End-of-Semester Updates from the Office of Research
Dear Colleagues,
As the semester concludes, I hope you can reflect on your accomplishments with satisfaction and pride. Here in the Office of Research, we have been working diligently to enhance operations and advance strategic initiatives, and I鈥檓 excited to share some updates as we close out the year and look forward to what鈥檚 ahead.
Together with many other constituents around our institution, we have been working
on aspects of the new strategic plan, with research prominently featured as Goal 2. This is an exciting moment for our
institution, as it underscores our collective commitment to fostering a culture of
research and innovation.
On that note, we recently celebrated some of our brightest stars in research during
the KSU Apex Awards ceremony. These awards honor the work being done across campus,
recognizing researchers who were nominated by their colleges as the very best in their
fields. It was a privilege to celebrate their contributions and be reminded of the
remarkable talent within our community.
Closer to home, we鈥檙e thrilled to announce a key leadership change within our office. Joshua Davis is stepping into the role of Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Research Chief of Staff. Joshua will be instrumental in driving project management and process improvement initiatives. Whether it鈥檚 a new idea or a pressing challenge, I encourage you to reach out to him 鈥 he鈥檒l be a valuable resource.
We鈥檝e also made progress in bolstering grant support services. The newly launched Research Liaisons Program is now up and running, with two liaisons already on board and a third joining us soon. These liaisons are here to ensure a smoother experience for proposal submissions and award setups by connecting the dots across different units.
Looking ahead, we鈥檙e working on several new tools and resources designed to better support our research community. One major initiative is the Research Hub, an internal website that will serve as a 鈥渙ne-stop shop鈥 for researchers. We expect to roll out initial content early next semester. Additionally, new grant trackers are in development to provide clear updates on the 色色啦 of proposals and awards. These will be powered by the data dashboards we鈥檒l be unveiling soon.
If you manage awards, I鈥檇 like to remind you to sign up for training on the new Cayuse FundManager module, which offers real-time insights into the financial components of your award. To ensure the security of fiscal data, access will only be granted after . Also, stay tuned for the spring launch of the Cayuse Inventions and Contracts module,
which will further enhance our tools for managing research.
On the strategic front, we鈥檙e thrilled to announce the approval of our first interdisciplinary university-wide research center: the Cyber-Physical Realms Center, led by Interim Scientific Director Dr. Sylvia Bhattacharya. As this center takes its first steps, more information will become available, and I encourage you to connect with Dr. Bhattacharya if you鈥檙e interested in learning more.
At the same time, we鈥檙e laying the groundwork for several other research centers. Planning committees are forming for initiatives tentatively titled:
Center for Rehabilitation Sciences, POC: Dr. Mark Geil
Center for Interactive Media, POC: Dr. Victoria Lagrange
Center for Adaptive Environmental Solutions, POC: Dr. Mine Hashas-Degertekin
These centers are still in the early stages, but we鈥檒l soon provide opportunities for you to express interest in joining them. We will also run internal searches for interim Directors to launch these centers in the near future. More to come soon!
The Rural Health & Health Equity Center will be paused for now.
All in all, it鈥檚 been a dynamic and forward-looking semester, and I鈥檓 excited about the opportunities that await us in the new year. For now, I hope you鈥檒l take the time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the holiday season. Let鈥檚 look forward to another year of discovery, collaboration, and growth together.
鈥 Dr. Karin Scarpinato, Vice President for Research
Past Messages
November 21, 2024
Dear KSU Community,
This month has been a particularly busy month for the Office of Research, marked by
significant milestones, successful events, and strategic advancements. Below are the
highlights:
Events and Engagements
Georgia Research Administrators Network Meeting
We hosted the Georgia Research Administrators Network at KSU earlier this month. The
event saw robust participation from administrators across the state. Discussions and
panels focused on adapting to new regulations and leveraging innovative technologies
in research administration.
Annual PechaKucha Research Showcase
Our signature research showcase attracted 110 attendees this year, featuring dynamic presentations from all nine colleges. For the first time, we incorporated hands-on demonstrations by researchers, which were very well received. We also debuted our 鈥淩esearch Avatars,鈥 an AI-powered interactive tool designed to answer research-related questions in real time, providing an exciting glimpse into the future of research engagement.
External Stakeholder Discussions
We continued meaningful discussions with corporate partners and other universities,
including Georgia Power and Lockheed Martin, exploring potential collaborations. Additionally,
we have deepened our involvement with the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science
Association (CTSA) and are proud to co-sponsor their upcoming event. I encourage anyone
interested in biomedical research to attend this important event.
APLU Annual Conference
I had the opportunity to attend the annual Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
(APLU) conference, which focused on critical topics such as higher education funding,
the integration of AI, and the importance of effectively communicating research impact
to stakeholders. I am happy to share insights from the conference with anyone interested.
Strategic Initiatives
University-Wide Research Centers
We are progressing in establishing interdisciplinary research centers to position
KSU for larger funding opportunities. Our tiered seed-funding programs serve as an
excellent springboard for these efforts. This month, we received a record number of
applications for the first round of large seed funding opportunities, and award decisions
will be announced soon.
Research Liaisons
We are excited to launch the Research Liaison Program, starting with faculty in the
two colleges with high-funding volumes. These liaisons will act as a single point
of contact for faculty, providing comprehensive project management for proposals and
awards. This initiative will be implemented in phases to ensure a smooth rollout.
Research Development
Our Research Development staff has been visiting more than 30 departments this semester
to discuss workshop and training opportunities.
Support and Service
Sponsored Programs Administrations
In Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), we have successfully filled several key
positions, particularly on the post-award side, to enhance support for researchers.
Project/Process Management
Internally, we are adopting a structured project management approach across all initiatives
and have begun applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies to streamline processes and further
improve the services we provide to our research community.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Please reach out if you would
like more information or have questions about any of these updates.
October 30, 2024
Dear KSU Community,
It is certainly an exciting time here at Kennesaw State University, and we can't wait
to share the latest updates with you!
