.
Devote 20-25% of Vice Provost energies to Centers and Institutes, to
increase financial resources and opportunities and elevate national
recognition:
a)
Create a venue to highlight, recognize and find funding for centers
and institutes: March 2015; include announcement of competitive
Center/Institute Enhancement Grants and Exemplary
Center/Institute.
b)
Complete the ESF biofuels footprint in the Syracuse Center of
Excellence facility, utilizing more than $1 million in equipment,
and develop an operating plan. Lend support to three faculty labs
in the CNY Biotechnology Accelerator.
c)
Solidify the growing financial/collaborative relationship with
Onondaga Environmental Institute and promote Upstate
Freshwater Institute via UFI@ESF.
d)
Highlight these Centers/Institutes in 2014-15:
e)
1.
SUNY /RF 4E accomplishments from its collaborative seed
grants program by way of an Annual Symposium, in
conjunction with VPR’s at Binghamton, Albany and Stony
Brook
2.
Hill Collaboration in Environmental Medicine via an
annual Symposium or comparable venue
3.
Institute for Environmental Health and Environmental
Medicine via its first conference in Fall 2014
Continue discussions and evaluations with Directors and
Co/Associate Directors: Synergy, budgeting and future faculty and
resource needs. Identify relationships and opportunities to create
fewer, stronger entities. Develop budgets for three centers (A&TS,
Pilot Plant, Brownfields).
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f)
8.
9.
Stimulate and shepherd relatively new Centers including CIRTAS,
ISMM, BAC, Trinity and the Center of Membrane Technologies
for Sustainable Water and Wastewater (Clarkson University, et
al.).
Complete these largely annual assignments:
a)
Complete the ORP “Bluebook” in early fall (= Report on 2013-14;
action planning for 2014-15), as a complement to the Annual
Report of 2013-14.
b)
Assess the “Climate for Compliance” at ESF and recommend
needed enhancements.
c)
Work with ORP staff to increase efficiency, communication and
speed of operation: Outline the ORP Five-Year Plan.
d)
Outline the ESF research capabilities/portfolio to local and global
audiences; update the ORP ‘Road Show’.
e)
Finalize and authorize McIntire-Stennis awards under ESF
competition in conjunction with the Committee on Research.
f)
Select Exemplary Researcher in conjunction with Committee on
Research, and assist in coordination of the Spotlight on Research
and Exemplary Researcher Award.
g)
Determine the utilization rate and faculty reception of the Research
Times: review its layout and content.
h)
Write and have reviewed the following Policies:
1.
Direct Cost Charging
2.
Code of Conduct (adopt RF version January 2012)
3.
ESF Conflict of Interest (RF and SUNY 1995 still in effect
4.
NSF Data Management Plan (drafted; add repository
component)
5.
IRB: Convert Protocol to Policy; clarify communication
channels among ESF, SU, UMU
Plan and carry out creative ORP Biennial Retreat (June, 2015).
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F.
Fisheries/Aquatic Science Research and Teaching Program
We plan to maintain contact with graduate student colleagues following a
successful Graduate Reunion and Celebration at the Adirondack Ecological Center May
15, 2014, inviting 55 graduates (M.S. and/or Ph.D.) earning degrees under my direction
since 1976. Thirty students and spouses attended from seven states, from Maine to
California. Nine graduate students are underway for the summer/fall 2014. Our goal of
three publications per year continues. Additional details are provided in the EFB Annual
Report of June 3, 2014.
III.
Activities and Accomplishments -- June 1, 2014 – May 31, 2015
A.
Relative to the Performance Program (See also Additional Accomplishments
and Special Events, Item B. below)
1.
