February 2021 | View Online
Department Chairs: Please forward to your department
Prasant
Mohapatra

Vice Chancellor
for Research
Update on Campus Research Restrictions and Plans

Campus leadership recently announced plans for a return to primarily in-person instruction starting fall 2021 while remaining vigilant in all critical prevention efforts and continuing to prioritize the health and well-being of the university community.

In line with this announcement, we are expecting all on-campus research activities, core facilities and research laboratories will return to full occupancy by the fall quarter as well.

Currently, research operations are approved for Phase 2x of the On-Campus Research Ramp-Up Plan. Please visit the COVID-19 Research Resources page to monitor announcements regarding approval to move into the next phase.
Technology Commercialization Proof-of-Concept Grants Available
Venture Catalyst manages three proof-of-concept programs that provide funding and resources to translate basic UC Davis research with commercial potential by demonstrating proof-of-concept and establishing market viability. Applications are due March 3.
Public Impact Research Initiative Grants
The Public Impact Research Initiative is offering grants of up to $10,000 to support research activities with non-university partners. Applications are due by February 26. 
Learn How to Use Pivot to Find Research Funding Opportunities
In this video, Meg Sparling, our research funding coordinator, shows how to use Pivot to find funding opportunities, and goes over recent updates to the database.
UC Davis Grad Slam Research Communication Competition
Grad Slam is an annual contest in which master’s and Ph.D. students across all UC campuses – in disciplines ranging from hard sciences to humanities – compete to sum up their research for a general audience. Videos are due February 11.
Op-Eds 101: How to Expand the Reach and Impact of Your Research
Op-eds can be an effective way for academics to engage and educate an audience outside the academic world, particularly when simplifying a complicated topic. Learn what op-eds are, how they are constructed and the best ways to go about getting published.
March 3
Team Science in Neuroscience
Connect with potential collaborators and learn about targeted opportunities sought by UC Davis in the field of neuroscience. This event, hosted by the Office of Research and School of Medicine, will bring together researchers, engineers and clinicians from across campus.
February 12
New IRB Fees Went Into Effect February 1
Researchers should make sure they are budgeting for the appropriate fees. More information about IRB reliance fees can be found on the IRB’s webpage. If researchers are unsure which fees to include, they should contact hs-irbreliance@ucdavis.edu.
IRB Experiencing Longer Than Normal Turnaround Time
The IRB is experiencing a longer than normal turnaround time due to the recent curtailment and submissions. They are currently being reviewed five to six weeks from the date of submission. The IRB continues to screen and triage submissions for completeness quickly upon their submission. Rush requests and COVID-19 studies are being prioritized, but rush requests are only being accepted for situations where there is a subject safety concern or a funding deadline to be met.
Guidance on Strengthening the Security of Research Enterprises
The National Science and Technology Council released new guidance to help organizations that conduct research protect their enterprise. This document was developed by the Subcommittee on Research Security, in coordination with the National Security Council staff, and was reviewed by the Joint Committee on the Research Environment.
Prasant Mohapatra | Office of Research | pmohapatra@ucdavis.edu