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Dear Faculty and Staff, Following up on President Eighmy’s announcement yesterday regarding operational changes, I am writing to provide some additional information regarding impact to research activities at UTSA. While only a percentage of faculty is directly involved in active research, many people across campus help sustain research activities. We are providing this update so that the campus community is informed of current procedures in place and key contacts should they have any questions or concerns. The Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise (VPREDKE) remains open and fully staffed. Research business operations will continue as usual, and we do not expect research activities to be interrupted at this juncture. Students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to continue to engage in research activities. Research IntegrityREDKE staff is available to assist research and laboratory personnel to adjust their operations as needed. This includes modifications to protocols, physical lab spaces, or immediate training of new personnel. Our main office line is 458-4340. Contacts:
Research Integrity: Lab SafetyOur Lab Safety team has prepared a set of resource documents to provide general guidance on running and preparing a lab should there be any future interruption based on illness or overall university closure. In the event of a closure, the door signage template should be used to indicate to Public Safety how the lab has been left, who the lab point of contact is, and which ongoing checks will be done to maintain research activities, if any.
Research Integrity: Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC)LARC has been preparing to minimize impacts to ongoing research activities if the situation escalates, including closure. LARC is storing additional feed, water, bedding, PPE, disinfectant, chemicals, wipes, spray bottles, and more. LARC staff will stay in communication with researchers throughout this process and, where possible, partner with teams to maintain continuity. Please let us know if you have specific needs and suggestions. Public awareness of the coronavirus has led to a shortage of surgical masks. In the animal facilities, these masks are only required in the BSL-2 rooms. Staff and students have been asked to refrain from using them in other areas of the animal facility unless instructed otherwise by LARC staff, based on evolving updates from the OHP nurse.
Sponsored Project Administration: Research Service Centers and Contracts and Industry AgreementsThe three Research Service Centers, Contracts and Industry Agreements and Sponsored Project Administration remain open and fully staffed.
Contracts and Industry Agreements
Research Service Center for Sciences and Engineering
Research Service Center for Arts-Business-Education
Research Service Center for Downtown
Commercialization and InnovationServices offered by the Office of Commercialization and Innovation will continue to be available for those working on campus or remotely as follows: Using your myUTSA ID and Password:
Research Support and Strategic Research InitiativesResearch Support is transferring faculty development trainings and workshops to virtual platforms wherever feasible. Plans are to maintain as much of the full schedule of offerings as is possible throughout the spring semester. Access details will be sent to all registered participants and will be updated on the REDKE events page and other applicable calendars. Following UTSA guidelines, meetings and external partnership engagements expected to have 50+ attendees will move to virtual platforms wherever possible.
Research Finance and OperationsGrants and Contracts Financial Services will remain in full operation to ensure project set ups, sponsor billing, and financial reporting are completed on schedule.
Research Core Facilities will continue to be operational. Any changes will be posted to the individual core and/or iLab website.
Research Computing and Business Intelligence (REDKE) will remain available to help with all REDKE applications located on the Research Portal.
Research Computing Support Group (part of University Technology Solutions)All forms of support from the Research Computing Support Group (RCSG) are still available with the exception of the VizLab. The VizLab remains closed until April 13 or until further guidance is released, with scheduled tours being cancelled for the time being.
Moving forward, our office will provide updates on the UTSA Coronavirus site. We will also cross-post on the research site as well.
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Dr. Bernard Arulanandam, Ph.D., M.B.A. |
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