New research opportunities were pursued primarily through
collaborations, particularly through the SUNY-RF Networks of
Excellence. The Hill Collaboration in Environmental Medicine was
funded via joint contributions from ESF, Research Foundation, Upstate
Medical University, Syracuse University, and the Veterans
Administration. This collaboration, featuring a seed-grant program, is
targeted to capture NIH and VA research funding in the fields of diabetes,
cancer and disorders of the nervous system. It is now being expanded
with a broader basis for the RFP in 2015. A set of presentations at the
Biotechnology Symposium in May 2014, showed the genuine potential of
the program and its natural connection with the new Institute for
Environmental Health and Environmental Medicine (IEHEM). This
Challenge 2020 project has been funded ($15 M), and recognized with an
inaugural seminar (Dr. Mark Polhemus) at ESF in November 2014, and
another in April 2015 (Dr. Chris Nomura). Building and facility
contributions include the future Academic Research Building (ARB) at
ESF, Weiskotten Hall at UMU, analytical equipment at the ARB and also
at the BAC (already installed), and state-of-the art computer
instrumentation at Oswego State College. We provided only modest
support (time) to the Center for Membrane Technologies for Sustainable
Water and Wastewater Treatment), funded initially by the Pall
Corporation, with others being sought to contribute. These contributions
simply have not been forthcoming; leaders at Clarkson University are
engaged in finding additional resources.
2.
Substantial time and energy (about 18%) was devoted to ESF centers and
institutes, particularly those shared with other institutions. Reviews and
support of existing centers and institutes slowed, and will be resumed this
coming year. We continue interactions with the Syracuse Center of
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Excellence to create the long-awaited biofuels footprint; actual installation
of $ 1.3 M in equipment has been completed, an MOU and permits are in
place, and the system is on line as of May 31, 2015. We envision the
Biotechnology Accelerator (formerly CNY Biotechnology Center) as one
site of the research and development laboratory for the biofuels program,
but it also will be more broadly utilized: four ESF faculty members now
occupy three of the new laboratories. An exciting project, deferred until
2016 was a Biennial Symposium to Highlight Centers and Institutes, to
be held within the Gateway Center, coupled with the announcement of an
“Exemplary Center/Institute/Consortium” for one of our highly deserving
entities. We will allocate funds for this venue, along with (provisionally)
funds for two to four special initiatives of creative
centers/institutes/consortia. Reviews of a subset of ESF Centers and
Institutes were deferred until 2015-16.
3.
We are pleased and excited about the success of our collaboration with the
Central New York and Upstate Hub at Binghamton University, formally
initiated in August 2011. Working with Hub coordinator Scott Hancock,
Associate Vice President Dr. Per Stromhaug and Vice President Paul
Parker has been enjoyable and productive. It will lead to far more success
in commercializing intellectual property than ESF has had previously.
ESF inventors and entrepreneurs seem to have embraced the new
approach, and in particular the expertise of the Binghamton team. We
were successful in negotiating a reduced cost of services to $50,000, down
from the previous $70,000, without substantial changes in services
provided. (See additional details, Item B. 4 below)
4.
The entire ORP Bluebook (Report 2013-14; and Action Planning 2014-15)
was not completed this year. This is the responsibility of the VPR; the
Action Planning 2014-15 component was provided as part of the VPR
Performance Program. As originally structured, the Bluebook further
depends on statistics that are not available until the end of the fiscal year,
and on our timely development of useful graphs and tables. The latter are
typically being prepared and analyzed amidst audit preparation, foil
requests, compliance issues and other pressing tasks. It also includes a
carefully developed RF-based budget (indirect return funds of about $2.8
M). This budget is developed as a team with ORP and the Provost’s
Office, on behalf of research at SUNY-ESF. The budget is shared as soon
as practicable with the department chairs, e.g., at a summer retreat. We
propose a new structure to keep our Bluebook current: 1) We have
already separated ORP Policies from the Bluebook and placed the policies
on the ESF web site http://www.esf.edu/research/resources/, so that
those would not need to wait for finalization of the statistics. 2) We
recognize the desirability of focusing the report on accomplishments of the
year, with the “Action Planning” component being restricted to an internal
document (this can readily be shared with the campus as desired; it is
essentially the VPR Performance Program). Thus, one can write up the
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most exciting and interesting aspects of our “research year,” and augment
these with vital statistics within a relatively short timeframe. 3) We
would like to discuss potential campus resources that would permit
translation of the Annual Report into a brochure-quality document, e.g., on
a biennial basis.
