OPEN Book – February 2024

R&I’s Internal Newsletter

OPEN Book is a monthly electronic newsletter that highlights upcoming activities, office news, and accomplishments.  To read the current or previous OPEN Book newsletters, go to research.unl.edu/open. 

News and Upcoming Events

Happy 157th Birthday, Nebraska!

Tomorrow, March 1, is Nebraska’s 157th birthday.  How will you celebrate?  Will it include a Runza or a Reuben with Kool-Aid, Colby Ridge Popcorn sprinkled with Misty’s seasoning and dipped in Dorothy Lynch?    

Stay Connected with Nebraska Research

Stay up to date on the latest breakthroughs and innovations from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln by following our official Nebraska Research page on LinkedIn! Discover cutting-edge research across diverse fields, connect with fellow researchers and collaborators, and learn how our work is impacting the world. Show your support by hitting the “like” and “follow” buttons and share our page with your network to spread the word about Nebraska’s research excellence.

Adding the Nebraska Research page to your email signature is easy. Simply follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Nebraska Research LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nebraska-research.
  2. Click on the “Follow” button and select “Add to profile.”
  3. In your email signature editor, create a new line and paste the following text:

Follow Nebraska Research on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nebraska-research.

That’s it! Now you’ll be proudly showcasing Nebraska Research with every email you send.

Let’s connect and make a difference together!

Note: You can customize the text in your signature to fit your preferences, such as adding your name and title. Any questions, contact Nick Kumpula (Research Communications).  

Welcome New R&I Team Members

Saumi Mathews, Research Compliance Services Specialist III, Research Compliance Services, started February 5, 2024.   

I’m Saumi Mathews, your Research Compliance Services Specialist III, and I’m thrilled to share a bit about my journey. Hailing from the picturesque state of Kerala, India, I embarked on a path that led me to a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science. My research voyage started with pioneering stem cell therapies for vision loss and evolved into developing cutting-edge mouse models and cure strategies for HIV research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Beyond the lab, I find joy in travel, exploring new cuisines, and thrilling adventures like skydiving and river rafting. I am thrilled to be part of the R&I team and contribute my scientific skill and ethical outlook towards research compliance services.

Sage Shadoan, Evaluation Project Management Associate, Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility, started February 7, 2024. 

Sage has a background in Psychology from Jacksonville State University and a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Their time in academia has granted them several opportunities to explore various skills, whether it be training show horses at a Clydesdale farm in Alabama or co-authoring various papers on clergy member’s health outcomes or LGBTQ experiences in the South. While she has various research interests spanning health, health disparities, and religion, their Master’s thesis focused on how perceptions of air and water pollution impacted the environmental attitudes of biblical literalists. Outside of work it is likely that you can find Sage at a concert or hanging out with one of her pets: Mushroom (Ball Python), Bellatrix (Black Domestic Short Hair), or Dahlia (Grade A All-American Stinky Dog). For fun you can find them blocking for Lincoln’s roller derby team, “No Coast,” where she is known as “Whiskey” on the track. 

Jennifer Wilcox, Project Specialist I, Sponsored Programs, started September 15, 2023. 

Jennifer graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BA in Communication Studies and earned a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Legal Studies from Davenport University while living in Michigan.  Although not a native Nebraskan, she has adopted Nebraska as her home state.  She is delighted to be back after many years away spent primarily in New York City working in the financial industry.

Farewells

Jamie Aldag‘s last day with Sponsored Programs is today, February 29. Jamie will be enjoying time as a stay-at-home Mom and working for their small family-owned business.  If you need assistance, please contact Belinda Gillam.  

Bayliegh Bohn‘s last day with the Institutional Animal Care Program will be tomorrow, March 1. Bayliegh will be moving on to pursue new adventures on her family’s farm near Gibbon, NE.  If you need assistance, please contact Kelly Heath.

Kudos to Our Colleagues

Anna Fitzwater has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. 

Anna spent 2023 in the role of Secretary/Treasurer, and 2024 finished her serving as the President-Elect.  In the year 2025, she will serve as President and then ultimately in 2026 as the Past President.  Please help us congratulate Anna for being trusted by her professional colleagues to serve the veterinary profession in this way.  

Pictured: close-up of the Entangled book cover, excerpt from one of Jocelyn Bosley‘s poems, and Jocelyn with the book.  

Jocelyn Bosley’s (Research Development) poetry is featured in the recently published science-themed poetry anthology Entangled, which is available now from Igneus Press! Jocelyn’s journey to Entangled started 20 years ago in a UNL English class with Grace Bauer, where she first learned she could capture in poetry the awe, wonder, and joy she experiences through science.