Introducing the Cayuse Fund Manager Module
We have launched the Cayuse Fund Manager module, a new system offering real-time updates
on grant budgets. Due to the sensitive nature of the information handled by this module,
we require attendance at a one-time in-person training session prior to granting access.
Please contact Rachel Kinney at rkinney6@kennesaw.edu to book your session.
Upcoming sessions:
Wednesday, November 6, 3:30 p.m. 鈥 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2:30 p.m. 鈥 3:30 p.m.
Launch of Our Research Liaison Program
We are rolling out our new Research Liaison program. Starting November 18, our first
liaison will serve as dedicated contact for researchers, handling everything from
grant management to project support. This initiative will kick off with our first
liaison, with two more joining after HR processes are completed.
We also have created an ambitious timeline to fill our open Sponsored Programs positions
that will ultimately provide you with improved customer service. We are working closely
with HR and our team to make this happen.
Centers
Our search for the Executive Director of Rural Health & Health Equity continues. We're
eager to fill this pivotal role and will update you as soon as we have news.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent visit from the Army Research
Laboratory. The insights shared about DoD collaboration were invaluable. We're planning
a follow-up workshop to dive deeper into these opportunities, so stay tuned!
Support for New Faculty
We continue to enhance our support for new faculty with dedicated discussions about
our research services and their projects, ensuring they feel welcomed and informed.
Input on Improvements
Your input is crucial as we strive to enhance our processes and procedures. Please
feel free to reach out to Joshua Davis with any suggestions or feedback.
Upcoming Events
We are hosting the USG Research Administrator Conference on November 4 at the KSU
Center, an excellent opportunity for those keen on the nuances of research administration
in our state.
Ethics Week is coming up next week. On Thursday, November 7, Director of Research
Compliance Kristine Nowak will moderate a panel on the "Ethical Use of Data," featuring
OVPR's own Dylan Goldblatt! RSVP for this live, in-person event is required.
The Fall Symposium of Student Scholars is almost upon us: November 20-22 marks this semester鈥檚 fall symposium. Be sure to explore and listen to the exciting research our students are involved in. There are also opportunities to volunteer and judge student posters.
The Latest
Catch up on our Fall AI Symposium available via recording, hosted by our Applied Technologies
Research Community. Also, tune into our new podcast, 'Research Matters.' Interested
in sharing your work? Let us know if you'd like to be featured!
These are just a few of the ways we are moving our research agenda at KSU. We are
excited for what is ahead and deeply value your engagement and support.
Happy Fall!
October 11, 2024
Upcoming Research Events and Key Initiatives
Following the success of the September Townhall in Kennesaw, which drew a record number
of attendees, you are invited to attend the second session on October 7 at 1 p.m.
in Marietta. If you were unable to participate in either of the live events, a recording
will soon be available.
On the Research Development front, several new opportunities are emerging. Please
stay alert for announcements regarding:
Seed funding Workshops Access to on-demand development resources Additionally, we are collaborating with UITS to introduce an AI-powered tool that
will enhance your funding search experience by improving the efficiency and relevance
of search results.
New Center Establishments
1. The Center for Rural Health & Health Equity is moving forward with the search for
its Executive Director. Three finalists are currently undergoing campus interviews.
2. The Center for Cyber-Physical Convergence is in the works, and the leadership structure
will include both a scientific director and a technical director. More updates on
this initiative will be shared soon.
Please also stay engaged with ongoing networking events hosted by our research communities,
which cover a wide range of topics. These events are tailored to match various research
expertise areas, offering valuable collaboration opportunities.
Strategic Planning Progress
In partnership with the Associate Deans for Research, we are nearing completion of
the Strategic Implementation Plans. Goals related to Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan
will be entered into Envisio shortly.
Innovation & Commercialization Updates
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christopher Cornelison to the permanent
role of AVP for Innovation & Commercialization, following a thorough nationwide search.
He will play a pivotal role in driving innovation efforts. Additionally, the search
for a Director of Technology Transfer will begin soon.
Stay tuned for further announcements regarding these exciting developments!
September 17, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
I hope your semester is going well. It鈥檚 been a busy period for the Office of Research as we work diligently to build the infrastructure that supports your exceptional research efforts.
I am pleased to announce that we are preparing for this semester鈥檚 Town Hall meetings. These events will provide an excellent opportunity to hear directly from the Office of Research about our latest initiatives and to engage in meaningful discussions. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:
Kennesaw Town Hall: September 19 at 1:00 PM Marietta Town Hall: October 7 at 1:00 PM
Kindly RSVP at your earliest convenience, and we look forward to your participation.
In addition to preparing for these events, we are deeply involved in the University鈥檚 new Strategic Plan and its implementation. We are collaborating closely with the Associate Deans for Research to develop initiatives that align with the university鈥檚 goals.
Our Research Communities have been highly active, hosting launch events and themed
networking sessions. I hope many of you were able to attend these opportunities to
learn about research happening across campus, connect with fellow researchers, and
explore potential collaborations.
While some of the software platforms we promised are still in production, we are working
closely with UITS and expect to provide an update soon. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
I am also excited to introduce Raj Moona, who has recently joined the Office of Research
as our Research Data Analyst. Raj will be developing live dashboards to display research
data, offering improved visibility into our research metrics. Please join me in welcoming
him to the team.
Lastly, congratulations to those who have been recognized as 鈥淭op Researchers鈥 by their respective colleges. Five researchers from each college will be joining the Provost and me for a lunch meeting to celebrate their outstanding contributions.
Thank you for your continued dedication and contributions to our research community.
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Town Hall meetings.
July 29, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you are having a wonderful summer! As the new semester approaches, our office
has been bustling with activity, and we are excited to share several new initiatives
and tools with you.
At the start of the semester, we will introduce:
A new researcher activity platform
The post-award module for Cayuse
An equipment database
An OVPR event calendar
On the strategic front, we are resuming the search for the Executive Director for
Rural Health & Health Equity. Additionally, we are collaborating with the Department
of Defense to establish a Bio-Cyberphysical Hybrid Realities center and will soon
invite relevant parties for a discussion session on this initiative. Recently, we
hosted representatives from the ARL on campus and visited Dobbins ARB and the UTSA
National Security Collaboration Center to forge collaborations and exchange best practices.