B.
5.
As always, working with the professional staff in the Office of Research
Programs was a pleasure, and we have furthered our communications and
efficiency. In particular, the new PACS pre-award system is being
implemented, which will ultimately streamline our proposal submission
and tracking capability. We are implementing the on-line effort reporting
system, along with the rest of SUNY. We are working to implement new
guidelines and protocols to enhance compliance capability.
6.
Vital to research at ESF is thoughtful planning of the budget
derived from indirect cost recovery. The budget for the coming
year is under construction. As outlined on the attached end-ofyear Green Sheet (2014-15), expenditures increased by 10%.,
and new awards and funding changes increased by 10% this year.
Continued attention to appropriate levels of indirect funds on our
grants and contracts has been rewarded with 31% increase in
indirect funds this year ($2.8 vs 2.1M). Equally encouraging is the
increase in New Awards of 28%. Indirect (overhead) funds
provide most of the salaries directly connected to the research
enterprise, and also the flexibility to be creative and supportive of
research. The Vice Provost for Research is the Authorized
Institutional Representative for our $795 K McIntire-Stennis
Program. Our report on this program, due August 23, 2015, will
include five new projects and a set of ongoing projects that
continue to nourish research at ESF. ORP developed and
administers the Exemplary Researcher Program, now in
cooperation with the Committee on Research. The planned budget
will be provided in the 2015-2016 RF Financial Plan, which when
completed will be attached to this report.
Additional Accomplishments and Special Events
1.
The Office of Research Programs coordinates and contributes to retreat
venues and special events for SUNY-ESF; we collectively contribute to
the themes and active discussions of on-campus and off-campus events
related to research. Venues include SUNY Albany, Binghamton
University, Stony Brook University and the SUNY Global Center in
Manhattan. This year’s mentoring colloquium was handled primarily
through our governance structure, with coordinating support by Theresa
Kaier-May of our office and Katherina Searing of Outreach. Support of
faculty and students was also highlighted by a successful Spotlight on
Research event, held in the Gateway facility (April 2015), and the
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announcement of our latest Exemplary Researcher Dr. Georgios
Mountrakis. We were pleased with the energetic coordination of these
events by the Committee on Research, led by Dr. Phillipe Vidon; we are
looking forward to working with Chair Margaret Bryant in the coming
year.
2.
Discussions with the SUNY-RF Research Council, and the team of Vice
Presidents/Provosts for Research, have further stimulated the collaborative
research atmosphere among SUNY units. In addition, we contribute to
monthly meetings of the Chief Research Operating officers as well as the
Binghamton Hub, which energetically supports our technology transfer
program. This support is also leading to new research collaborations with
Binghamton University. SUNY-RF has been remarkably receptive and
responsive to recommendations by SUNY-ESF. The SUNY System is
literally on the brink of being a system, after all!
3.
We have long sought to bring additional focus to large proposals, in a
concerted effort to broaden collaborations and achieve increased,
sustainable expenditures in the near future. At $16 M we are at our
highest level yet achieved. The attached VPR Performance Program
(2015-16) suggests mechanisms to achieve or exceed $25 M in
expenditures by 2020. (See also Item 7 below) Work last year included
completion of a $1.47 M laboratory project competitively funded through
ARRA funds to NSF. The facility is enhancing aquatic resources as part
of an integrated Center for Research and Teaching of Aquatic Sciences in
Illick Hall, and the Thousand Islands Biological Station, under the
guidance and coordination by Dr. Kimberly Schulz. This facility is
exciting but also complex, with minor but significant technical issues still
being worked out. We have been notified that our $1.6 M electron
microscope will be funded by NSF; the plan is to operate and fund it in
collaboration with Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University. It
will be located on our campus (A&TS). Dr. Arthur Stipanovic played a
key role as Interim Co-Director of the Biotechnology Accelerator (BAC)
facility and program; he also played a major role in submission of a $2 M
proposal for a NMR spectrometer from NIH. His work on the major
equipment purchases for the CoE Biofuels facility, and equipment in the
BAC, has been invaluable to both ESF and Syracuse University faculty.
