Research Collaborations Begin with Conversations

Research Collaborations Begin with Conversations
May 15-16 | Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center
Faculty and postdoctoral research associates from all disciplines are invited
The goal of the retreat is to bring together faculty from many disciplines to learn about one another’s work and identify strategic interdisciplinary research areas for UNL. All faculty are urged to attend. The sessions on the three thematic areas are structured to be inclusive and encourage participation across disciplines. There also will be time to relax and socialize – and have the kind of conversations that lead to big research ideas and collaborations.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Connect with researchers from diverse disciplines
- Learn about future directions in research
- Contribute your ideas to help build new collaborative research areas
The retreat will feature nationally recognized speakers, talks and “quick pitches” by UNL faculty, panel discussions, networking activities and breakout sessions around three thematic areas:
Signaling, Sensing and Imaging at the Intersection of Engineering and the Physical & Life Sciences
Scientists and engineers increasingly are exploring the frontiers where biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and engineering intersect. At the same time, the development of new tools and technologies is critically important for studying the widely varying scales of biological systems, from nano-sized organisms to global ecosystems. This session showcases innovative new technologies and collaborative partnerships at this frontier being developed by UNL faculty.
Enhancing Lives: Integrating Research and Practice Across the Social, Behavioral & Educational Sciences
The goal of this thematic area is to develop a broad vision and identify specific initiatives that will leverage UNL’s strengths and propel its national profile in educational, behavioral and social science research, broadly conceived. We seek to foster transdisciplinary conceptual initiatives and empirical projects that address complex societal problems via translational research approaches.
Integrating Big Data into Your Research Program at UNL
The advent of big data offers unprecedented opportunities for data-driven discovery and decision-making in nearly every area of research. Realizing the transformative potential of big data requires addressing challenges in managing data and acquiring knowledge of computational methods for data analysis that may be new to researchers. This session shares the insights of faculty working with big data and the resources available at UNL for computation and analysis.
A new seed grant program designed to facilitate competitiveness for external funding and stimulate progress toward UNL’s research growth goals will be announced during the faculty retreat. Through the Big Ideas Seed Grant Program, faculty teams may apply for two levels of funding: 1) planning grants of up to $10,000 for one year and 2) accelerator grants of up to $100,000 over two years. A total of up to $500,000 in Big Ideas Seed Grants will be awarded during FY2014-15 in support of interdisciplinary groups with preliminary or well-developed plans to pursue significant external research grants and contracts. Each proposal should align with one or more of the three retreat themes. The competition will be managed by the Office of Research and Economic Development, with technical leadership provided by the Research Advisory Board.
Sponsored by the Research Advisory Board, Office of Research and Economic Development, Office of the Chancellor, Office of Academic Affairs and Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Schedule
Agenda is subject to change. Please check regularly for the most current schedule.
add the 2014 UNL Interdisciplinary Faculty Retreat to my calendar
Theme 1: Signaling, Sensing and Imaging at the Intersection of Engineering and the Physical & Life Sciences
Theme 2: Enhancing Lives: Integrating Research and Practice Across the Social, Behavioral & Educational Sciences
Theme 3: Integrating Big Data into Your Research Program at UNL
Thursday, May 15
What Does Translation Mean? Conceptual Overview, Examples from the Field and Open Discussion
- David Hansen, Psychology
- Susan Sheridan, Educational Psychology
- Carolyn Pope Edwards, Psychology
- Kirk Dombrowski, Sociology
Opportunities and Advances in Big Computing
Ian Fisk, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
UNL faculty share their experiences with integrating big data into their research
- Aaron Dominguez, Physics & Astronomy
- Andrew Benson, Food Science & Technology
What Does Translation Mean at UNL? Moderated Panel Discussion and Audience Participation
- David DiLillo, Psychology
- Victoria Molfese, Child, Youth & Family Studies
- Ming Li, Psychology
- Larry Rilett, Civil Engineering
- Judith Burnfield, Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory
- Kirk Dombrowski, Sociology
Panel Moderator: Julia McQuillan, Sociology
UNL faculty share their experiences with integrating big data into their research and describe computing resources available for research
- William G. Thomas III, History
- David Swanson, Computer Science & Engineering
- Jennifer Clarke, Food Science & Technology
Introductory comments: James Van Etten, Retreat Chair