The Research Communities have been actively hosting Think Tanks to align teams with
funding opportunities. I hope you have had the opportunity to participate in at least
one of these events. As the semester begins, the Research Communities will also host
launch events, and we encourage you to attend at least one.
We are beginning the division- and unit-level implementation of the new university strategic plan, which will officially launch next month with research as one of its five core goals. We will soon host discussion groups with the units to delve deeper into this plan. Additionally, don鈥檛 miss our new and exciting research video at Launch 24!
There are many more exciting initiatives and tools in development that we look forward
to sharing with you soon. We wish you a fantastic start to the new semester.
Warm regards,
Karin
June 26, 2024
Hello, KSU Community!
I hope you're all soaking up the summer sun and enjoying a well-deserved break! It鈥檚 been a whirlwind of activity in the Office of Research, and I鈥檓 thrilled to share some exciting updates with you.
Expanding Partnerships:
Our 'Health & Wellness' Research Community and the team from the AMES Center attended
the Atlanta VA Research Day, sparking valuable connections and paving the way for
promising collaborations.
Strategic Movements:
We've recently hosted our very first Strategic Planning meeting. Leaders from the
Office of Research and Associate Deans for Research (ADRs) came together to reflect
on the achievements of the 2023-2024 academic year and brainstormed on what lies ahead.
The energy and innovative ideas were truly inspiring!
Tech Forward:
We're gearing up to welcome two crucial additions to our team 鈥 an AI Strategist and a Data Analyst. Their expertise will be pivotal in leveraging data to inform and build our strategy, enhancing data visualization, and developing tools that support our faculty's research endeavors. We're excited to roll out these initiatives starting this fall 2024 鈥 stay tuned!
Community Engagement:
Our recent 'Built in the Burbs' event was a resounding success, featuring a fireside chat with Brendan Sweeney, co-founder and CEO of 'Popmenu.' Additionally, KSU鈥檚 outreach events in Dalton, Dallas, and Smyrna brought together alumni and community members, showcasing the groundbreaking initiatives underway at KSU.
Looking Ahead:
With the introduction of our new University Strategic Plan, we are on the cusp of
ushering in an era of enriched opportunities for both our researchers and students.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to drive KSU Research to new heights.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and let's gear up for an exciting fall!
May 14, 2024
As we celebrate the end of another academic year, I want to commend everyone for their
hard work and dedication. It has been a year marked by significant advancements and
exciting changes within our research community. As Kennesaw State University finalizes
its new strategic plan, it is clear that our research initiatives are set to play
a pivotal role in elevating our university to national prominence.
Recognizing the growing importance of interdisciplinary research, we established our
Research Communities to harness the collective expertise of our faculty across four
dynamic themes: Applied Technologies, Sustainable Communities, Innovative Creativity,
and Health & Wellness. These communities, each led by three distinguished research
faculty, have successfully formed robust interdisciplinary teams now actively pursuing
impactful outcomes, including publications, funding, and performances.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our collaboration with each college's leadership
to enhance support for these teams. Our goal is to foster state and regional interdisciplinary
collaborations that will amplify our research impact.
The upcoming academic year promises further growth with the initiation of cluster
hires focused on each Research Community, yet firmly rooted within our colleges. This
strategic integration will strengthen our academic units and expand our research capabilities.
In support of these interdisciplinary areas, we are committed to providing enhanced
resources for research staff and seed funding, particularly for larger teams striving
for significant research outcomes. We are enthusiastic about the future and the opportunities
it holds for the KSU research community as we continue to build on our strong foundation
of collaborative and innovative research.
This past academic year, we have also made significant strides in bolstering our operational
capabilities. The establishment of a robust research development unit under the leadership
of Dr. Heather Abbott-Lyon and with the support of our new colleagues Sierra Hovat
and Dasha Chapman is primed to enhance our research support significantly. Additionally,
our commitment to expanding corporate engagement has been strengthened by the recruitment
of Joshua Davis, who has swiftly begun to forge valuable external partnerships.
We've also seen transformative changes in the Office of Sponsored Programs, including
critical staffing additions, structural reorganization, and a comprehensive upgrade
of our Cayuse system to streamline operations. Looking ahead to the new academic year,
we are excited about the implementation of two additional Cayuse modules that will
enhance transparency in post-award processes and bolster our intellectual property
protections.
A notable innovation will be the launch of our 鈥淩esearch Concierge鈥 program, which promises personalized support for our researchers by assigning a dedicated point of contact to each, thereby ensuring meticulous project management and timely completion of all research and funding-related tasks.
Moreover, the Office of Research is set to expand its strategic capabilities with
the addition of a data analyst and an AI strategist. This expansion will enable us
to base our strategic decisions on solid data and metrics. Expect to see greater transparency
through the development of new dashboards that will provide real-time insights into
our research metrics.
At the university level, we are collaborating closely with Academic Affairs to ensure
our policies and procedures robustly support the ambitious research growth necessary
to propel KSU toward national prominence. As we transition into summer, I encourage
you to take this time to relax and recharge, gearing up for what promises to be another
exciting and productive academic year.
May 1, 2024
As the semester approaches its conclusion, here's a roundup of the latest from KSU
Research:
鈥 Research Metrics Goals: We've concluded discussions with the Deans and ADRs, setting specific research metrics for each college. If you're interested in the specifics, please contact your college leadership.
鈥 Research Communities: Our research communities are actively forming teams, with the first iteration of their websites now live for review.
鈥 Communication Enhancements: We are developing new methods to provide more personalized updates to our researchers and faculty. Stay tuned for more details.
鈥 KSU Inventors Dinner: Last month, we celebrated our researchers who are advancing to the intellectual property protection/commercialization phase at our inaugural Inventors Dinner.
鈥 Spring Symposium on Undergraduate Research: With over 400 attendees, the symposium was a testament to our commitment to undergraduate research.
