CLAS RESEARCH RESOURCE December 2020
TTT: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Like many of you, I open up Outlook with some trepidation on Monday mornings. I love my job, and (I may be unusual in this respect) actually enjoy meetings because of the many different people I get to speak with and the diverse problems we try
to solve together. But if I’m not careful in this era of Zoom, I am likely to find myself booked back-toback, from 8 AM to 5 PM, without a break; at least in the “old days” we had to allow time to walk from place to place (not to mention to find a restroom)!
that should guide their development; about the ways we can express our joy and pain through art and writing; and about the natural world that continues to evolve with us and around us. What is a career as an academic scholar, writer, artist, or scientist but a commitment to a life in which “TTT” is the most precious commodity? A major part of my role as Associate Dean for Research is to help protect your own “TTT” and to build up a portfolio of policies and services that make it as productive as possible. That is what I promise to use my own “TTT” for–at least the part that doesn’t, inevitably, get taken up by a quick lunch break or caffeine run! As we gratefully put 2020 to bed and look forward to a better 2021, my wish for you is that this natural break in our academic calendar provides you with extra “TTT”: time to reflect on our many accomplishments and to embrace a sense of gratitude for our good fortune in being part of a vibrant and diverse community of scholars and students in the College. For those of you celebrating the many holidays of December, I wish you all the blessings you could wish for yourself. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me or our research office personnel if we can help you achieve your goals. We’ll be glad to meet–even if we have to move our “TTT” around to do it.
I am grateful to have our Administrative Services Coordinator Allison Bierman–profiled in this issue so you can put a face to the email address–for many reasons, but the most pertinent for this missive is for my introduction to “TTT”. This stands for “time to think”, and I have learned that Zoom overload can be ameliorated by dropping blocks of “TTT” into one’s Outlook calendar at reasonable intervals. The close of another year is a natural time for reflection, and the tumultuous events of 2020 provide more fodder than usual. It struck me that “TTT” resonates Joshua Weiner with our mission as academics in a number of ways. Associate Dean for Research College of Liberal Arts and Sciences What is (or, what should be, at least) a young joshua-weiner@uiowa.edu person’s college years but an extended “TTT”? The 319-335-3994 liberal arts education we provide is designed to teach students how to think deeply and at length about the human condition and our relationships Please note that the CLAS Research Resource with and responsibilities to each other; about newsletter will be taking the month off in the societies we’ve created and the principles January 2021, and will reappear in February.
CLAS RESEARCH AND INFRASTRUCTURE UNITS: Associate Dean for Research CLAS Technology Services Space, Facilities, and Equipment Grant Support Office Office of Sustainability and the Environment
UPCOMING GRANT AND FELLOWSHIP DEADLINES: JANUARY-FEBRUARY This is a list of selected grant and fellowship programs that have deadlines in January and February. For a more comprehensive list of active grant programs, please visit the UI Grant Bulletin. UI Internal Programs Rolling - Special Projects Awards (International Programs) 01/16/21 – Graduate & Professional Student Government Grants (Travel, Research, Service) National Endowment for the Arts 01/20/21 – Registration for New Grants for Arts Projects Applicants (Part 1 due 02/02/21)
National Endowment for the Humanities – All Grant Program Opportunities
02/11/21 – Summer Seminars and Institutes for Higher Education Faculty
01/06/21 – Media Projects
National Institutes of Health – Complete list of standard due dates
01/06/21 – Short Documentaries
01/25/21 – Program Project Grants and Center Grants (P Series - all)
01/06/21 – Public Humanities Projects
01/25/21 – Research Demonstration Education Projects (All R18, U18, R25 – all)
01/14/21 – National Digital Newspaper Program
01/25/21 – Institutional National Research Service Awards & Other Training Grants (T Series, D Series – all)
01/14/21 – Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
02/05/21 – Research Grants (R01 – new only)
01/15/21 – Digital Humanities Advancement Grants
02/05/21 – Research Grants – Cooperative Agreements (U01 – new only)
02/12/21 – Research Career Development (K Series – new only)
01/19/21 – HumanEnvironment and Geographical Sciences Program
02/16/21 – Other Research Grants (R03, R21, R33, R21/33, R34, R36 – new only)
01/21/21 – Harnessing the Data Revolution: Institutes for Data-Intensive Research in Science and Engineering
02/25/21 – Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15 – all) National Science Foundation – Active Funding Opportunities (several deadlines each month; selected programs below) 01/07/21 – Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Preliminary Proposal) 01/08/21 - Cybersecurity Innovation for Cyberinfrastructure 01/11/21 – Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks 01/12/21 – Advancing Informal STEM Learning 01/15/21 – Cultural Anthropology Program (Senior Research and Doctoral Dissertation Research Awards)
