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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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Research News - March 2024

March 4, 2024
Dr. Anne Mary Baird in SENR stands in the field in front of a body of water, smiling at the camera.

Inside this Issue

  • More Training, a message from Dr. Gary Pierzynski, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Ed.
  • The CFAES Office for Research & Grad Education has released the FY 2023 Research in Review Infographic.
  • Volunteers are needed to serve as judges for posters submitted to the 2024 Annual CFAES Research Forum.
  • Register now for the Research Forum Awards Ceremony during the 2024 Celebration of Research Week, 4/8-12.

Download the PDF


Funding Opportunties 

As funding opportunities are announced we will compile a full list on our website. The web page will be updated periodically as new opportunities are discovered.

  • Ohio State Energy Partners
    OSEP and OAA have opened a call for grant proposals that align with OSU’s sustainability goals; advancing access, engagement and inclusive excellence goals; or provide research opportunities (in all disciplines) to students who have limited exposure to undergrad research and experiential learning opportunities.
    Deadline: March 11, 2024

  • PACSP
    The Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) aims to support conservation research that investigates organismal biology, ecology, and/or evolution and is designed to contribute to the development & implementation of activities/tech to advance biodiversity conservation.
    Deadline: April 24, 2024

View All Funding Opportunities


Employee sitting at a desk, watching a training on her computer. More Training!

Gary Pierzynski, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Education

Many of you recently received notification that you need to complete the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. This is because of a recent change in rules that require the training to be completed every four years. If you last took the training more than four years ago, like me, you need to repeat. The version of the training you need to take will depend on your area of expertise and duties. In research administration there are 11 modules that take 15-20 minutes each if you listen to the narrative (there is an option that allows you to read instead), so it takes some time, but you don’t have to do it all at once. We also have other training to do with similar deadlines, so the time commitment does add up.

That said, there is some valuable information in the RCR training that makes it worth the effort. As I reflect on the problem cases that come through the Office for Research & Graduate Education, many of them are covered in the RCR training and likely could have been avoided. Issues such as research misconduct, conflicts of interest, mismanagement of grant funds, and animal and human subjects research. For example, for research involving animals or human subjects, the training makes it clear that the principal investigator is ultimately responsible for ensuring the approved protocols are followed, along with basic standards of care. Delegating duties to graduate students, staff, or collaborators does not absolve the principal investigator from the responsibility, so ensuring proper training and having contingency plans in place to cover when someone is absent are essential.

The deadline for completing the training is April 1. After that date, if you have not completed the training, you will not be allowed to submit grants or protocols for animal or human subjects research until the requirement is met. CFAES has a good record of compliance with such requirements, and I trust that the same will be true for the RCR training. Learn More about the requirement.


The FY23 CFAES Research in Review InfographicSpotlight

2024 Research in Review
CFAES R&GE has released the FY 2023 Research in Review Infographic. The Research in Review highlights CFAES research expenditures, funds requested, awards, and projects taking place over the course of the past fiscal year.

The infographic has been released annually since 2017 as a summation of the accomplishments of the researchers working in our college. Questions regarding any data listed in the infographic can be directed to Lori Kaser.37.

View Full Infographic

 


In the News

Ohio State research expenditures set new record at $1.449 billion
The Ohio State University’s annual research and development expenditures set a new university record of $1.449 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The new number represents a 6% increase over FY22 expenditures of $1.36 billion. The analysis is part of the university’s submission to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. Ohio State ranked 11th among all universities in research expenditures in the most recent survey rankings, up one spot from the previous year.
From The Ohio State University News

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Workday Update: Effort Certification Reminders for Researchers
Distributed for review and certification three times per year, Effort Certification is used to confirm effort expended to granting agencies. By signing the report, signees are certifying that the payroll distribution reasonably reflects the time spent on the activities for which the employee was compensated during the reporting period. Learn more about Effort Certification as well as helpful hints to help ensure smooth project management on awards.
From The Ohio State University Office of Research

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A woman sitting in front of her laptop and using her phone.Workday Update: Effort Certification Reminders for Researchers
Distributed for review and certification three times per year, Effort Certification is used to confirm effort expended to granting agencies. By signing the report, signees are certifying that the payroll distribution reasonably reflects the time spent on the activities for which the employee was compensated during the reporting period. Learn more about Effort Certification as well as helpful hints to help ensure smooth project management on awards.
From The Ohio State University Office of Research

