OPEN Book is R&I’s internal monthly electronic newsletter that highlights upcoming activities, office news, and accomplishments. The OPEN Book newsletter is sent on the last business day of the month.
Summer Updates from Sherri Jones
Here we are with August upon us. To me, August always signals the end of summer and the start of another school year. I hope you found time this summer to rest and recharge. For most of July, my husband and I rested and recharged in San Diego. I enjoyed the garden! Some of my favorite plants are the strawberry tree, mandevilla, and Mediterranean palm. The strawberry tree has red bark, displays lots of pink flowers (the hummingbirds love them) and develops strawberries that become red in December (at present they are green). The strawberries taste kind of jellybean-like and can be used to make jam (I haven’t tried that yet).
The mandevilla has beautiful red flowers (I love red – GBR). The Mediterranean palm tree developed flowers in December, and I was hoping for dates but no luck. The gardenia (in front of the palm tree) has wonderfully scented flowers. What did you enjoy on your summer vacation? Would love to hear or see about it. Send your stories or your pics for the OPEN newsletter.
Despite being away from the office this summer, I did do some work, and I know many of you worked as well. Research and economic development never end. Thanks to your efforts, we submitted many grants with summer deadlines, posted new grant awards, renewed our SAM registration, had a successful AAALAC re-accreditation site visit, hosted multiple conferences and events, hosted Senator Fischer’s office for discussion and a crash test at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, and more. It takes a team and the R&I team is the BEST! So, what will August bring? Three of our colleagues will be attending the Big 10 OSP meeting. We are expecting multiple grant applications including an NSF Engines proposal. NUtech will be having a Clifton strengths and strategic planning retreat. We are planning for a USDOT visit in September. And work is well underway to complete the R&I annual report, which will celebrate many, many accomplishments that we have helped make happen. Equally important will be the arrival of students and the start of a new semester. One of my colleagues always bought a new outfit to wear on the first day of classes, and even if the rest of us didn’t buy a new outfit, we would complement each other on our “first day of school” attire. So, in addition to sharing your vacation pictures, how about sharing a picture of your “first day of school” outfit – what are you wearing on August 26? Can’t wait to celebrate R&I fashion!
Happy August! See you all soon! Sherri
News and Upcoming Events
R&I Staff and Family Picnic – RSVP now
The annual Staff and Family Picnic will be held on Friday, August 23, from 6:00 -10:00 p.m. at Haymarket Park Stadium, 403 Line Drive Circle, Lincoln, NE to watch a Saltdogs Baseball game. We have reserved seating on the Home Run Terrace (under the scoreboard). The gates open at 6:00 p.m. and a catered picnic dinner will begin soon after the doors open and last for 90 minutes. The first pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. Immediately following the game, there will be a fireworks show. RSVP now to reserve a ticket.
Welcome New R&I Team Members
Farewells
Nate Hatch‘s last day with NUtech Ventures will be August 9. Nate will be transferring to UNMC’s UNeMed department as a Licensing Associate. In the interim, don’t hesitate to contact Jeewan Jyot.
Rick Bevins’ last day with the Vice Chancellor’s Office will be August 18. Rick will be returning to the College of Arts and Sciences as a full-time faculty member. For more information, see https://research.unl.edu/blog/associate-vice-chancellor-bevins-to-return-to-faculty/.
Kudos to Our Colleagues
Jocelyn Bosley, Joy Eakin and Jason Nord were recipients of inaugural Staff Senate Awards – Jocelyn earned a Research Impact Award, Joy earned an Engagement Award and Jason earned a Problem Solver Award.
Staff Senate webpage has photos: https://staffsenate.unl.edu/staff-senate-recognition/.
Open Position Announcements
Do you know someone who should join our team? Share these opportunities!
Office Associate, Center for Brain, Biology & Behavior, application review date begins 8/8/2024
I-Corps Recruitment Coordinator (Part-time Temporary), NUtech Ventures, application review date begins 8/1/2024
IACP Veterinary Technician, Research Resp-Inst Animal Care Program, application review date begins 8/5/2024
The Month in Pictures
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, Nebraska Innovation Studio, NUtech Ventures and Industry Relations)
Mari Greer (Vice Chancellor’s Office)
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).