4.
We are encouraged at the energy and expertise provided by the
Binghamton University team in patent/licensing and marketing potential.
We worked productively on patents and technology transfer with faculty
in cooperation with Dr. Per Stromhaug, Scott Hancock and Paul Parker at
Binghamton University. Twenty seven patents are now beautifully
displayed in Moon Library, thanks to Jessica Clemons, Steve Weiter and
Cheryl Liptak. Support of our innovation program has proven of great
assistance to related programs in research and entrepreneurship.
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Converting the creative energies of SUNY-ESF professors and students
into patented inventions and licensed technology is essential to a research
university. This year we filed 14 new disclosures; four companies are
seeking licenses, and we expect to file several patents in the coming year.
We had the greatest return ever on licenses (predicted greater than
$200,000 by August 2015; $100,000 in hand). Recent development of a
Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF) by the Research Foundation may
provide enhanced opportunities to bridge the patent – commercial
licensing “Valley of Death.” However, ESF has not been successful
during either round of the TAF. Recently designated SUNY VP for
Innovation and Partnerships, Mr. Bryan Allinson will be a strong
supporter of ESF connections with the business world. We continue to
work collaboratively with SUNY Vice Chancellor of Research, Dr
Timothy Killeen, and now Interim Dr. Alexander Cartwright. We are
confident that the high-energy approach to the many tasks of the Research
Foundation will be of strong benefit to our College. ESF will certainly
strive to makes its contribution to the larger SUNY effort.
5.
ORP Retreat: We deferred our retreat and this was, in part, the result of
unusually high office activity and temporarily reduced office staff,
coupled with increased demand from the onset of the National Heritage
Program, and particularly expanded participation in SUNY-RF level
activity. We have already begun planning for a fruitful retreat in 2016,
possibly utilizing the Adirondack Ecological Center. The timing of this
retreat, with ESF Strategic planning, seems ideal.
6.
Middle States Assessment and Targets Revision: We contributed to the
Assessment documentation during the spring of 2015, and look forward to
utilizing this organizational tool as strategic plans evolve in 2015-16. We
will be energized through revised (or at least reviewed) Goals and Key
Indicators in ORP; especially important in the future will be the carefully
discussed integration of goals and key indicators among administrative
units. The Research Foundation has recently sought input from SUNYESF on the key indicators that we use in assessing our research
productivity and impact.
7.
Essential to the growth of research endeavors are metric development,
planning and attainment of New Award and Expenditure projections.
Metric development and analysis is closely coupled with financial
planning, and it is typically reviewed during a summer Cabinet Retreat.
ESF achievement of the goal of $20 M in research expenditures was once
regarded by ORP as an indicator of institutional, or at least unit, success.
This goal, set prior to the 2008 great recession, had been targeted for
2012-13. ORP now seeks a larger goal of $25 M in expenditures by
2020. The increase to $25 M from the current $16 M is achievable by
moderately increasing our yield on proposals (success rate: currently
38 to 41%!), coupled with projected proposals from increased
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numbers of research-capable faculty (about 6 added per year for 5
years: $300,000/year/new faculty member). We will benefit also from
additional research capability through acquisition or partnership with
entities such as the Upstate Freshwater Institute and Onondaga
Environmental Institute. Possibly new links with Columbia University
will translate to research funding as well. The new Water Research and
Education Center in the Inner Harbor will stimulate ESF recognition and
research productivity. Unique approaches to research collaboration, such
as the Membrane Center based at Clarkson University and the Trinity
Institute, our new NMR spectrometer Consortium (NIH-funded), and the
new NSF-funded electron microscope will all help us reach the realistic
target of $25 M. SUNY and SUNY- RF plans had once projected “flat”
expenditures through 2015 (Research Foundation VPR/Operations
Manager meeting, Albany on 07/28/10). It will be interesting to hear of
the latest projections for 2020 from our new SUNY colleagues and
leaders. ESF strives to increase its market share of research activity, even
if SUNY and/or national trends are projected to remain constant.