01/28/21 – Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics 02/01/21 – Mid-Career Advancement 02/02/21 – Science of Organizations
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 01/09/21 – Young Faculty Award: Physical Sciences, Biomedicine, Bioengineering, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Engineering and Computing Environmental Protection Agency 01/05/21 – Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids Research Program American Council of Learned Societies – Competitions and Deadlines 01/08/21 – The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation New Professorships in Buddhist Studies Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
02/17/21 – Algorithms for Threat Detection 02/22/21 – Ethical and Responsible Research 02/24/21 – Smart and Connected Communities 02/25/21 – NSF Research Traineeship Program (NRT)
01/29/21 – Academy Film Scholars Grants Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rolling – Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health Rolling – Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health Blakemore Foundation
US Department of Housing and Urban Development Rolling – Office of Policy Development and Research Unsolicited Research Proposals
12/30/20 – Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Language Study in East or Southeast Asia Nellie Ball Trust Research Fund New York Historical Society
01/15/21 – Law and Science 01/15/21 – Linguistics Program 01/15/21 – Security and Preparedness 01/15/21 – Social Psychology 01/15/21 – Sociology 01/18/21 – Decision, Risk and Management Sciences
US Department of Education – Upcoming Grant Programs 02/25/21 – IES: Education Research: Transformative Research in The Education Sciences 02/25/21 – IES: Education Research: Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice
01/15/21 – 2020-2021 Fellowship Program Upjohn Institute for Employment Research 01/22/21 – 2021 Early Career Research Awards
APPLY FOR AN NSF CAREER GRANT—AND JOIN OUR NEW NSF CAREER CLUB This month we are shining a spotlight on the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER). The CAREER program offers NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. The intent of the program is to provide stable support at a sufficient level and duration to enable awardees to develop careers not only as outstanding researchers but also as educators demonstrating commitment to teaching, learning, and dissemination of knowledge. In order to be eligible, faculty must hold a degree in a field supported by NSF, be engaged in research supported by NSF, hold at least a 50% tenure-track position as an assistant professor, be untenured, and have not previously received a CAREER award. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from eligible early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations, especially women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities. NSF CAREER awards are for a minimum of $400,000 over a five-year period. Before preparing a CAREER proposal, PIs are strongly encouraged to contact their disciplinary Program Officer or the appropriate CAREER contact to discuss budget requests for their proposed activities, and typical funding levels for their discipline. Proposers should also review the list of recent CAREER awards made in their discipline for guidance on average award size. Please refer to the program page and FAQs for additional information about the program.
The deadline for the next CAREER competition is July 26, 2021. These are the CLAS faculty who have won NSF CAREER awards in the past 10 years: Maggy Tomova, Mathematics (2011) Jan-Uwe Rohde, Chemistry (2011) Greg Howes, Physics (2011) Albert Erives, Biology (2012) Tori Forbes, Chemistry (2013) Sara Mason, Chemistry (2013) Bradley Cramer, EES (2015) Scott Daly, Chemistry (2017) Scott Shaw, Chemistry (2017) Jan Wessel, PBS and Neurology (2018) Octav Chipara, Computer Science (2018) Tianbao Yang, Computer Science (2019) David Martin, Chemistry (2019) Join the club! Kristi Fitzpatrick Director, Grant Support Office College of Liberal Arts and Sciences kristi-fitzpatrick@uiowa.edu 319-467-0296
NSF CAREER CLUB To support faculty planning to apply for a NSF CAREER Award in July 2021, the Grant Support Office is collaborating with the OVPR Research Development Office and the College of Engineering to offer the NSF CAREER Club, a new program designed to give you (at no cost!) the knowledge and resources to prepare high-quality CAREER applications. Club participants will take part in events and peer accountability groups, and can take advantage of free services including editing, graphic design, and review.
Accountability Groups: Small groups that meet regularly to check in and discuss progress. Some groups may elect to review each other’s work. Graphic Design: Have one key figure designed for your proposal. External Grant Review: Receive expert feedback from one external reviewer.
NSF CAREER Club Events and Services* Planning and Writing Successful NSF CAREER Grant Proposals Workshop presented by Dr. Peg AtKisson (AtKisson Training Group) in four zoom sessions from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM on the following dates: January 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. Please register for workshop here. Broader Impacts (BI) 101 & CAREER Seminars: BI 101 covers the basics of BI, while the CAREER session focuses on BI for CAREER including educational components. Presented by ARIS.
