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 Office of the Vice President for Research

E-Newsletter

Fall 2020

To view archived newsletters, click here

 

Letter from the Vice President for Research 

 

 Richard ReederDear Stony Brook researchers,

It’s now been six months that we’ve been working through one of the more stressful and challenging periods that many of us have experienced. And we know that we’re not out of the woods yet. But if you look beyond that mask, I hope that you are seeing efforts to return our research operations to as close to full steam as possible. Yes, we are still in Research Phase 4, and will be for the foreseeable future. But nearly all researchers have the ability to schedule their entire teams to be back in their labs. Everyone who wants to re-engage in research should be able to do so.

Travel remains one of the greater challenges. It restricts many of us from using remote research facilities, from spending time with a distant collaborator, and from engaging in field work that’s beyond driving distance. And conferences?  Well, we now know that the ubiquitous Zoom meeting, which has been acceptable for replacing some interactions, has largely removed the in-person element that sparks creative ideas and spawns new projects. These will return. And to speed us along that path, it’s important to adhere to the safeguards that each of you has implemented in your research activities. These safeguards are working. I’m not aware of any instance in which one of our labs has been forced to close or its members quarantine because of covid transmission in the laboratory setting.

I have not yet had a chance to acknowledge the hard work of the Restarting Research Task Force in developing the plans that we’ve followed for restarting research across the University: Surita Bhatia, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Professor, Chemistry; Noele Certain, GSO Representative, Pharmacology; Axel Drees, Chair and Professor, Physics and Astronomy; Alfredo Fontanini, Chair and Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior; Connell Friel, Director, Facilities and Operations; Timothy Glotch, Associate Dean for Operations and Facilities, CAS and Professor, Geosciences; Glen Itzkowitz, Associate Dean, Research Facilities & Operations, Health Science Center, Stony Brook Medicine; Walter Julias, Manager, Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste, Environmental Health and Safety; Jon Longtin, Associate Dean for Research, CEAS and Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Nina Maung, Associate Vice President for Research; and Anne McElroy, Associate Dean of Research and Professor, SoMAS. I’m extremely grateful for their dedication to supporting research.

One of the questions that continues to come up relates to the participation of undergraduate students in research activities. We fully recognize the important role that undergrads play in labs as well as in field-based research, and also understand how those experiences can advance their careers. After careful consideration, we strongly encourage undergrad participation to be limited to remote means. However, we also recognize there may be circumstances for which a PI can justify in-person participation. In those rare instances, a PI should provide justification to their Chair as part of their lab operating plan. After consulting with their Dean, a Chair has the authority to approve such a request.

As we maintain a vigilance for safety, we also need to look forward to new opportunities for expanding our research. President Maurie McInnis has affirmed the importance of Stony Brook’s research mission, and has launched a Strategic Budget Initiative that will include a task force focusing on research and innovation.  This initiative will engage the university community in exploring opportunities for expanding research and building interdisciplinary collaborations.  Your ideas can help to inform its implementation.  Watch for future announcements about this vitally important initiative.

I’d like to remind everyone that the OVPR staff continue to provide all essential services, including processing proposals. And remarkably, Federal sponsors, despite delays in handling proposals early in the pandemic, have stepped up to provide many new funding opportunities, especially related to Covid-19 research.

Elsewhere in this Newsletter, please see the article about the 15 newly inducted faculty members into our local chapter of the National Academy of Inventors as well as news about the new faculty orientation, the dates of the next OVPR Seed Grant program, and other important updates from OVPR units. I'd also like to draw your attention to the new IPP Inventions website, which highlights our technologies available for licensing

And finally, I am pleased that so many of you have shared both your suggestions and your concerns with me during that past several months. Please continue to do so.

 

Regards,
Rich Reeder
Vice President for Research

 

Table of Contents

News From:

 


Upcoming Events                    

BERD Research Bootcamp

The CTSI BERD Research Bootcamp mini-series, hosted by the University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute, is offering four webinars from 4-6pm on  October 6th, October 20th, and November 3rd.

The series encompasses the following core competencies: research design, statistical approaches, sample size and power, research question and literature critique. Attendees will gain enhanced knowledge and skills related to formulating well-defined clinical and translational research questions and incorporating regulatory precepts into the design of future basic and clinical studies and grant awards as well as analyzing data for publication in scientific journals.  

Please click here to register. For more information, contact scholar1@buffalo.edu or call (716) 829-6268.