8.
Supervision, facilitation and enhancement of ORP functions are essential
to ESF’s success. These activities include signatures as ‘authorized
representative’ on competitive proposals (a record 335 this year!);
assistance with matching issues and startup packages; and presentations on
ESF research programs to groups that include alumni, as well as external
delegations. Annual supervisory responsibilities also include enhancing
the ORP web presence and utilization, e.g., through work with Donna
Follett (http://www.esf.edu/research/ and in coordination with our research
librarian, Jessica Clemons (http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/esfgrants).
One or more of us have frequent discussions and electronic exchanges
with individual faculty, department personnel and centers/institutes to
identify funding patterns and opportunities. Increasingly, these
discussions reach the SUNY and SUNY-RF level.
9.
ORP is charged with organization and coordination of large institutional
and multi-institutional grants. Collaborative proposals recently
shepherded include the NSF ARRA infrastructure @ $1.47 M (Ringler,
PI). The collaborative agreement with the NY Natural Heritage Program
($3.3 M in 5 years) provides a major opportunity for ESF programs,
particularly in Environmental and Forest Biology. The Trinity Institute
for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment was recognized in June 2015 at a
formal ceremony in Minoa, NY. This is a partnership among SUNYESF, the town of Minoa, and a private firm operated by current or former
ESF professors (SKD Environmental Systems LLC). Time and energy
resources have been contributed to the Syracuse Center of Excellence
(2,500 sq. foot print for ESF Biofuels: analytical labs and pilot plant), and
to assist the evolution of the CNY Biotechnology Accelerator, which is
now functional although not fully occupied (third floor). Both of these
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joint initiatives literally have developed over more than a decade of
dedicated work by many people well beyond ESF. The able assistance of
Dr. Arthur Stipanovic as interim Co-Director of the BAC facility has been
effective and highly productive; a new Director with a biotechnology and
business/startup background had been sought to accelerate the accelerator!
Dr. Robert Corona of Upstate Medical University currently fulfills that
role. As stated earlier, an important activity for the coming year is the
stimulation, review and assessment of existing research-based centers,
institutes, consortia and councils at SUNY-ESF.
C.
10.
Development, review, formalization and implementation of policies are
vital to the research and scholarship enterprise. Policies formalized during
the past three years included ORP No. 10 - Ownership of Data; ORP No.
11 - Guidelines and Procedures for Establishment of Centers and
Institutes; and ORP No. 12 - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Education (Requirement of NSF), and ORP No. 13 - Misconduct in
Science. ORP No. 14 - Expenditures on Grants (Direct Cost charging) and
IRB (conversion of our IRB procedure). These are likely to come into
play in the near future. New policies to be developed in 2015-16 include
ESF Code of Conduct, ESF Conflict of Interest, and expansion of the NSF
Data Management Plan (the latter is almost completed).
11.
Helping ORP and ESF participate at the NYS Fair had been a priority of
the Vice Provost for Research. This activity was not on the College
calendar for 2015; however, we recognize that new ventures often require
older ones to move aside or be highly modified, especially as we fully reengage Strategic Planning at ESF.
Report on Teaching, Research and Advising (Department of Environmental
and Forest Biology)
I have sought to teach a substantial course each semester, and to fund and
supervise graduate students carrying out research in fisheries and aquatic science (seven
graduate students for Fall 2015, plus two graduating ‘hopefuls’ this summer). This work
is connected with problems of interest to the local and Great Lakes communities; we have
typically reported in publications and at national meetings, including this year’s AFS
meeting in Portland, Oregon. We believe that this graduate program helps to connect our
research administration with the academic goals of the College. Details are outlined in
the EFB 2014-15 Annual Report provided to Chairman Leopold (Attached).
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