Internal Panel Review: Receive critical feedback from up to 3 internal (UI) reviewers. Editing Services: Receive up to ten hours of editing assistance to improve your writing’s clarity. *It is expected that Club members participate in all events and services. If you would like to participate or have additional questions, please contact kristi-fitzpatrick@uiowa.edu or vpr-rdo@uiowa.edu.
NSF CAREER CLUB TENTATIVE TIMELINE Activity
Jan
Planning and Writing Successful NSF CAREER Proposals (8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th from 10am–12pm) Broader Impacts Seminars (19th, 26th from 10am-12pm) Accountability Groups Graphic Design External Grant Review Internal Panel Review Editing Services
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
ICRU: ADVANCING FACULTY RESEARCH BY EXPANDING UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES Undergraduates have a strong awareness of the need for sustainable solutions to modern problems. To prepare future researchers who will develop these solutions, the Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU) and the Office for Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) have developed a collaborative partnership. The evolution of this partnership has been mutually beneficial, creating a network of cross-collaboration across CLAS disciplines and the university to support the work of student researchers and faculty. The OSE initially teamed up with ICRU to help fund mentored undergraduate research projects from the sciences, arts, and humanities focused on sustainability. This has led to a broad spectrum of undergraduate projects being supported: studying watershed issues in Sanibel Captiva with Dr. Bradley Cramer (Earth and Environmental Sciences); surveying attitudes toward deer population control with Dr. Scott Schnell (Anthropology); developing a crowdsourced weather map of Iowa with Dr. Barbara Eckstein (English); observing local bird populations with Dr. Heather Sander (Geographical Sciences); and reviewing environmental policy-making with Dr. Frederick Boehmke (Political Science). Active cross-talk and support built naturally over the course of years. OSE’s Program Manager Blake Rupe gave the keynote address at ICRU’s undergraduate research conference and ICRU’s First Year Seminar students learned about sustainability research on campus from OSE staff. Both units actively refer students to each other’s programs and, in doing
so, increase the awareness for CLAS students and expand their opportunities. Both groups worked with the UI Student Government and Office of the Vice President for Research to create a Fall in Love with Research campaign. When research at home became a greater priority this summer, OSE helped to support undergraduate researchers who decided to stay in Iowa City. Today, ICRU and the OSE actively engage in weekly discussions with campus partners. They have focused on outreach and engagement, environmental justice, and broadening student participation in authentic learning experiences, especially for underserved and underrepresented student populations. Collaborators now include the Office of Outreach and Engagement, the Public Policy Center, the LSAMP and IBA programs, with a focus on expanding the reach of all programs through partnerships. This coming summer, OSE and ICRU will offer support for mentored team-based undergraduate researchers tackling environmental justice issues. Look for this new program and others from the collaborative efforts of OSE and ICRU. Melinda Licht Program Coordinator Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates Stratis Giannakouros Director Office of Sustainability and the Environment Bob Kirby Director Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates Right: Sponsored by ICRU, undergraduate Elizabeth Occhi works on a project with Professor Jessica Meyer of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
More about ICRU The Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU) is a unit of the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research. ICRU promotes undergraduate involvement in research and creative projects at the UI by facilitating the mentorship of students in research/creative work and providing platforms for students to explore research communication. The talented ICRU team members work with students, faculty, and staff from all UI areas: the arts, humanities, natural/physical sciences, social sciences, health and medicine, engineering, and business. To learn how ICRU can help advance your research and expand students’ educational opportunities, contact them by email or by phone at 319.335-8336.
MEET THE RESEARCHER: ION “BODI” VASI What is the focus of your work?
Most of my research is at the intersection of energy and the environment. I am passionate about researching the global transition to a renewable energy system. We are frequently discussing climate change in terms of the challenges it poses to humanity for the 21st century. Without a doubt, it is a massive challenge; but it is also a great opportunity to create a new energy system, one which is not only cleaner but also more equitable and decentralized. This is why I study the diffusion of solar panels, the development of an infrastructure for charging electric cars, the transformation of the electric utility sector, and the growth of renewable energy industries. More generally, I study various social change processes, from anti-corruption movements to movements for local food.