鈥 Seed Funding for Research: We're currently reviewing pitches for the first round of internal seed funding, which supports pilot data creation for external grant applications.
鈥 Career Opportunities: We're hiring for several positions, including the permanent role of AVP for Innovation & Commercialization. We're also introducing a Research Concierge as the sole point of contact for researchers to provide streamlined project management of pre- and post-award, and a Research Data Analyst to enhance our data-driven strategy.
鈥 Collaboration with UGA: We've submitted a collaborative NSF grant with UGA's Innovation Gateway team, marking the start of formal collaboration.
鈥 Other External Engagements: Our recent participation in the Symposium on Asia 鈥 USA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO) drew a record attendance. We also hosted the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Metro Atlanta Chamber for tours of our research facilities.
For more information on any of these initiatives or to get involved, please reach
out to our office.
April 2, 2024
Our last fortnight was abuzz with noteworthy networking activities across our colleges. SPCEET's collaboration with WCHHS in Marietta was a highlight, featuring engaging research presentations and sparking potential partnerships. The industry showcase by CCSE was equally impressive, with Dr. Valero鈥檚 鈥淕lucoCheck鈥 pitch earning well-deserved accolades.
KSU made a remarkable impact at the Atlanta Science Festival with 13 exhibits, standing
tall alongside other Georgia universities. Our gratitude extends to all participating
colleges and Tyler Reinagel for his leadership.
Our outreach continued with a visit to GA Southern, where we exchanged insights with
the outgoing VPR, Chris Curtis and incoming VPR, David Weindorf, and explored possible
collaborative ventures. Preliminary talks with industry partners also promise to enhance
our research trajectory.
These are strides in affirming KSU鈥檚 commitment to collaborative research growth and innovation.
Our internal 鈥淩esearch Communities鈥 are rapidly progressing, forming dedicated teams and advisory boards. Their online presence will be launched soon, providing broader visibility to their initiatives. The Academic Leadership Spring meeting鈥檚 research-centric discussions offered a timely platform to share these updates with colleges and departments.
We are expanding our collaborative horizon by joining forces with external partners
like UGA. Together, we're drafting innovation-centric grant proposals and exploring
ecology/agriculture collaborations, leveraging our Field Station's capabilities.
March 15, 2024
Successful Networking Sparks Collaboration at Coles College and CCSE
Last week鈥檚 networking event hosted by the Coles College of Business and the College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) was a success, establishing a platform for researchers to explore and share their projects, eager to seek interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities.
Inaugural Research Analytics Summit: A Leap Towards Data-Driven Excellence
Our active participation in the groundbreaking Research Analytics Summit has already
yielded tangible benefits.
This pivotal gathering connected nearly 200 professionals dedicated to embedding data
analytics into the core of research activities such as strategic planning, capacity
enhancement, and improvements to grant management. Our engagement has led to securing
mentorship from two institutions, which will be instrumental as we establish our own
Research Data Analytics Office. Anticipate a surge in data-informed initiatives emanating
from this endeavor. Moreover, the summit provided grounds for networking, potentially
leading to further collaborative ventures.
Customized Research Metrics and College-Specific Goals: An Ongoing Dialogue
Our team is in the midst of discussions with college deans and Associate Deans of
Research (ADRs) to craft customized research metrics and objectives. These metrics
will reflect the unique scholarly focus of each college. We encourage faculty to liaise
with their college leadership to gain insights into the proposed metrics and align
with the overarching goals.
Streamlining Faculty Onboarding and Research Engagement
On the administrative front, together with Faculty Affairs, we are updating faculty
hiring protocols to streamline the onboarding process. These improvements are designed
to trigger timely engagement with the Research Office, ensuring that we support new
faculty members from the outset of their journey at our university.
Welcome Joshua Davis: Our New Director of Industry Engagement
This week marks the arrival of Joshua Davis, our new Director of Industry Engagement.
Joshua is currently familiarizing himself with the university's framework, our roles,
and the diverse responsibilities we hold. As he embarks on this exploratory phase,
we invite the university community to extend a warm welcome and offer support.
March 5, 2024
Our "Research Communities" are bustling with activity, recruiting members and strategizing
next steps, including exploring pertinent funding opportunities and assembling advisory
boards. Additionally, they are diligently working on setting up their respective websites,
so stay tuned for more updates.
We recently participated in Posters at the Georgia Capitol, enjoying a strong turnout
and engaging conversations with various legislators, students, and leadership.
I also had the privilege of attending the Regional Southeast Clinical & Translational
Science conference last week. Strengthening connections with other regional biomedical
units promises to bolster our health-related research endeavors. Looking ahead, I
am for broader participation from both students and researchers at this event in the
coming years.
Attending the annual reception of the Georgia Academy of Sciences, hosted at the Tellus
Museum, was a delightful experience. Our own Dr. Ebony Glover took the stage as the
keynote speaker, delivering an enlightening address on the significant role of hormone
levels in shaping our responses to life's challenges and surprises. It was an engaging
and thought-provoking presentation.
Since my last update, many meetings and events have taken place. I had the pleasure
of joining some of our exceptional undergraduate researchers for breakfast. Their
stories about becoming exposed to research and the profound impact it has had on their
lives were truly captivating. You can catch a glimpse of the event in this brief video.
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of witnessing our Aerial Robotics Competition
team conduct their final test flights ahead of their upcoming competition in Lakeland,
FL.
This dedicated student club has crafted a remote-controlled airplane equipped with
an autonomously operating payload, showcasing a remarkable fusion of engineering and
computer science skills. The capabilities demonstrated by their meticulously constructed
plane are truly remarkable.
Wishing our talented student team the very best of luck as they take on the competition!
In our commitment to better support our researchers, we are in the process of hiring
our first "Research Liaison" - a dedicated project manager assigned to each college
to serve as the primary point of contact for all research-related matters. Expect
more details on this initiative very soon.
Exciting news: the Office of Research is welcoming Joshua Davis as our inaugural Director
for Industry Engagement, a pivotal role to improve our corporate engagement under
our Innovation & Commercialization unit. Please join me in extending a warm welcome
to him as he joins our team on March 11.
