Minutes: Research Council

Sept. 21, 1999

Present: R. Bhatnagar, J. Brown, C. Blum, J. Brown, W. Darling (Chair), D. Dobbins, J. Golden, R. Marvin, Y. Onel, H. Paulson, R. Randolph, L. Rettig, J. Semel, D. Skorton, A. Sorensen, A. Steinberg, M. Sturm, L. Troyer, R. Wallace

Absent: V. Grassian, R. Sharma

1. Darling welcomed new members to the council and called for introductions around the table.

2. Skorton presented an overview of the Office of the VPR and discussed internal funding for research available through the office.

3. Rettig distributed progress report summaries for the CIFRE and SPAH programs and discussed them briefly.

4. Council members continued their discussion of CIFRE eligibility issues. The following issues were raised:

• Should current wording be retained regarding eligibility of clinical and adjunct faculty? (Current wording: "While regular faculty and research scientists receive funding priority, proposals from adjunct faculty and clinical faculty will be considered and may be funded only when a review committee finds that an especially compelling case for research support is made by the applicant and DEO.")
  
  
• Should a potential applicant in or going into phased retirement be excluded from applying?
  
  
• If an applicant has received an AHI award for a similar project, should that person be eligible for a CIFRE award?
  
  
• Is a co-PI on a project that received a CIFRE award last year able to apply for a CIFRE award this year?

The group concluded that these issues should be addressed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with council members.

5. Skorton discussed with the council several other matters concerning funding for research:

• It is not yet clear whether the state of Iowa will make available for research support any portion of its $60-million tobacco settlement monies.
  
  
• The University’s capital campaign, designed to raise a total of $750 million, will likely provide some support for VPR units and for research efforts in other areas on campus.
  
  
• An administrative initiative to support interdisciplinary research is beginning to take shape. With advice from the council, the Office of the VPR will make an effort to identify existing funds that might be reallocated to support the initiative