Tell us about the broad impact it has/could have. I know it is a bumper sticker slogan, but I really like the saying “minds are like parachutes… they only function when open”. Like most academics, I hope my research opens minds a little bit and, therefore, makes our communities and the world a tiny bit better. I am thrilled when I hear my students say during class that they learned something new and important. There are many great things about the current society: we have access to an unprecedented amount of information, we have better technology to help us improve public health, we can travel faster than ever, etc. At the same time, there are several concerning trends, from the “culture wars” and the polarization of the political arena, to the production of greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and cause environmental destruction and human suffering. As a social scientist, I feel it is my responsibility to understand other people’s ideas, to raise awareness about important issues, and to engage in open discussions with students and the public about how to make scientifically informed and ethically balanced decisions.
What excites you about the environment in CLAS? Interdisciplinarity is a bit of a buzzword, but I truly enjoy talking with people from other disciplines and learning about how they look at the world in general, their methodology, and their conceptual frameworks. CLAS is a perfect environment for this. We all have our own professional jargon and biases, but I find it intellectually stimulating to interact with colleagues from other disciplines. For example, I was involved in several sustainability-related events through CLAS and I was excited to discover new ways of thinking about the relationship between the natural environment and society from my colleagues in other departments. In the future, I look forward to participating in the Environmental Justice initiative, which will deepen the connections I have made with colleagues from other departments.
What are your hobbies and pursuits outside of work?
Favorite things to do in Iowa City?
I like running. Perhaps it is because running gives us time to reflect and deal with the difficult things in our lives, as argued in the story The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. Or perhaps it is masochism… I also like biking, hiking, and skiing. Recently I started to play guitar every day—the pandemic has given me more time to practice. There is so much good music on the Internet these days, it is amazing to be able to learn from incredibly talented people from around the world.
I love to bike with my family. My wife and I know the locations of all the ice cream and cupcake stores in town because we use them as destination points to motivate our kids. We also like to hike at the Coralville Reservoir, Kent park, and other parks. In the prepandemic days, we used to go to music concerts at the Englert Theater and Hancher Auditorium, watch films at Film Scene, and visit the Iowa City Arts Festival and the Iowa City Jazz Festival. We also love the public libraries in Iowa City and Coralville. We think Iowa City is a great place to raise our family—for us, it is as close to perfect as it can be without mountains in driving distance…
Ion “Bodi” Vasi is Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminolgy at the University of Iowa. His research focuses primarily on how social movements contribute to the diffusion of technological innovations, organizational change, and policymaking. He also studies industry emergence and the adoption and implementation of environmental practices by businesses. His major areas of interest are social movements, organizations, environmental sociology, political and economic sociology, and his research is often situated at the intersection of those areas. He teaches courses on sociological data analysis, social movements, organizations, and corporate social responsibility.
ALUMNA LANDS ON LIST OF CELEBRATED YOUNG INNOVATORS It’s been a whirlwind 12 months since Suman Sherwani graduated from Iowa. She’s working on NASAfunded rocket and satellite missions in the UI Department of Physics and Astronomy, and is featured on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for science. Story Richard C. Lewis Photography David Miles Suman Sherwani entered the University of Iowa figuring she’d gain the knowledge and skills for a career in innovative technologies. She became a rocket scientist instead—and just a year after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, the Iowa alumna has landed on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for 2021, which honors young scientists, entrepreneurs, activists, and entertainers. “I’m really thankful to have received this honor,” Sherwani says. “There are so many amazing people on that list, so it’s a little unreal for me to be included on there with them.” Following graduation in December 2019, Sherwani was hired by Iowa’s Department of Physics and Astronomy as a design engineer for upcoming sounding rocket and satellite missions, including a $115 million NASAfunded mission—the single largest externally funded research project in institutional history—to study the mysterious interactions between the magnetic fields of the Earth and the sun. “Space has always been really inspiring, but our technology depends so much on satellites these days,” Sherwani says. “It’s so important for us to understand it too. You get to feel the rush of a rocket launching, and you’re contributing to science and the advancement of society. I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more than that.”
Sherwani began her work on the TRACERS mission at the beginning of 2020. She was just starting when COVID hit. The TRACERS team had to get creative and figure out new ways to work together safely. “It’s been a really interesting year, but I’m so proud of the work we are doing and how much we were able to accomplish, even during a pandemic,” she says. “We were able to rapidly develop our prototypes, and I think we are very much on track for a successful mission.” Sherwani, from Naperville, Illinois, once worked at Tesla Inc., explaining to the public the engineering principles behind electric cars, while earning an associate’s degree in engineering science at the College of DuPage in nearby Glen Ellyn, Illinois. At Iowa, she embarked on her next academic pursuit: a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in electrical and computer engineering, with a minor in computer science. Her rationale: She would be well positioned to work in current and emerging technological fields.