 

Research Orientation

OVPR will be offering a New Faculty Research Orientation on November 4th, from 12-2pm.  Please register for the virtual session to learn more about OVPR. 

Attendees will meet Dr. Richard Reeder, Vice President for Research as well as the leaders of the six units within the Office of the Vice President for Research that support the research enterprise of Stony Brook University. 

Here is a sample of the important topics that we will cover:  

-Who we are and how we support the research community  

-How to find funding opportunities and collaborators 

-How to prepare and submit your proposals  

-What information systems are used to manage the life cycle of grant proposals and awards  

-How to manage your award  

-How to conduct your research ethically and compliantly  

-How to commercialize and protect your research


Research IT News

DoIT Information System (Research)

Development and testing of the myResearch IACUC module are almost completed. We anticipate delivery of this module by the fall of this calendar year. Next, we will start focusing our attention on version upgrades of different modules.


 

Office of Proposal Development News

Pivot

The Office of the Vice President for Research continues to subscribe to Pivot by ProQuest, a global funding opportunities database that all Stony Brook University faculty, research administrators, postdocs, and graduate students can use to explore new research funding as well as potential collaborations. You can use your Stony Brook credentials to log in to the site at https://pivot.proquest.com/

You may notice that Pivot has recently upgraded its look and feel. As of September 9th, Pivot users can take advantage of the following updates:

-More intuitive access to the most important and most used features

-Customization to include Stony Brook branding 

-Additional on-screen links to guide users to available help and resources

-Designed to be used and displayed fully across any device, desktop, mobile, etc.

-Increased accessibility for all users

The Office of Proposal Development is offering virtual Pivot training sessions to all Stony Brook faculty and staff. Please email OPD_OVPR@stonybrook.edu to schedule one-on-one or group training sessions.

There will also be an overview webinar with Pivot product managers as part of OPD’s lineup of workshops for the 2020-2021 academic year. More information to come.

New Website/How to Request Assistance

OPD is excited to announce the launch of our new website, where you can find information about our services, proposal development resources, funding opportunities, and upcoming events. Please click here for an overview of OPD’s services. If you are planning a proposal submission and would like to request assistance from OPD, please fill out  this form, and someone will contact you soon. Other questions about OPD should be directed to OPD_OVPR@stonybrook.edu.

Seed Grants

OVPR recently announced the winners of the Spring 2020 OVPR Seed Grant Program, which provided $420,000 in seed funding for eight research projects. Faculty were asked to submit an abstract and brief proposal, including a timeline that demonstrated how the seed funding would lead to the development of a highly competitive proposal for extramural funding. We received 72 applications from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Health Technology and Management, the School of Nursing, and the School of Medicine.

The Office of Proposal Development manages the OVPR Seed Grant Program, which aims to give Stony Brook University faculty a competitive edge in securing external research funds. The program supports and fosters innovative scientific and scholarly activities that will lead to the development of highly competitive proposals for extramural funding. Competitive seed grant applications provide strong evidence that the proposed research topic is aligned with existing or upcoming funding priorities. All projects are expected to be complete within 18 months.

The projects funded by the Spring 2020 OVPR Seed Grant Program are:

- Molecular mechanisms that initiate principle dendrite polarization during embryonic neuronal development. PI: Dr. Maya Shelly, Department of Neurology and Behavior.

- Observing and modelling new ceramics materials that can breathe out uniform and tunable nanoparticles. PI: Dr. Alexander Orlov, Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. Co-PI: Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering.

A Smart Artificial Pancreas for Patients with Diabetes. PI: Dr. Shan Lin, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Co-PIs: Dr. Scott Smolka, Department of Computer Science; Dr. Marina Charitou, School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Building Quantum transducers at GHz to IR frequencies using topological materials. PI: Dr. Mengkun Liu, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Co-PIs: Dr. Dmitri Kharzeev, Dr. Jennifer Cano and Xu Du, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Moving beyond mark-recapture: Advanced Bayesian inference for inferring demographic rates from unmarked individuals. PI: Dr. Heather Lynch, Department of Ecology and Evolution. Co-PI: Dr. Monica Bugallo, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Next Generation Orally-Activated Multi-Modal Assistive Technologies for People with Severe Disabilities. PI: Dr. Brooke Ellison, School of Health Technology and Management. Co-PIs: Dr. Xiaojun Bi, Department of Computer Science; Dr. Mikhail Gouzman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Dr. Kimberly Noel, Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine.

We are excited to announce the next cycle of the OVPR Seed Grant Program. Letters of intent (LOI) are due December 17, 2020 and full proposals are due January 12, 2021. Please visit our website to review the application guidelines and program timeline.