鈥 Karin
February 21, 2024
Congratulations to our fantastic undergraduate researchers, some of whom were able
to display their research in the State Capitol yesterday and garnered interest by
our legislative team.
As I mentioned in my previous post, we were in the process of hiring a "non-STEM Research
Development Faculty Fellow" who will assist our office with identifying ways and initiatives
to support research in the non-STEM areas. After interviewing applicants from all
colleges with non-STEM related research, we are pleased to announce that Dasha Chapman
from the Department of Dance in COTA has accepted our offer. Please welcome her to
this new Faculty Fellow position.
The Research Champions, faculty overseeing the new Research Communities (Applied Technologies,
Innovative Creativity, OneHealth, Sustainable Communities) are looking for members
into the communities. If you have a research interest that fits either or all of these
themes, please contact them.
We are in the process of revamping the previous Summer Research Fellows program, also
look out for more information to come soon.
Our Office of Sponsored Programs is undergoing a reorganization that will hopefully
assist with supporting our researchers better. When one of our staff should be out
of the office, another will be able to fill in. We are also now launching a pilot
of a Research Project Coordinator. Each faculty member will have one point of contact
in our office for any research-related tasks. This coordinator will delegate and facilitate
interactions with any of the appropriate administrative units, so the researcher does
not need to worry about whom to contact for what. We will pilot this approach with
one or two colleges for now, but hope to grow it university-wide in the next fiscal
year.
On the Innovation & Commercialization site, we are finalizing the search for the Director
of Industry Engagement, look out for an announcement coming soon.
We are continually improving our communication processes. If you would like to hear
updates from our office beyond those listed here, please talk to your college's Associate
Dean for Research.
Happy researching!
鈥 Karin
February 13, 2024
The Office of Research continues to be busy improving processes and procedures to
better support our researchers in their endeavors. As such, we have begun interviewing
internal candidates for a Non-STEM Faculty Fellow within the Research Development
& Strategic Initiatives unit. The successful candidate will assist our team, which
is primarily set up to support funding opportunities in the STEM areas, to identify
initiatives that support non-STEM areas, such as the Humanities, Arts and Business.
We will announce the successful candidate as soon as s/he has been identified.
Last week I attended the "Government-University-Industry-Research Roundtable", a subsidiary
of the National Academies. This month's area of discussion was how to support K-12
students to create the foundations for innovation. Panelists from federal sponsors,
universities and school districts were presenting on how they support entrepreneurship
at that grade level. Please contact me if you have an interest in this topic and would
like to hear more.
We will continue our "Breakfasts with the VPR" thru the end of the semester, please
contact Heather Hedgepeth to RSVP.
I hope everyone has a nice Valentine's Day!
鈥 Karin
February 2, 2024
All of the new "Research Communities" have had their first networking/member recruitment
event. At these events, initial topic areas for collaboration were being discussed
around which research teams may be formed to pursue research outcomes, including funding
opportunities. Please look out for communication from your Research Champions who
are leading these efforts. An application form will be included to apply for membership,
if you are interested in participating. We look forward to meeting you at some of
the next events and initiatives that are being scheduled for the Research Communities.
Our office has begun curating funding opportunities that are listed on a new website from our new vendor, InfoReady, which can be accessed here. While this list is by no means exhaustive or comprehensive yet, and currently curated manually, we are looking to leverage newer technology to better match funding opportunities to your experience. The presidential cluster hires, which are aligned with the four Research Communities
have begun with the search for the Executive Director for Rural Health & Health Equity.
We will alert our campus community once the position is live. Please encourage those
who might be a fit for this position to apply.
We are in the process of finalizing the internal search for the AVP for Innovation
& Commercialization, as well as the search for a new Director of Industry Engagement
for our office. More information to come shortly.
I participated in a meeting of the VPRs from all USG institutions last week, which
was hosted by GCSU in Milledgeville. Initial opportunities to collaborate were discussed.
If anyone is interested in making connections across the USG and would like assistance
in doing so, please let us know.
The office is currently preparing a couple of grant applications to support our operations
and provide improved customer service - look out for more information on this, hopefully
soon. Last week, we held our bi-annual townhall meeting, which is designed to update our
research community with good attendance. The presentation and recording will be made
available soon.
I will be continuing my "Breakfast with the VPR", and if you are interested in coming
to chat and get to know each other better, please contact Heather Hedgepeth.
Lastly, the groundbreaking of the new Interdisciplinary Research Building in Marietta
(formally the STEM building) is scheduled for February 2. This building will add significant
research space and resources to our portfolio, and we look forward to having it open
in the Fall/Winter 2025.
鈥 Karin
January 23, 2024
Just a reminder to sign up for tomorrow's Town Hall, January 24 at 1 p.m. This is
an in-person event, to be held in Prillaman Hall, which will report on recent research
initiatives and allow the campus community to bring up questions. This is part of
the OVPR's communication efforts and part of the once-a-semester Town Hall series.
We hope to record the event and post the video to our MediaSpace page for those who
cannot attend.
鈥 Karin
January 18, 2024
Happy new year! I hope everyone had a great start into the spring semester. We have
exciting movement on many of our initiatives, at the forefront is the formal establishment
of our "Research Communities" that bring together research teams in the broad areas
of Applied Technologies, Innovative Creativity, OneHealth and Sustainable Communities.
Faculty Research Champions as subject experts are spear-heading each of these initiatives
and will support the formation of research teams, communication of funding opportunities,
facilitate the recruitment of external partners and assist with communication within
the communities. As the first start, each research community is hosting a networking
event to garner interest and recruit members. If you have any interest in any of these
topic areas, please plan to attend. The dates/times are as follows:
Sustainable Communities: Monday, January 22 Innovative Creativity: Tuesday, January 23 Applied Technologies: Thursday, January 25 OneHealth: Wednesday, January 31
In other news, we had a site visit last week from a Georgia Research Alliance delegation
who was interested in learning more about our research, innovation and commercialization
enterprise and were pleasantly surprised of the breadth of research going on at KSU.
