Undergraduate Research

Research faculty may be contacted in September by incoming Undergraduate Research Fellows, who are charged with going out and talking to potential mentors about research in their field. These are informational discussions and do not oblige you to become the student’s research mentor. Please welcome our incoming cohort of URFs who join this highly competitive program designed to support undergraduates vigorously involved in research.

Faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students involved in mentoring undergraduate researchers: This fall, we are offering a series of brown-bag lunches and workshops dedicated to supporting your mentoring efforts. Participation can be credited towards ETE qualifications such as Master Teacher. (https://research.usu.edu/ur/mentors/sessions) For more information, contact Dr. Alexa Sand, Associate Vice President for Research ([email protected] or 435-797-8549).

NSF RCR Requirements

NSF has expanded its RCR training requirement to include faculty and senior research personnel, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs. To comply with this new requirement, beginning August 1, 2023, USU will require faculty and senior research personnel on new NSF grants to complete RCR training via CITI.

Conflict of Interest

Because of new state and federal requirements, conflict of interest training has been added to USU’s annual compliance training cycle. Employees will have until October 31, 2023, to complete the training. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Research Integrity & Compliance Office at [email protected], or 435-797-1235.

Department of Defense (DOD) Review of Awards for Foreign Influence

In June 2023 the Department of Defense announced that all fundamental research projects selected for award by the Department will go through a risk-based security review for potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment arising from foreign influence. We expect to see similar changes from other federal sponsors because of new Research Security regulations taking effect in the coming months. Information on the review process is available at the link below. 

Proposal Development Resources

Please remember your college-based proposal development specialists! They are here to help relieve researchers of proposal development and submission logistics to allow more time to focus on technical writing. Depending on needs and wants, proposal development specialists can support researchers from the beginning to the end of the proposal development and submission process or at any point. For more information, contact Jeri Hansen, Proposal Development Director ([email protected] or 435-757-3437).

Safety Reminder– Hazardous Waste Labeling

Utah State University places a strong emphasis on ensuring the safety and well-being of our community and environment through effective hazardous waste management. When labeling hazardous waste containers, several vital components must be meticulously incorporated to ensure safety, compliance, and accountability. Please see the following link for important information from USU Environmental Health & Safety on hazardous waste labeling.

Upcoming Trainings & Workshops

ORCID: Building Your Unique Researcher Identifier
Tomorrow, September 7, from 12:00-1:00 PM
Library 101 or Zoom

ORCID is a personal identifier that is increasingly required to apply for federal grants. Learn to set up and manage your ORCID record, add publications, affiliations, and funding info. Explore advanced features and integration possibilities. Whether a student or seasoned academic, this workshop equips you with knowledge and skills to leverage ORCID effectively. For additional questions contact: Erica Finch ([email protected] or 435-797-1391).

Seed Grant Workshop
September 29, 2023, from 1:30-3:00 PM
In-Person Only

This workshop provides the elements of how to build an Office of Research seed grant application, details the review process, and discusses key aspects of a competitive application. All faculty eligible to apply to the seed grant program are welcome to attend.

Research Support Orientation (Zoom)
October 9 and November 6, 2023, from 3:00-4:30 PM
Online (Zoom)

Two Zoom sessions will be held to provide brief information about the various research support services available to USU researchers. These sessions are designed for new researchers however all faculty are invited to intend.

• Oct. 9: Focus Topics: Proposal Development, Kuali, Sponsored Programs, Research Integrity & Compliance, HRPP/IRB
• Nov. 6: Animal Care and Use, Environmental Health & Safety, Student Research, Technology Transfer, Research Communications

To register for one or both Zoom events, email Teresa Seeholzer ([email protected]). 

Annual Faculty Proposal Writing Seminar
October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Online (Zoom)

Seminar content is spread out over the four days (i.e., new content each day). Participants must attend all four days to receive the full training. This seminar is a prerequisite for application to the Office of Research seed grant program.