OVPR also partnered with the Institute for Engineering-Driven Medicine to provide $398,200 in seed funding for 17 research projects directly related to COVID-19. The special initiative seed grant program was announced in late March 2020 and received 63 applications from the Stony Brook research community. More information, including the list of winning proposals, can be found in the SBU press release as well as on OPD’s website.

COVID-19 Funding Opportunities and Related News

--OVPR and the Institute for Engineering Driven Medicine funded 17 seed grants on Potential Therapies, Impacts of Pandemic.  Read here.

--OPD is actively curating a list of recently released funding opportunities for research related to COVID-19.  (read more)   

--OPD is partnering with the Clinicial and Translational Science Center and the Institute for Engineering Driven Medicine to launch a COVID-19 Research Workshop Series to facilitate collaborations among SB investigators.  Sessions are open to all faculty.  If you are interested in participating as a presenter or attendee, please complete this brief survey.

Limited Competitions

A number of sponsors, both private and federal, restrict the number of individuals or applications that may be submitted by an institution. The Office of Proposal Development handles the entire limited competition process for the University by disseminating information about the funding opportunity, determining whether or not an internal competition will be necessary, and managing the pre-application and review process. Candidates for limited submission programs are chosen based on the results of an internal faculty review panel. 

Limited competitions are announced by the OPD_OVPR email to Chairs, Deans and Center Directors for onward transmission to their respective faculty. Faculty can also join the OPD Google Group to receive all OPD messages directly. Please visit our website at any time to access a list of current limited competition programs. 

Workshops

 As part of OPD’s mission to support research and proposal development, we organize workshops and presentations on topics including identifying funding sources and grantsmanship, as well as topics focused on specific funding agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, DOD), funding mechanisms (e.g., NSF CAREER, NIH K), and disciplines (e.g., Social Sciences).

To provide additional support to early-career faculty, we offer soup-to-nuts services that include a series of workshops and one-on-one support for NSF CAREER and NIH K award applications.

Additionally, OPD organizes events and workshops to provide faculty with the opportunity to network and build research teams with other investigators (e.g., Quantum Immersion Workshop) and to interact with program officers (e.g., DOD Day).

OPD is currently developing a schedule of workshops for the 2020-2021 academic year. If you have an idea for a new workshop, please click here to make your suggestion. 


Office of Sponsored Programs News

Change in Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Cost for Clinical Trials

After careful consideration, we are changing the facilities and administrative (also known as "F&A" or "indirect costs") rate for Clinical Trials from 25% total direct costs (TDC) to 30% TDC, effective November 1, 2020. The rate reflects the first increase in over a decade and brings Stony Brook University in line with the rate being charged by many of our national peers, and it applies to both sponsor-initiated and investigator-initiated clinical trials where the primary sponsor is for-profit.

The new 30% TDC is available for use now on an optional basis, but will become mandatory for trials whose full proposals are submitted to OSP on and after November 1, 2020. The lead time is intended to allow for smooth completion of proposals and budget negotiations for clinical trials already in process. If you have not yet budgeted your trial, we recommend using the new rate now.

Ongoing active clinical trials will retain their current F&A rate of 25% TDC until their existing statement of work is complete (even if that occurs after November 1, 2020). However, trials that propose new substudies or additional scopes of work after 11/1/2020 will be subject to the new rates for the new scopes of work. 

All other agreements will continue to use the University's standard F&A rates. F&A rates can be accessed here.  

If you are uncertain which rate to use, please consult yourContracts and Clinical Trials Specialist in the Office of Sponsored Programs.  

Changes to Operations/Personnel in the Office of Sponsored Programs

This article is to inform the campus research community of changes to operations as well as personnel within the Contracts and Clinical Trials unit of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).

Effective, August 2020, Mary Serra, who has been providing selected departments with assistance as a Contracts and Clinical Trials Specialist, transitioned to a Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist. Mary's new portfolio can be accessed on the Department Assignment webpage. In addition, one of OSP's current staff members, Kristen Ford, has stepped into the contractual role, given her experience with NY State contracts and federal subawards. Lastly, Laura MacArthur’s last day with the Office of Sponsored Programs was Friday, September 25, 2020.

The Contracts and Clinical Trials unit within OSP is adopting a new model, and is dividing its responsibilities into two expertise teams that will oversee different types of agreements. With Laura's departure, some federal flow through proposal and award activity will transition to the Grants and Contracts Specialists team under the leadership of Sabrina Cerezo, Assistant Director for Grants.