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A researcher presents their work at the 2023 CFAES Research Forum Poster Competition in Columbus.Register for the 2024 CFAES Research Forum Poster Competition
We need volunteers to serve as judges for posters submitted to the Annual CFAES Research Forum! The poster competition is based on academic level: undergraduate, MS, PhD, postdoctoral, and research scientist. Judges are assigned based on their credentials (i.e. faculty can judge any submissions, postdocs can judge grad and undergrad submissions, etc.) All poster presentations will take place in Columbus on 4/9/24.

The schedule is as follows:

Undergraduate Research Poster Presentations (Columbus) - Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Location: Columbus, Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive Poster Set-up: 7:30-8:45 a.m. | Judging: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Graduate and Professional Poster Presentations (Columbus) - Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Location: Columbus, Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive Poster Set-up: 11:30-12:45 p.m. | Judging: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Judges must commit to attend in person to provide presentation scores for their assignees. If desired, judges will be able to preview their assigned posters online from April 1-5. Judges will provide scores using a modified version of the rubric found online. Faculty will not judge posters submitted by their own students.

The awards ceremony will be on Thursday, April 11 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

Register

NIFA to Host Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop (Free) (Registration Required)
Following on the success of its first workshop last year, NIFA will host its Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop again this year. The workshop’s goal is to support prospective applicants and other stakeholders interested in grants development and/or grants management. Registration is required. The 2024 workshop will be held daily March 4 through 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST. March 4: Accessing NIFA Web Resources on Grants Development and Grants Management March 5: Overview of Major NIFA Programs March 6: Opportunities for Selective NIFA Applicants (Groups) March 7: Learning Moments from Grants Management March 8: Reporting and Related Topics
From USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Daily Digest Bulletin 2/21/2024

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A scientist is holding an apple and writing on a clipboard as she speaks to a another person. A bowl is sitting on the table holding some other healthy foods next to some small weights.

Diet, Nutrition, Cancer: Collaborating Toward a Cancer-Free World
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in the six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to ag. The six priority areas are: Plant Health & Production and Plant Products; Animal Health & Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, & Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, & Environment; Agriculture Systems & Technology; and Agriculture Economics & Rural Communities.

Learn More

NSF Spring 2024 Grants Conference
The NSF will host the Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference from June 3–5, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. Registration will open March 6 at 12:00 pm ET. For more information, visit the NSF Grants Conference page.
From the NCURA e-Xtra on 2/20/2024

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NSF Research Security Training Modules Now Available
The U.S. National Science Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of four interactive online research security training modules, now available to researchers and institutions across the U.S.
From USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Daily Digest Bulletin 2/21/2024

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NIH Revises Guidance on Resubmissions
Beginning May 25, 2024, changes in a resubmission application should be outlined in the introduction attachment. Markups such as bracketing, indenting and highlighting should not be used.
From the NCURA e-Xtra on 2/20/2024

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Call for Proposals: 2024 BETHA Grant Competition
The 2024 Battelle Engineering, Technology and Human Affairs (BETHA) Endowment invites full-time assistant, associate and full professors to submit proposals. Managed by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge, this annual competition seeks innovative projects that examine the relationship between science and technology and its impact on broader social and cultural issues.  Deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 29.
From the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK)

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A woman smiles in a virtual meeting, while working from her home office.Upcoming NIFA webinars

From USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Daily Digest Bulletin 2/21/2024

Research Development & Grant Writing News
We invite you to access the current issue of Research Development and Grant Writing News. The Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge | Research Development Office provides access to this subscription-based newsletter for the entire campus community.