R&I Staff in the News

Pictured on the far right: Isaac Regier (Nebraska Innovation Studio).

The NIS robotics team offered its first Universal Robots CORE Training this month, teaching individuals the skills they need to excel in robot operations. Watch the 10/11 news story:  RPReplay_Final1708587572.mov.

Do you know someone who should join our team? Share these opportunities!

Research Technician (2 positions available), Research, application review date begins 3/15/2024
Funding Opportunity Coordinator, Research, application review date begins 3/29/2024

The Month in Pictures

The Institutional Animal Care Program (IACP) celebrated National Technician Week January 29th-February 2nd. The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) promotes a weeklong celebration for animal care technicians every year. This year we celebrated our team with a Facility scavenger hunt, Animal Care Seminar, prizes and a tour of the Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation (ABC) lab on East Campus (pictured). A special thank you for the researchers that dropped off treats and brought food to help us celebrate our great team!
Part of the IACP team enjoying the Fat Tuesday Lunch at the East Campus Dining Hall!  Let the good times roll! Pictured left to right:  Kelly Heath, Jessica Jones, Melissa Bausch, Anna Fitzwater, Megan Ebbers and Gina Heath. 
John Strope (Nebraska Innovation Studio) participated in a metal flower making workshop led by Elijah Paulson (Nebraska Innovation Studio).
NUtech Ventures hosted a lively panel discussion featuring various initiatives across the state of Nebraska that excel in inclusive innovation. Pictured: Joy Eakin moderating the panel and Sherri Jones with the three panelists. 
Travis Ray (Nebraska Innovation Studio) recently became a Certified Remote Pilot to safely fly drones. He’s excited to have this new certification and will soon begin offering UAV training to others that would like to learn!
In a throwback to middle school Valentine box-making nostalgia, Research Development Group, Research Compliance Services and Project Management Office staff gathered to decorate Valentine envelopes February 7, and exchanged candy and positive notes for Valentine’s Day! Pictured top left:  Tony Delaney  Pictured bottom left:  Jocelyn Bosley  Group picture, left to right:  Jaclyn Tan, Amanda Bohlin, Petrina Suiter, Riley Kimbrough, Kaela Evans and  Erik Schulz.  

Leap Year Fun Facts

1.  Julius Caesar introduced the first calendar leap year in 46 B.C.  The Earth takes exactly 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds to circle the sun. The occasional Feb. 29 ensures we don’t lose six hours every year and over the course of 100 years, we would lose 24 days. 

2.   Technically, it’s not every four years.  A leap year occurs in every year that is divisible by four, but only in century years that are evenly divided by 400.Therefore, 800, 1200 and 2000 were leap years – but 1700 and 1900 were not, because even though they are divisible by four, they are not divisible by 400. https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/28/us/why-do-we-have-leap-year-trnd/index.html

3.   Leap year babies are called “leapers” or “leaplings.”

4.   Some cultures consider Feb. 29 an unlucky day. In Italy, people say, “Anno bisesto, anno funesto,” which translates as, “leap year, doom year.”  In Greece, 1 in 5 couples avoid tying the knot in a leap year, reports The Telegraph. Why? Because they believe it’s bad luck.

5.   There are two “Leap Year Capitals of the World.” If you want to celebrate this special day in a big way, head to Texas — or New Mexico. Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico both claim the title “Leap Year Capital,” while holding lavish, multi-day celebrations each leap year. This year is will be held February 29 – March 2. 

6.   Record-Breaking Babies According to Guinness World Records, the only verified example of a family producing three consecutive generations born on Feb. 29 belongs to the Keoghs. Peter Anthony Keogh was born in Ireland in 1940. His son, Peter Eric, was born in the U.K. on leap day in 1964, and his granddaughter Bethany Wealth was born in the U.K. in 1996. 

OPEN Book Submissions

If you enjoyed the news and photos, please consider sharing some for the next OPEN Book Newsletter. 

Thank you to the OPEN Book reporters:
Mardi Bonner (Office of Sponsored Programs)
Megan Ebbers (Institutional Animal Care Program)
Tisha Gilreath Mullen (Office of Proposal Development)
Nova Gocchi Carrasco (Methodology and Evaluation Research Core)
Brooke Goedert (Nebraska Innovation Campus)
Mari Greer (Vice Chancellor’s Office)
Casey Lundberg (NUtech Ventures)
Suzanne Spiehs (Industry Relations)
Sara Quinn (Research Compliance Services), and
Ashley Washburn (Research Communications).

If you have anything you would like to include in the monthly OPEN Book newsletter, please reach out to one of these reporters or send it directly to Becky Carter (Vice Chancellor’s Office).