You can access the types of agreements, how they are divided, and who is your point of contact on our Agreements and Negotiations webpage

Why the new operational model? The team of Contracts and Clinical Trials Specialists, under the leadership of Dawn Alomar, Assistant Director for Contracts, supports all of the University’s research contractual activity. 

The Expertise model has been carefully evaluated based on each Specialist’s role, and their specialized administrative, budgetary, legal, and regulatory experience associated with contractual activities, in order to facilitate an effective, timely and accurate review and execution of agreements. Staff experience, training, current resources, complexity of agreements and average timelines to complete negotiations, are some key factors considered to achieve faster turnaround while protecting the interest and integrity of the University and allowing faculty and staff to fulfill their mission of providing excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, research, and education.  

If you have trouble identifying your type of agreement or point of contact in OSP, you can always contact the team at osp_contracts@stonybrook.edu and your message will be redirected to the right Specialist within one (1) business day. For any questions, comments or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Dawn Alomar, Sabrina Cerezo or Alina Azzam-Stroia. 

The OSP team wishes Laura all the best in her future endeavors!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On Proposal Preparation and Award Administration Related to NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1)

NSF has recently posted Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on proposal preparation and award administration related to NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1). Some of the topics addressed in the FAQs include conference proposals, cost sharing, deadline dates, indirect costs, international activities/considerations and participant support.

NSF-Approved Formats for the Biographical Sketch/Current and Pending Support

NSF requires a biographical sketch (limited to two pages) for each individual identified as senior personnel. Detailed information about the content is available in theProposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter II.C.2.f. A new requirement to use an NSF-approved format for preparation of the biographical sketch will go into effect for new proposals submitted or due on or after October 5, 2020.  If you’ve not updated to the new format, we recommend that you do so at this time. Read more

NSF requires information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and proposals. Detailed information about the content is available in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter, II.C.2.h. A set of frequently asked questions related to current and pending support also is available.  The requirement to use an NSF-approved format for preparation of current and pending support will go into effect for new proposals submitted or due on or after October 5, 2020.

New “All About Grants” Podcast – Am I Doing Human Subjects’ Research?

You have a promising research idea that may involve human participants to carry out the study. Do you know what to do next? Join the next NIH’s All About Grants podcast conversation about how you know you are doing human subjects’ research.

Science Foundation -  Important Notice (IN) 147 Research.gov Implementation Update 

The National Science Foundation is now taking proactive steps to incrementally move the preparation and submission of all proposals from FastLane to Research.gov with a tentative target date for completion by 2022.  In support of this effort, in the coming weeks and months, NSF will begin making changes to specific funding opportunities to require the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals to NSF. The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) will soon require the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals in response to its core programs that do not have deadline dates. NSF funding opportunities will clearly specify whether submission via Research.gov is available or required.  (Important Notice (IN) 147, Research.gov Implementation Update)  

Should you have any questions or require assistance with an upcoming proposal submission, please do not hesitate to contact our office to speak to a Grants and Contracts Specialist. 

NASA Harassment Regulations Final Rule

NASA has implemented new terms and conditions for reporting requirements regarding sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault. This term now appears in NASA new awards and modifications. Read more

Reporting Impacts of COVID-19 to NIH and Other Sponsoring Agencies

NIH understands the potential effects of COVID-19 on the progress of NIH supported research. Recipients must report any effects on the NIH funded research in their next RPPR submission. Recipients are not to submit standard letters, but rather report these details within the RPPR. The funding IC will consider the effects that are reported by the recipient when reviewing and approving the RPPR.  NIH remains committed to working with its applicants and recipients during this public health emergency. In addition, NIH recognizes that there may be delays in submission of RPPRs and other reports.

Recipients should contact the funding IC to request prior approval for late submission. NIH FAQs for COVID-19  Flexibilities can be found here.

OSP recommends reporting the programmatic and financial impacts of COVID to other federal and non-federal agencies as well. 

Fall 2020 NIH Virtual Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration

If you’re new to working with the NIH grants process as an investigator or administrator, then mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 26 – Friday, October 30 for a unique opportunity to learn, share and meet virtually with NIH and HHS experts. The NIH is offering a virtual seminar that you won’t want to miss! Read more. 

myResearch News
Reminder - Grants Training Schedule for 2020

The schedule for myResearch Grants training sessions can be found on our website. Users are encouraged to sign up and attend one of the training sessions at a convenient time in order to prepare for future submissions. Click hereto register. Until normal campus operations resume, training classes will be offered via Zoom. Registrants will be contacted by an OSP Specialist prior to the training class with the Zoom meeting information.


