Research Collaborations Begin with Conversations

2014 Faculty Retreat

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.

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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

1:31 - 3:14 p.m.
Theme 2: Enhancing Lives

What Does Translation Mean? Conceptual Overview, Examples from the Field and Open Discussion

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Breakout Room A


1:31 - 3:14 p.m.
Theme 3: Integrating Big Data

Opportunities and Advances in Big Computing

Ian Fisk, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

UNL faculty share their experiences with integrating big data into their research

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Breakout Room B


3:46 p.m.
Theme 2: Enhancing Lives

What Does Translation Mean at UNL? Moderated Panel Discussion and Audience Participation

Panel Moderator: Julia McQuillan, Sociology

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Breakout Room A


3:46 p.m.
Theme 3: Integrating Big Data

UNL faculty share their experiences with integrating big data into their research and describe computing resources available for research

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Breakout Room B


7:30 a.m.
Check-in & Networking Breakfast

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NIC Conference Center


8:30 a.m.
Opening Session

Introductory comments: James Van Etten, Retreat Chair
Retreat welcome: Chancellor Harvey Perlman
Retreat charge: Vice Chancellor Prem Paul

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Auditorium


9:00 a.m.
Investing in the Convergence of Life Sciences with Engineering & Physical Sciences

Parag Chitnis, National Science Foundation

Introduction by Vice Chancellor Prem Paul | Discussant: Andrew Benson, Food Science & Technology

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Auditorium


9:45 a.m.
Interfacing Engineering, Biology & Medicine at the Micro & Nanoscale: From Lab on Chip to Building Systems with Cells

Rashid Bashir, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Introduction: Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green | Discussant: Shane Farritor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

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Auditorium


10:30 a.m.
Networking Break

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Banquet Hall


11:00 a.m.
Translational Science in a Policy Environment: C’est la vie (via Skype)

Kimberly Hoagwood, New York University

Introduction: Susan Sheridan, Educational Psychology | Discussant: David Hansen, Psychology

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Auditorium


11:45 a.m.
Networking Luncheon

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

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Banquet Hall


1:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Session #1

Three thematic areas with external speakers, UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions

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1:31 - 3:14 p.m.
Theme 1: Signaling, Sensing and Imaging

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

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Auditorium


3:15 p.m.
Networking Break

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Breakout Room Hallway


3:45 - 5:30 p.m.
Concurrent Session #2

Three thematic areas with UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions

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3:46 p.m.
Theme 1: Signaling, Sensing and Imaging

UNL faculty presentations on collaborative partnerships and innovative tools and technologies

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Auditorium


5:30 p.m.
Interactive Evening Session
  • Social hour & dinner reception
  • Interdisciplinary discussion tables
  • Showcase of UNL interdisciplinary centers and core facilities
  • Tour of UNL Maker Space

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Banquet Hall


Friday, May 16

9:01 a.m.
Theme 2: Enhancing Lives

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).

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Breakout Room A


9:01 a.m.
Theme 3: Integrating Big Data

9:00-9:30 a.m.

Five-minute introductions from faculty in diverse disciplines about their work in computational sciences

9:30-10:15 a.m.

Panel discussion with group about UNL computational sciences resources

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Breakout Room B


10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session #4

Breakout groups for report discussion & writing

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8:00 a.m.
Breakfast Meeting

Data-driven Science with iPlant Cyberinfrastructure

Eric Lyons, University of Arizona

Introduction: Associate Vice Chancellor Brian Larkins | Discussant: Tom Clemente, Agronomy & Horticulture

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Banquet Hall


9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Concurrent Session #3

Three thematic areas with UNL faculty speakers, panels & interactive sessions

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9:01 a.m.
Theme 1: Signaling, Sensing and Imaging

UNL faculty give five-minute “quick pitches” about their research and innovations

Round 1

Round 2

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Auditorium


10:15 a.m.
Networking Break

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Breakout Room Hallway


10:45 a.m.
Theme 1: Signaling, Sensing and Imaging

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Auditorium


10:46 a.m.
Theme 2: Enhancing Lives

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Breakout Room A


10:47 a.m.
Theme 3: Integrating Big Data

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Breakout Room B


12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Closing Session

Introduction: Senior Vice Chancellor Ellen Weissinger

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Banquet Hall



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

 

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Research and Economic Development

Proposal Development

Assistance preparing proposal narratives

Sponsored Programs

Proposal submission and award management

Research Responsibility

Research Compliance Services
Institutional Animal Care Program
Research Safety

Industry Relations

Advancing university-industry partnerships

Nebraska Innovation Campus

Developing a premier private/public-sector sustainable research campus

NUtech Ventures

Intellectual Property Commercialization