  • Incremental Research is the “Kiss of Death” at NSF – A common negative review comment in NSF reviews is that the research is “incremental.” We discuss what that term means and how to avoid it.
  • Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks – We discuss the NSF Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks solicitation and how it illustrates the concept of convergent research.
  • Why Faculty Should Attend Funder Conferences and Workshops – NSF recently announced its Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference, and NIH is tentatively planning its Grants Conference for late 2024. We discuss why PIs should attend these types of conferences and program-specific workshops.
  • What Does a Successful NSF Proposal Look Like? – When an NSF solicitation doesn’t provide detailed instructions, NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide provides guidelines for preparing your NSF proposal. We discuss the PAPPG’s instructions.
  • Avoiding A Common Reviewer Complaint: Descriptive Research – A common complaint in reviews is that the project is descriptive. We discuss what that term means and how to avoid it (reprinted from March 2021 issue). 

From the February 2024 issue of Research Development & Grant Writing News Listserv on 2/16/2024 - Subscribe

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Funding Opportunity for Foreign Ag Service Faculty Exchange Program
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)—Fellowship Programs has announced a funding opportunity to support the Faculty Exchange Program by issuing a new award(s). FAS recommends institutions of higher education. Specifically, Land-grant Colleges and Universities collaborate on these limited opportunities. Working together, Land-grant Institutions can produce more comprehensive and robust proposals.

When applying, upload the required documents into ezFedGrants as well as send an email to the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity. The due date for proposals is March 15. Contact Chris Biles (Christine.Biles@usda.gov) and Nicola Sakhleh (Nicola.Sakhleh@usda.gov) Fellowship Programs, Global Programs, for more information.
From USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Daily Digest Bulletin 2/21/2024

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Internal Grants Program FY24 Awards

Immediate Needs

  • Chanhee Lee, Juliette Hanson - Animal Sciences, $74,958: Increasing Milk Protein Synthesis and Decreasing Urinary Nitrogen Excretion by Manipulating the Profile of Amino Acids at Intestinal Absorption in Lactating Cows
  • David Mackey, Joshua Blakeslee - HCS, $75,000: Foundational Work Towards High-Resolution Flux Mapping of Nurtrient Acquisition by a Bacterial Pathogen During Leaf
  • Alejandro Relling, Yu Zhongtang - Animal Sciences, $74,963: An Innovative Method to Retain Methan Energy to Improve Cattle Growth
  • Luis Rodriquez-Saona - FST; Christopher Ball, Vimal Buck - College of Engineering, $75,000: Precisoin Agriculture: Development of Sensing Technology for Immediate Decision-Making About Crop Quality-Hemp Case Study
  • Guo-Liang Wang - Plant Path; Jessica Cooperstone, David Francis - HCS, $75,000: Towards Biofortification of Crops Using Novel Cell Penetrating Peptides
  • Fernanda Krupek, Garret Owen - HCS; Timothy McDermott - OHCEAC, $59,000: Developing an On-Farm Urban Agricultural Research Network

New Researcher Incentive Program

  • Samuel Ward - ENT, $73,119: Bolstering Biosecurity by Identifying Shortcomings in the Sanitation of Wood Packaging Material
  • Rafael Domingues - Animal Sciences, $74,541: Understanding the Interactions Among Embryo, Uterus, and Corpus Luteum During Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy in Cattle
  • Darren Drewry - FABE, $74,946: Developing a Digital Twin for controlled Environment Water Use Optimization
  • Anne Fitzpatrick, Abdoul Sam - AEDE, $75,000: Improving Preschool Quality with Foundation First
  • Yu Ma, Michelle Jones - HCS, $74,154: Build a Better Begonia for Ohio
  • Garett Owen - HCS, $75,000: Optimizing Rooting for Efficient Nursery Liner Production

A female scientist stands in a greenhouse wearing a lab coat next to the text, CFAES Celebration of Research Week, April 8-12, 2024. Register. Learn more at go.osu.edu/CORW-2024.Events & Opportunities

2024 Celebration of Research Week
Save the Date for the Research Forum Awards Ceremony & Poster Competition as part of the CFAES Celebration of Research Week. The 2024 Celebration of Research Week will take place April 8-12. Throughout the week, R&GE will highlight CFAES researchers via our social media platforms and host the 2024 Poster Competitions on the CFAES Columbus Campus. The festivities will wrap with an update on the CFAES research enterprise, followed by the recognition of the research award winners and the poster competition winners during the Research Forum Awards Ceremony, formally known as the Annual Research Conference. The awards ceremony will be held in person at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus.

Register Learn More

 


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