“I went to Iowa thinking when I graduated, I’d go back and be an electrical engineer at Tesla,” Sherwani says. “I already worked there. I have some rapport there. I know people.” Yet in October 2018, her plans changed dramatically. Sherwani had been selected to participate in the Canada Norway Sounding Rocket program, an intensive, four-and-a-half-day international student exercise in Norway to design, build, and fly a sounding rocket toward the atmosphere’s outer boundaries. The experience opened to her a field she didn’t know existed. “I didn’t realize you can launch rockets for a job, that you could just literally do science using rockets,” Sherwani says. “I had no idea that this was something I could do for the rest of my life.” Sherwani chose Iowa in large measure because of the overwhelmingly positive responses she received from friends who had attended the university. She also liked the big-campus college atmosphere on offer and the community feeling of Iowa City. She chose to major in electrical and computing engineering for practical reasons as well as her desire to be current with innovative technologies.
“I thought electrical and computer engineering is so much a part of our daily lives, I felt like I needed to understand what it was,” says Sherwani, who praised the College of Engineering for its academics and faculty. “It didn’t make sense to me that most people don’t know how it works. It was broad enough that I could work with any kind of innovative technology that I chose to.” In a spring 2017 class, Engineering Fundamentals II: Electrical Circuits, she met course instructor Mark Andersland, who told her and her classmates about a scholarship opportunity. That fall, Sherwani asked Andersland to be her academic adviser and met with him frequently to discuss school work and professional opportunities. One such conversation came when Sherwani mulled an offer to work on software programming and applications at a summer-fall co-op at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “(Andersland) gave me some really great advice that I still use to this day,” Sherwani says. “He told me, ‘It’s what you make it. Lead the way, lead how you want it to be, and make the experience what you want it to be,’ and that’s exactly what I did.” Andersland, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering, says Sherwani invariably had the right frame of mind in her approach to academics and extracurricular options. “She was willing to take action and do what it took to be successful,” Andersland says. “She has the right perspective, and that comes from maturity and her personality.” Sherwani learned about rocket school from David Miles, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who led Iowa’s inclusion in the program. (Iowa is the first and still only American university to participate.) She learned all about rocketry, from design to build to launch. To top it all off, she was the one who pressed the button to fire the rocket. “It was the coolest thing ever,” Sherwani says. “I was part of a real rocket mission. I couldn’t believe that was a job that people have, and I knew I needed to do this.” Now, that’s what she will be doing for the foreseeable future—and at Iowa too. “You think you have this linear plan in mind, but when you get here, you start to figure out who you are as a person and what makes you happy,” Sherwani adds. “Iowa gave me all those opportunities to figure out who I am.”
MEET ALLISON BIERMAN OF THE CLAS RESEARCH OFFICE Allison Bierman’s title, Administrative Services Coordinator, does not do justice to her work in the CLAS Dean’s Office. As the lead support expert for Associate Dean for Research Joshua Weiner and Asociate Dean for Graduate Education and Outreach and Engagement Christine Getz, Allison ensures that these critical areas run smoothly and efficiently. She works out of an office in 240 Schaeffer Hall (and, of course, over Zoom). Allison grew up in Oelwein, Iowa, and has lived in Iowa City since 2011, when she came to study at Iowa. She graduated in 2016 with a BA in Music (Vocal Performance) and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management. She lives with her husband of three years, Cale Bierman (who works for CLAS Technology Services) and a “little zoo” of two dogs and three cats. When she’s not making sure critical CLAS paperwork is done, Allison volunteers for Girls on the Run and the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program. She also, of course, finds time for other pursuits. “When I’m not working and there’s not a pandemic,” Allison says, “I love exploring breweries, traveling (I especially enjoy Vienna and Iceland), and going to the dog park.” If you need something related to research, graduate education, or outreach and engagement—not to mention a good beer or some travel tips—give Allison a shout!
BEWARE OF PHISHING SCAMS One major function of CLAS Technology Services is to keep you and your data safe through cybersecurity initiatives, ITAR compliance, and other technical facets of research.
This month we want to use this space to highlight a recent phishing scam so you can be sure not to be taken in. Here is how it works and what to do if you receive one of these emails.
Cybersecurity awareness is the responsibility of everyone on campus. If you experience what is obviously—or what could be —a phishing attack, please report the email to central ITS. In future CLAS Research Resource newsletters, we will discuss issues surrounding the risks to and security of our research data, the campus protections we’ve put in place, and how to contact technologists for security consultations.
Lance Bolton Senior Director, CLAS Technology Services College of Liberal Arts and Sciences lance-bolton@uiowa.edu 319-335-6158