The Office of Sponsored Programs would like to thank you for your cooperation as we work remotely and navigate through difficult times. For best results, we ask that you please continue to adhere to the 5/2 proposal submission policy , and inform us early of any post-award administrative matters. 


Office of Grants Management News

Changes to Personnel in the Office of Grants Management

This summer the Office of Grants Management bid a fond farewell and congratulations to Anamaria Goncalves as she retired from her position as Assistant Director, following 30 years of service. As a technical expert within the office, overseeing all elements of sponsored award financial reporting, cash management, collection and close out,  Anamaria masterfully facilitated complicated and challenging reporting matters.  

We wish her all the best and although she will be greatly missed her legacy will continue in the team she led.

Michele Hass has been promoted to the position of Assistant Director, and will assume the responsibilities previously managed by Anamaria Goncalves. She brings fourteen years of experience with sponsored research award activity,  and a strong knowledge of the processes and procedures needed to lead the team that manages collections and fiscal compliance for the university research activity.  Michele is available at michele.hass@stonybrook.edu

New Federal Restriction on the Purchase and Use of Certain Telecomunication and Video Surveillance Equipment

Effective August 2020, the federal government agencies are no longer able to contract with universities, companies, and other organizations that make use of certain telecommunications and surveillance equipment manufactured by specific companies that Congress has determined present a risk to secure communications.

The relevant prohibition appears in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019, Pub. L. No. 115-232 (NDAA). Specifically, Section 889 of the NDAA restricts the use of “covered telecommunications equipment or services.” Such equipment or services must not be used “as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as a critical technology as part of any system.”

The phrase “covered telecommunications equipment or services” is defined in Section 889 to encompass—

1. Telecommunications equipment produced by—

Huawei Technologies Company,

ZTE Corporation,

or any subsidiary or affiliate

2. Video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by—

Hytera Communications Corporation,

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company,

Dahua Technology Company,

or any subsidiary or affiliate

3.  Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.

If you happen to have purchased “covered telecommunications equipment or services” from any of these companies, or are aware that covered equipment has been installed in your unit’s IT infrastructure, please email Susan Gasparo, Export Compliance Administrator at susan.gasparo@stonybrook.edu or Sheila Routh, Director for Grants Management at Sheila.routh@stonybrook.edu or alternatively submit a help ticket to IT at service.stonybrook.edu.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Gasparo or Sheila Routh. 

 


Office of Research Compliance News

Guidance on COVID-19 Research with Human Subjects

Just a reminder that you should regularly review the guidance regarding research during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance includes information you need to give to your participants. The guidance is available at https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/restart-research/HS_July%20.php.

Website

Visit the newly developed Office of Research Compliance website at https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/. The main page has a “news” area where you can access information about the Office of Research Compliance, a calendar where meetings and special events are listed and a suggestion box for suggestions you would like to send to the ORC staff.

Notification of Status Reports for Human Subject Research

As a reminder, most minimal risk research approved on or after January 21, 2019 does not require continuing review. However, for minimal risk research, the Office of Research Compliance does require a Status Report every 2 years. Beginning October 2020, the MYRESEARCH IRB system will be sending out 90, 60, and 30 day reminders for submission of Status Reports.

The steps for submission of a “Status Report” in the MYRESEARCHIRB system will be identical to the continuing review submission process. However, the regulations that apply to studies with 2-year status reports allow for a more streamlined IRB review process. Click on the following link to access the Status Report submission instructions manual: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Human-Subjects/submission

If a Status Report is not received for your minimal risk study, your study cannot continue. All study procedures (including data collection) must stop. Additionally, if a Status Report is not received it is considered non-compliance.  For questions, please contact the Office of Research Compliance at ovpr_myresearchirb@stonybrook.edu or 631-632-9036. 

IRB Fees

The Human Research Protection Program is raising fees for sponsored research. The fee supports the administrative and regulatory compliance for these sponsored studies.

The fee is a one-time service fee and is separate from any charges incurred by the sponsor for using the external IRB. Payment of the fee is not contingent upon the approval of the study.

If t he sponsor wishes to send the study to an external IRB, the fee will now be $1,500 (increase of $500)

If the sponsor wishes the Stony Brook University IRB to review the study the fee will now be $3,500.00 for full board review (increase of $500) or $1,450 for expedited review (increase of $500).