Our numbers are up significantly! Research Expenditure numbers for FY23 are due to
the NSF by the end of this month, and we are seeing a significant uptick in both sponsored
research expenditures and total research expenditures. Kudos to the grant accounting
staff, who has been working with us on the final numbers.
Closer to home, we are in the interviewing process for a Director of Industry Engagement.
We are also finalizing the internal recruitment of the Faculty Fellow in Research
Development for non-STEM areas.
鈥 Karin
December 11, 2023
I am hoping that everyone is able to wrap up the semester soon and enjoy some quality
time with family and friends as we are preparing for the next semester.
My office recently received presidential funding, outside of college allocations,
to support our recently instated interdisciplinary research areas with cluster hires.
Given that this funding is available for FY25, we are moving quickly with the search
for an Executive Director of Rural Health & Health Disparity, which will sit under
the "OneHealth" umbrella. We are also in discussions to hire another Executive Director
in the defense & security area, though this position has not been as well developed
yet. Stay tuned as these searches progress, and my office and I will be happy to address
any questions.
Last week, we held our first inaugural Celebration of Research at which three researchers
per college, identified based on their college's criteria to be among their "top researchers,"
were recognized. President Schwaig and I presented these researchers with certificates
and special magnifying glass pins.
I hope that everyone will have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing
everyone in the new year.
鈥 Karin
November 30, 2023
As you are reading this, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break. Right before the
break, we hosted a successful "Pechakucha" research event that allowed us to welcome
some potentially new external collaborators. Among these are the Atlanta VA, the Georgia
CTSA and Lockheed Martin. We are now working on follow-ups to formalize some of these
new contacts and begin collaborations.
Our new Faculty Research Champions, leads of the four interdisciplinary research clusters,
will have their first meeting in a week where they will be formally charged. We are
in the planning stages for the official launch and member recruitment events that
will take place virtually in January. Please look out for information on this to come
out shortly. If you at all have an interest in research in any of the four clusters
(Applied Technologies, Sustainable Communities, OneHealth, Innovative Creativity),
please RSVP and attend.
Yesterday, I participated in a wonderful end-of-year celebration for our German program,
which was hosted by the Halle Foundation. Our students are amazing as they were talking
about the value of international travel.
On the research front, we are looking to expand our collaborations beyond our national
borders to forge meaningful collaborations with universities at other countries.
Today, we will be attending a networking event at Emory that is focused on improving
collaborations in the metro Atlanta area.
Lots of moving parts. I am hoping to be able to visit some of your faculty assemblies
in the upcoming semester to talk more about all the initiatives that are happening.
Stay tuned.
鈥 Karin
November 16, 2023
This week, I participated in the annual conference for the Association of Public and
Land-Grant Universities (APLU). Many of the presentations and panel discussions were
focused on (generative) AI, which was introduced as being a disruptive technology
that will eliminate repetitive tasks through automation and provide transformative,
tailored teaching opportunities, as well as raise the need to prepare students. Another
topic was the importance of communicating the public impact of higher education and
research to our communities.
Closer to home and related to the latter, we are hosting our annual research event,
"PechaKucha Night," this evening.
We are also finalizing all "Faculty Research Champions" 鈥 subject leaders who will oversee the interdisciplinary research clusters. As a reminder, strategy-wise, the Office of the Vice President for Research is engaged and leads university-wide initiatives for which a semi-neutral lead is recommended. This initiative will complement the great work our colleges and departments are already doing. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to come and meet me or join one of my breakfasts.
We are currently searching for the permanent AVP of Innovation & Commercialization,
which is an internal search and a faculty position. Feel free to reach out for more
information. Similarly, we will shortly open the position of Director of Industry
Engagement for Research, which is a staff position.
鈥 Karin
November 2, 2023
I am continuing to meet with faculty in various settings, in department/college meetings,
and in breakfast meetings. If you would like to participate, please check out available
dates on our website. We are continuing with the implementation of various software
systems to improve Office of Research operations, among them are new modules for Cayuse
(and update), InfoReady and TeamSparX. We have also started to work with our center
directors to develop strategy, mission and vision.
Soon, we will be announcing faculty leads, called Faculty Research Champions, for
the four research thrust areas that were developed to effectively narrate KSU Research.
These champions were identified in collaboration with the deans and research deans
of all colleges and represent a wide range of expertise. With the beginning of the
spring semester, look out for announcements that will encourage you to become team
members and participate in networking events for all of these four research thrusts.
I am continuing to expand my "Listening Tour" to external partners, including several
corporations, trustees and program officers.
We are preparing several booths for the Atlanta Science Festival for strong representation
by KSU, entirely supported by my office this year.
Lastly, we are gearing up for Pechakucha night this month and a Celebration of Research
next month.
鈥 Karin
October 25, 2023
KSU's four "Research Communities" represent an interdisciplinary infrastructure that
has the resources to provide meaningful research experiences and workforce preparedness
to our students and invite corporate and community partners to work with us toward
this goal. These Research Communities are each being led by a small group of faculty
leaders. Starting with the spring semester, these "champions" will be reaching out
to you, our campus community, to create membership and research teams within their
communities. Look out for both an announcement of the Champions, as well as a call
to action soon.
While you may believe that your research discipline is not represented in the current
themes, I invite you to think "outside the box" and consider what a collaboration
between you and another discipline could accomplish.
HatchBridge, our business incubator at the KSU Center, is currently recruiting its
second cohort of companies. If you, or your students, have an interest in learning
how to start a company, please check out their website. The program provides information
on all necessary steps to successfully launch a startup.
We will shortly be launching an internal search for the new AVP for Innovation & Commercialization.
Anyone interested will be invited to apply.
Internally, we are continuing to polish our policies and procedures, and I hope you
had an opportunity to review the recently launched policy on proposal submission timelines.
I hope to see many of you at tomorrow's pumpkin launch on the Marietta campus.
鈥 Karin
October 18, 2023
The last couple of weeks have been very busy in our office. Our business incubator hosted its first 鈥淏uilt in the Burbs鈥 networking event, which was a great success with the community.