Retreat welcome: Chancellor Harvey Perlman
Retreat charge: Vice Chancellor Prem Paul
Parag Chitnis, National Science Foundation
Introduction by Vice Chancellor Prem Paul | Discussant: Andrew Benson, Food Science & Technology
Rashid Bashir, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introduction: Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green | Discussant: Shane Farritor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Kimberly Hoagwood, New York University
Introduction: Susan Sheridan, Educational Psychology | Discussant: David Hansen, Psychology
Building an Interdisciplinary Life Science Research Community: Implementing a Collaborative Program Model for Graduate Training
Colleen L. Gabauer, Purdue University
Introduction: Graduate Dean Lance Perez | Discussant: Melanie Simpson, Biochemistry
Three thematic areas with external speakers, UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions
Imag’ in’ ing the Future: Perspectives from Molecular Imaging
Henry VanBrocklin, University of California, San Francisco
UNL faculty presentations on collaborative partnerships and innovative tools and technologies
- Mathias Schubert, Electrical Engineering, and Rebecca Lai, Chemistry
- Carl Nelson, Mechanical & Materials Engineering, and Judith Burnfield, Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory
- Angela Pannier, Biological Systems Engineering
Three thematic areas with UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions
UNL faculty presentations on collaborative partnerships and innovative tools and technologies
- Ed Harris, Biochemistry, and Sri Kidambi, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Daniel Schachtman, Agronomy & Horticulture
- Mehmet Can Vuran, Computer Science & Engineering, and Suat Irmak, Biological Systems Engineering
- Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, Civil Engineering
- Social hour & dinner reception
- Interdisciplinary discussion tables
- Showcase of UNL interdisciplinary centers and core facilities
- Tour of UNL Maker Space
Friday, May 16
Academic Crowdsourcing: Our Chance to Solve Wicked Problems Involving Translation
In advance of this interactive session, participants will be provided with a list of questions about tangible, complex problems that characterize the process of translating science. Participants will identify their three favorite topics and join individual tables to discuss these key questions. Participants will rotate from one table of their choice to another in 20-minute increments, giving the session the flavor and format of a “speed dating event.” This session will prioritize problem-solving approaches and culminate in recommendations that will inform the strategic visioning activities in the final concurrent session (#4).
9:00-9:30 a.m.
Five-minute introductions from faculty in diverse disciplines about their work in computational sciences
- Juan Cui, Computer Science & Engineering
- Hasan Otu, Electrical Engineering
- James Schnable, Agronomy & Horticulture
- Massimiliano Pierobon, Computer Science & Engineering
9:30-10:15 a.m.
Panel discussion with group about UNL computational sciences resources
- Steve Goddard, Computer Science & Engineering
- David Swanson, Computer Science & Engineering
- Jennifer Clarke, Food Science & Technology
- Andrew Benson, Food Science & Technology
Data-driven Science with iPlant Cyberinfrastructure
Eric Lyons, University of Arizona
Introduction: Associate Vice Chancellor Brian Larkins | Discussant: Tom Clemente, Agronomy & Horticulture
Three thematic areas with UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions
UNL faculty give five-minute “quick pitches” about their research and innovations
Round 1
- Harkamal Walia, Agronomy & Horticulture
- David Hage, Chemistry
- Stephen DiMagno, Chemistry
- Art Zygielbaum, School of Natural Resources
- Jun Wang, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Round 2
- Deborah Brown, School of Biological Sciences
- Shadi Othman, Biological Systems Engineering
- Karrie Weber, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Shane Farritor, Mechanical & Materials Engineering
- Networking Luncheon
- Unveiling of UNL’s Social & Behavioral Sciences Research Initiative (SBSRI), presented by John Anderson, David Hansen & Kimberly Tyler, SBSRI co-chairs
Introduction: Senior Vice Chancellor Ellen Weissinger
- Report-outs from Retreat Thematic Areas, presented by:
- Theme 1: Stephen DiMagno & Shane Farritor, chairs
- Theme 2: David Hansen & Susan Sheridan, chairs
- Theme 3: Andrew Benson & Jennifer Clarke, chairs
- Closing Comments & Retreat Networking Awards
Venue
NIC Conference Center
We’re excited to host the 2014 Interdisciplinary Faculty Retreat as one of the first events at the new Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center. The NIC Conference Center is housed in a historic building that has been reconstructed to provide a unique full-service conference center to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska business community.
The center provides multi-functional meeting and collaboration space that includes:
- 400-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities – each seat has a table and power outlet
- 400-seat banquet room with state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities
- breakout rooms, each with projector and whiteboard