If the sponsor fails to pay the fee within 90 days, the PI’s department will be responsible for payment.

Institutional Biosafety Committee

Reminder that if you already have a study in IRBNet, that study has been moved over to myResearch Safety. You don’t need to create a new study in myResearch Safety just use the study that is already there.

Launching  MyResearch IACUC

MyResearch IACUC will be launched next month! myResearch IACUC is an interactive web-based electronic system that captures animal subject applications. The system has various views for researchers and study teams, IACUC members and IACUC staff. The system will capture new studies and any continuing reviews submitted on or after the go-live date. Studies will not be accepted into IRBNet after the go live date.  Eventually, all submissions will be captured in the system. If you have questions or concerns about the system, you can contact Jamie Fuellbier at  (631) 632-9036. Manuals and videos related to myResearch IACUC are available at  https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/Animals-Use/Submissions.

Consent Template Update Information for Sponsored Studies

Stony Brook University currently has a Master Service Agreement with both Advarra and WIRB to use their IRB services for sponsored research. Each IRB has a mandatory language template and instructions for the Informed Consent Form. These templates are now available on the Research Compliance website under the External IRB submission guidelines.   

 

Intellectual Property Partners

Donna Tumminello Receives the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service

https://news.stonybrook.edu/facultystaff/27-faculty-and-staff-honored-with-suny-chancellors-awards-for-excellence/?utm_source=Stony+Brook+News&utm_campaign=1d04517424-SBUNews-7-24-2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f804059a85-1d04517424-200007619

New Invention Website

Intellectual Property Partners is very excited to announce the launch of our Inventions webpage. Please visit https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/technology-licensing/innovations/index.php to find complete up-to-date .

This webpage gives easy access to the complete data of inventions, including the technology description, names of inventors, patent and licensing status, and a licensing contact. You may browse through categories to see the full list, or search by keyword to find any particular technology, topic, or inventor. We are sure that this webpage will become an effective tool in our collaboration with the industry partners.

We worked hard to make this resource informative, complete, and truly user-friendly, and we are sure you’ll love the result of our efforts. We would like to acknowledge and thank our colleagues from the Communications and Marketing and from the IPP teams who made this project happen:
Lynn Zawie, Gargi Bhowmick, Donna Tumminello, Kushal Penugonda, Linda Galvin, James Martino,  Olga Kaufman.

Let’s promote SBU innovations on our Invention webpage!

Congratulations to Dr. Anurag Purwar and Dr. Fu-Pen Chiang on their Election to the August 2020 Class of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior Members 

NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI Member Institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation and produced technologies that have the potential for a significant impact on the welfare of society. Our rising stars also have proven success in patents, licensing and commercialization.

Option Agreement Executed with Khan Surgical Systems

Stony Brook start-up Khan Surgical Systems has executed an Option Agreement to develop a system and method to assist surgeons with accurately and  precisely recreating preoperative surgical plans during bone surgery with projected guidance.  

The Longest Successful Quantum Communication Link Experiment in the United States Takes Place Between SBU and Brookhaven Lab

Quantum communication technology, developed at Stony Brook and licensed to Stony Brook start-up Qunnect, has been used to achieve, for the first time, transmission of single-photon level polarization quantum bits (“qubits”) in a configuration covering a total of approximately 140 km (roughly 87 miles), using commercially available telecommunications fiber connecting the SBU and Brookhaven Lab campuses. https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=217346&btw=1

RF SUNY ranked #40 in the List of Top 100 Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2019 

The Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2019 has been announced by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). You can find a full list here. State University of New York has been ranked #40 in the list; according to the report, SUNY ranking increase from 2018 is +53 spots.  The report uses data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and highlights the vital role patents play in university research and innovation. 

Published annually since 2013, the report ranks the top 100 universities named as the first assignee on utility patents granted by the USPTO in the 2019 calendar year. https://academyofinventors.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-2019-top-100.pdf

The Following 12 US Patents Have Been Issued to Stony Brook Researchers:

IPP is pleased to announce the following U.S. patents issued to our faculty and students from May 2020 to present 

Inventors

Patent No

Issue Date

Title

Alexander Orlov

Robert Grubbs

Daniel Knopf

Girish Ramakrishnan

10,647,783 5/12/2020 Method for Preparing Modified Nanocrystalline Cellulose

Wei Zhao

Amirhossein Goldan 

10,658,530 5/19/2020 Multi-well Selenium Device and Method for Fabrication Thereof