We also visited the Innovation Gateway at UGA, which provided a wonderful example
of a successful business incubator and program and potential collaborators.
We participated in the Capital Campaign launch, in which research has its own fundraising
goals.
Discussions with Japanese companies and potential partners may provide opportunities for collaborations and are part of the effort to expand my 鈥淟istening Tour鈥 to potential external stakeholders.
The last week was finished off by attending an amazing ArtsKSU Gala.
For strategic purposes, we are starting discussions with potential 鈥淔aculty Research Champions鈥 who will be charged with leading our four research thrust areas. More on that to come soon!
鈥 Karin
October 3, 2023
Next week I will be participating in the SEPA conference, which will provide us with
an opportunity to explore collaborations with some of the 600+ Japanese companies
who have their US headquarters in Atlanta.
Last week, we started recognizing those individuals who were identified by their college as being the 鈥渢op 5 researchers鈥 for FY23 with a lunch meeting with the Provost and myself. We will continue celebrating their successes throughout the year. Look out for their spotlights 鈥 coming soon.
This week will be very busy. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, be sure to catch Tuesday鈥檚 鈥淏uilt in the Burbs鈥 event. On Wednesday, our team will visit UGA to discuss possible collaborations in the research and innovation arena. Two board meetings will be followed by the campaign launch on Friday. We are also exploring our participation in the 2024 Atlanta Science Festival.
We are starting to work with college leadership to identify individuals with research
and leadership skills to spearhead interdisciplinary research clusters. More to come
on this shortly.
鈥 Karin
September 28, 2023
It鈥檚 been a busy few days. On Friday, I held a Town Hall meeting to update the university community of progress and updates from the Office of Research. This meeting was recorded and We are solidifying the 鈥渢racks鈥 within the four research thrusts and will look into networking events to form research teams soon. Also last week, KSU had good representation at the Health Connect South Conference, which included several interesting panel discussions from healthcare specialists. We made some potential connections that may benefit the 鈥淥ne Health鈥 research thrust.
On the international platform, we started discussions with some of the Japanese companies
headquartered in our region. Workforce development is the primary driver, but we are
looking into expansion into research.
This week I started expanding my 鈥淟istening Tour鈥 to external stakeholders, including some of our trustees. These initial meetings were informative and indicated the strong support we have from our trustees.
We are continuing our 鈥淩esearch On-boarding鈥 for faculty new to KSU, which allows them to tell our staff about our research, so we can best provide support.
Internally, we are continuing to work on improvements to our processes and procedures.
鈥 Karin
September 11, 2023
Another busy week as we are working toward defining KSU Research and its strengths.
As mentioned previously, we have identified four very broad research thrusts.
We are now inviting you to provide feedback on what research strengths could make up a 鈥渢rack鈥 within each thrust. To provide this input, please scroll down on this page and click on the respective box. There will be areas/initiatives/interests that horizontally integrate all four thrusts 鈥 let us know what these might be. There will be research areas that may end up not 鈥渇itting鈥 into these areas 鈥 please be assured that any research project will be supported at the same level. Focus areas define those areas upon which we might be able to build teams in pursuit of larger funding opportunities, which is in part what drives this effort.
With Rachel Kinney鈥檚 arrival as the new Executive Director for Sponsored Programs, we have begun to make improvements to our processes that I hope will be noticeable shortly.
Look out for a number of programming and seed funding opportunities that have been
or will shortly been announced, as our new Interim Director of Research Development
& Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Heather Abbott-Lyon, works on establishing support programs
for you, our researchers.
With Dr. Tyler Reinagel moving under the VP for External Affairs, we have worked on restructuring the new 鈥淚nnovation & Commercialization鈥 unit. I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Chris Cornelison has accepted the position of Interim AVP for Innovation & Commercialization. A formal internal call for applications for this position will follow, with the plan to have the position permanently filled by January 1.
We are currently looking toward establishing our programming within the Innovation
& Commercialization area, with a mid- to longer-term goal to expand the reach of our
business incubator, HatchBridge. More to come on this soon.
鈥 Karin
August 31, 2023
As we are entering the second phase of my Listening Tour, we have identified four
interdisciplinary research clusters: Emerging Technologies, Green Communities, The
Human Condition, Innovative Creativity. These are very broad areas, and we will be
spending the next few weeks of the Listening Tour determining research tracks under
each of these themes that makes sense at KSU. There are also a number of horizontally
integrated areas, such as undergraduate research, commercialization and AI, that intersect
with all of these areas.
Please know that, while we are identifying areas that KSU Research has particular
strengths in, we will continue supporting any type of research, regardless of its
fit with these themes. The themes were identified as part of the Listening Tour and
will primarily be used for external communication and team-based funding opportunities.
As always, you can meet with me personally to provide input, participate in one of
the group/faculty meetings or participate in one of the VPR breakfasts that are now
scheduled, to provide your input. We will also be adding an online opportunity to
provide input on the research tracks. In support of these interdisciplinary research
themes, we have been working on guidelines for a number of internal funding mechanisms
that will be launched shortly.
Please look out for resources from Research Development & Strategic Initiatives (RDSI)
that our interim Director, Dr. Heather Abbott-Lyon, is launching that will be helpful
in setting up a research portfolio, finding funding, writing grants and performing
research.
I look forward to continuing to connect with you in multiple ways and value your input
as we are moving forward with shaping KSU Research with Relevance.
鈥 Karin
August 24, 2023
This week we welcomed our new Executive Director for Sponsored Projects, Rachel Kinney,
to our office. She previously worked at Wake Forest Medical Center and is most recently
coming from High Point University. Under her guidance, we are in the process of improving
processes and procedures to streamline and improve our operations and support of research.
Please help welcoming her to KSU. We are also in the process of making internal funding
available in a few different ways that will support research projects. Please look
out for more information on this shortly. This week, the sign-up for the "Brown Bag
Breakfasts with the VPR" started. There will be eight breakfasts this semester. Be
sure to sign up for one of them!
Based on what I have heard so far during my "Listening Tour," we have drafted four
very broad, overarching research focus areas. We will be publishing these shortly
and asking for everyone's feedback as we are developing tracks and leadership for
each one of these, based on KSU research expertise. More to come on this shortly,
as well.
鈥 Karin
August 18, 2023
My "Listening Tour" is in full swing with the start of the semester. Meet with me
1:1, at one of the Brown-Bag Breakfasts or at department/college meetings to discuss
the future of KSU Research. Or provide your anonymous feedback on our virtual platform.
Based on what we have heard so far, we are starting to develop a sense for focus areas
that may define KSU Research. These will clearly be centered on the integration of
research into our educational mission and workforce development, as well as problem-solving
for our region. Internally, we are continuing to make improvements to our processes.
Rachel Kinney will be joining us on Monday as the new Executive Director for Sponsored
Programs. With two other grant coordinators filling open positions in September, we
will have a full team here to support you. Heather Abbott-Lyon, Interim Director for
Research Development and Strategic Initiatives, is preparing a number of events and
workshops, so be sure to check out our Calendar of Events, which will be updated as
more information on the individual events becomes available.
Today, the Research Deans will be visiting the Field Station to brainstorm on its
continued use within a growing research portfolio. Along with this theme, a networking
event on "Green Communities" will be held in November. I hope to see you at one of
our events, workshops or in a 1:1 meeting soon.
鈥 Karin
August 14, 2023
Welcome to an exciting new year here at KSU! Whether it's the First-Year Scholars
Program, the PI Academy or any of our other research support programs, be sure to
explore and select the support that is right for you.
On my end, I finished another busy week. The highlight of which was an invitation
to be a panelist at the UIDP Innovation Ecosystems Workshop in Atlanta where the discussion
centered on preparedness for some of the larger funding opportunities that are centered
on innovation, such as the NSF Engines and the EDA Tech Hub programs.
Closer to home, I am continuing my "Listening Tour" with 1:1 faculty meetings (feel
free to sign up by emailing Heather Hedgepeth at hhedgepe@kennesaw.edu) and working
on improving our research support structure. Moving forward, be sure to look for an
announcement for the "Brown Bag Breakfast with the VPR," a bi-weekly, informal way
to meet with me. We will also begin hosting workshops to plan the strategic direction
for KSU Research. More information on how to sign up for these is coming soon.
鈥 Karin
August 3, 2023
As we are finishing up this "Leadership Week," we are focusing on how every unit in our institution can work together to reach our institutional goals. For research, this means that we will be or are reaching out to many other units across campus to determine how we can collaborate. Closer to home, we have created a Calendar of Events that now highlights networking
events, bringing together researchers on interdisciplinary themes. Be sure to sign
up for any topic that might interest you.
We are also looking into purchasing a software program to manage upcoming seed funding
programs, as well as limited submissions. Look out for more information to come shortly.
鈥 Karin
August 1, 2023
This week is Leadership week at which strategy and new regulations are discussed.
In the meantime, the Research Listening Tour continues. If you have input on strengths
and challenges, thoughts on future research directions or would just like to meet
me, please schedule a meeting with Heather Hedgepeth. If you prefer the anonymous,
digital platform, it is . We will be starting "Breakfast with the VPR" sessions at the end of this month. Look out for information on how to sign up coming shortly.
鈥 Karin
July 26, 2023
I started my week out with a meeting with CCSE leadership to discuss opportunities
and challenges. A tour of the science building on the Kennesaw campus displayed the
fabulous research space and resources we have available here. As I am listening to
opinions on opportunities to grow KSU research, a few themes are emerging. Once everyone
has had an opportunity to voice their thoughts, we will follow up with workshops to
discuss these themes further. Some of these workshops are starting to be scheduled,
with the first one being a discussion on our Field Station.
Internally, we are working on a "Calendar of Events" to better inform all of you on
programming offered through our office. Look out for more information coming out shortly.
Mid-August I will begin "Brown Bag Lunches with the VPR," an opportunity to join me
for lunch (bring/purchase your own) and discussions. Look out for more information
on this topic, as well.
鈥 Karin
July 21, 2023
As I am continuing to meet with Deans and faculty, please remember that you can also
leave your thoughts on research directions for KSU on our virtual platform.
While I am currently primarily focused on obtaining information from internal stakeholders,
and setting up our support team and infrastructure properly, I am starting to venture
into potential external partnerships, which could be with corporations, healthcare
providers, community members and/or other universities. Let me know your suggestions
for potential partners! Lastly, if you are an active researcher, look out for an invitation
for "Coffee with the VPR" to celebrate your research contribution.
鈥 Karin
July 19, 2023
Internally, I am pleased to announce that Rachel Kinney has accepted our offer to
become KSU's new Executive Director for Sponsored Programs. Upon her arrival, we will
full-force look into process improvements. We continue to search for a full-time Director
for Research Development and Strategic Initiatives. If you should have an interest
or know of anyone who does, please contact me.
I am continuing to make my "rounds" to our colleges. On Monday, I had an opportunity
to visit , our new business incubator. If you have not seen it yet, please visit. The space
provides great opportunities for early start-up companies and support as they develop
their business plans and pitches. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to visit the Field Station, which is a fabulous resource that I am hoping to build out strategically as one
of our foundations to grow KSU research.
鈥 Karin
July 13, 2023
I started my listening tour and have been meeting with some of our deans, with whom
I will continue to meet. We are all starting to receive feedback on our "Jamboards,"
which is our digital platform where suggestions on opportunities and challenges can
be left anonymously. I hope to talk with many of you about the research opportunities
that we have here at KSU soon.
鈥 Karin
July 10, 2023
As the new Vice President for Research, I would like to hear from our community what opportunities we should be pursuing and what challenges we should be addressing. While the beginning of the semester is still a few weeks away, we started a 鈥渓istening tour鈥 last week that will provide you with an opportunity to voice your opinion. You can schedule an in-person meeting, a visit to your department or leave your thoughts on a virtual platform. I look forward to hearing from you and will update progress on this blog.