Quiang Li

Dmitri Kharzeev

10,657,456 5/19/2020 Quantum Computing Using Chiral Qubits

Vera Gorfinkel

Boris Gorbovitski

Dmytro Gudkov

10,664,238 5/26/2020 Quantum True Random Number Generator
Lorne Golub 10,669,227 6/2/2020 Curcumin Analogues as Zink Chelators and Their Uses
Paul Northrup 10,672,529 6/2/2020 Compact Spectrometer Focusing Apparatus

Ming-Yu Ngai

Katarzyna Hojczyk 

10,676,424 6/9/2020 Trifluoromethoxylation of Arenes via Intramolecular Trifluoromethoxy Group Migration

Daniel Raleigh

Andisheh Abedini

10,683,333 6/16/2020 Islet Amyloid Polypeptides With Improved Solubility

Jingfang Ju

Haiyan Zhai

Mihriban Karaayvaz

10,697,020 6/30/2020 MicroRNA-129 as a Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer

Rebecca Isseroff

Miriam Rafailovich

Andrew Chen

Li Fei Hongfei

10,700,282 6/30/2020 Synthesis and Incorporation of Graphene to Improve Organic Solar Cells and Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Benjamin Chu

Benjamin Hsiao

10,702,815 7/7/2020 Nanostructured Fibrous Membranes for Efficient Membrane Distillation

Michael Ferdman

Monaj Alwani

Peter Milder

10,726,330 7/28/2020 System, Method, and Accelerator to Process Convolutional Neural Network Layers
University Funds 17 COVID-Related Research Projects

Seventeen research projects directly related to the current COVID-19 outbreak have received $398,200 in seed funding from the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Institute for Engineering-Driven Medicine (IEDM).

https://news.stonybrook.edu/homespotlight/university-funds-17-covid-related-research-projects/?utm_source=Stony+Brook+News&utm_campaign=5c4f615e10-SBUNews-6-26-2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f804059a85-5c4f615e10-200007619

Join us at the 16th International Conference on Emerging Technologies for a Smarter World (CEWIT2020)

Organized by the New York State Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) at Stony Brook University, our international conference is a destination for researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, across borders and disciplines.  Last year’s CEWIT2019 conference attracted over 250 industry and academic participants from 4 countries. Over seventeen presenters took the podium in various sessions. 

https://www.cewit.org/conference2020/index.php

Stony Brook Startup, Codagenix, Collaborates to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine

Codagenix, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing prophylactic vaccines and oncolytic virus therapies, today announced a collaboration with the Serum Institute of India to rapidly co-develop a live-attenuated vaccine against the emergent coronavirus. There are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for this novel coronavirus, now referred to as COVID-19. A live-attenuated vaccine has multiple advantages, including mounting an immune response to multiple antigens of the virus and the ability to scale for mass production.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/codagenix-and-serum-institute-of-india-initiate-co-development-of-a-scalable-live-attenuated-vaccine-against-the-2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-301004654.html?tc=eml_cleartime 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/codagenix-announces-the-synthesis-and-preliminary-safety-of-scalable-live-attenuated-vaccine-candidate-against-covid-19-301079306.html

FDA Approves QwoTM  

The Food and Drug Administration has approved collagenase clostridium histolyticum–aaes (Qwo, Endo International) for the treatment of moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks of adult women. 

The first injectable treatment of moderate to severe cellulite developed by SBU researchers in the Department of Orthopaedics

https://investor.endo.com/news-releases/news-release-details/us-fda-approves-qwotm-collagenase-clostridium-histolyticum-aaes

Congratulations to Our 15 Newly Inducted SBU-NAI Members on Their Induction in the 2020 Class of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)

NAI Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI Member Institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation and produced technologies that have the potential for a significant impact on the welfare of society. Our rising stars also have proven success in patents, and/or licensing and commercialization. 

 NAI New Inductees, 2020:

Botchkina, Galina
Galina.Botchkina@stonybrook.edu
Research Associate Professor
Department of Pathology
Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine
 
Carter, Carol
Carol.Carter@stonybrook.edu
Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine 
 
Das, Samir
Samir.Das@stonybrook.edu
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science 
 
Frohman, Michael
Michael.Frohman@stonybrook.edu
Distinguished Professor and Chair
Department of Pharmacological Sciences
Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine 
 
Ge, Qiaode
Qiaode.Ge@stonybrook.edu
Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical Engineering 
 
Gu, Xianfeng
Xianfeng.Gu@stonybrook.edu, gu@cs.sunysb.edu
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science 
 
Jha, Prashant
prashant.jha@gmail.com
Department of Material Sciences 
 
Marino, Joseph
jmarino@cs.stonybrook.edu
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Computer Sciences 
 
Pentyala, Srinivas
Srinivas.Pentyala@stonybrook.edu ,  Srinivas.Pentyala@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Professor
Department of Anesthesiology 
 
Strey, Helmut
Helmut.Strey@stonybrook.edu 
Associate Professor
Biomedical Engineering 
 
Zadok, Erez
Erez.Zadok@stonybrook.edu 
Professor
Department of Computer Science 
 
Zhu, Wei
Wei.Zhu@stonybrook.edu
Professor and Deputy Chair
Department of Mathematics and Statistics 
 
Honorary Inductees, 2020
 
Donnelly, Peter
peter.donnelly@stonybrook.edu
Associate Vice President for Technology Partnerships
Office of Economic Development 
 
Gallagher, John
jfg@farrelliplaw.com 
Attorney
The Farrell Law Firm, P.C. 
 
Volk, Brian
brian.volk@stonybrook.edu 
Attorney
The Law Office of Brian R. Volk, Esq. PLLC

IPP congratulates Eszter Boros for being named 2020 Moore Inventor Fellow!

https://news.stonybrook.edu/homespotlight/eszter-boros-named-2020-moore-inventor-fellow/?utm_source=Stony+Brook+News&utm_campaign=a327269ab1-SBUNews-9-22-20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f804059a85-a327269ab1-199963067 


 

Human Resource Services News

Talent Management System (TMS) Update

Taleo is in the process of getting a makeover.

The Talent Management System (TMS) will be implementing a new user interface across all platforms and devices. Most of the changes are to the look and feel of the system, not to our overall processes such as Creating a Requisition, Search and Selection, or the Offer process. However, the functionality is being enhanced  through quarterly updates and upgrades.

If you currently utilize Taleo for your staffing needs, you can access the legacy Taleo format for a short time by clicking  Legacy Recruiting on the left side menu or the top navigation bar. This format will officially be phased out after December 31, 2020.
We will continue to update you as further enhancements/updates are implemented.

Social Security Tax Withholding

On August 8, 2020, a Presidential Executive Order was issued related to Social Security Tax withholding. This is a postponement of withholding taxes and not a tax break from paying Social Security taxes. This program would allow for the deferral of Social Security taxes and must be repaid beginning January 1, 2021.  The Research Foundation has opted not to participate in this program, as failure by our employees to re-pay the taxes by the end of April of 2021 would result in IRS penalties to the employee. For additional information, please contact RF Payroll at extension 2-9314.

Supervisor Training

Supervisor Training is available through the Research Foundation for RF Supervisors and SUNY employees who supervise one or more RF employees.   These webinar trainings are broken down into segments identifying what a new supervisor needs to know at day 30, 60, and 90.  Additional topics include:

- What all Supervisors Need to Know

- Leading People Responsibly

- Performance Planning

- Progressive Discipline

- Coaching for Performance

- Best Practices in Employee Relations

For more information please visit

Student Employee Health Plan - TA/GA SEHP Open Enrollment 

The 2020 Open Enrollment Period for the Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP) will run from  MondayAugust 31, 2020  through Wednesday, September 30th. The Open Enrollment Period provides student employees, who were eligible for SEHP last year but chose not to enroll, an opportunity to enroll  or make changes to their coverage type (change from individual to family only). Enrollment or changes outside this window involve a 30-day waiting period  required for late enrollment. 

To obtain information regarding the SEHP and applications to enroll please contact the Benefits Office at 631-632-6180 or  HRS_Benefits@stonybrook.edu. Additional information regarding the SEHP may be found at  www.stonybrook.edu

 Returning to the Workplace Safely

Reminder Daily Health Self-Screening Employees must complete the  Daily Health Self-Screening every day they are required to report to campus. The daily health self-screener is intended to help employees self-screen for COVID-19 related symptoms  prior to arriving on campus. For more detailed instructions, please see  COVID-19 Daily Health Self-Screener - Youtube Instructional Video.

Reminder RTW Training Individuals are required to complete the “Return To Work" training video prior to returning to Campus. The video is less than thirty (30) minutes and contains important information which helps support continuous safety for our campus community.  

Step 1: Log into  SOLAR

Step 2: Go to →For Employees→Learning & Development→Return To Work Training. 

Step 3: Check the completion box and hit save