OPEN Book – October 2023

News and Upcoming Events

ORED Staff Recognition Event – Save the Date

The ORED Staff Recognition Event will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 11:45-3:00 at Sun Valley Lanes.  There will be awards, bowling, prizes, food, and fun.  Registration and more information will be sent out at the end of November.  For now, nominate your ORED colleagues and partners for the Invaluable Services Awards.  

Invaluable Service Awards – Nominations Sought

We have had an outstanding year of research growth and productivity.  That success is directly related to all your hard work throughout the year.  Now, it is time to celebrate.  Nominations for the 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Services Award are now being accepted through November 9 via this form.     
 
Each year, ORED gives special recognition to those who have made outstanding contributions to the past year’s successes. The Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service is given to individuals who excelled in their work and demonstrated commitment to ORED’s mission. These staff members went above and beyond to support the values of leadership, innovation, and initiative as they provided exceptional service to clients and to the university.    

Occasionally, an award is also given to individuals outside ORED to honor their impact on our efforts to achieve our goals. You can use the same form to nominate someone outside the Office of Research and Economic Development.  If you have any questions, please contact Becky Carter.  Thank you for all you are doing to continue driving ORED forward.

UNL Benefits Enrollment

Between Oct. 30 and Nov. 17, 2023, you will be permitted to make changes to your benefits plan for 2024. NUFlex enrollment is under the Employee Self Service section of Firefly. You are encouraged to enroll early to avoid any last-minute complications. For guidance on how to use the new portal, visit our benefits enrollment help page before you begin.  If you have any questions, please call or email the UNL Benefits Office at (402) 472-2600 or benefits@unl.edu.

Welcome New ORED Team Members

George Gogos, Director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Science Research and Professor of  Mechanical and Materials Engineering, became the new director on August 14

Dr. George Gogos has been a faculty member since 1993 in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gogos will continue his role as professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering while in the role of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research director. He also serves as co-director for the Center for Electro-Optics and Functionalized Surfaces and is co-founder of two companies: one developing equipment for certified organic weed control and one focusing on thermal management using functionalized surfaces. Dr. Gogos is married to Dr. Effie Athanassopoulos, an anthropology professor at UNL. They were both born in Greece and moved to the U.S. for their higher education studies. They have two adult children with careers in medicine and robotics.  

Nova Gocchi Carrasco, Senior Evaluation Project Manager, Methodology and Evaluation Research Core (MERC), started on October 9. Pictured left to right:  Chico and Nova.

My name is Nova Gocchi Carrasco. I am thrilled to join the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core facility as the Senior Evaluation Project Manager. I have been working at the University for almost 10 years now and am excited to begin this new journey with ORED. I love spending time with my son, Elliot (or Iris), my partner, Marco, and the eclectic menagerie that we lovingly call home. I enjoy attending live music and theater events and curling up on my couch with a good book. In my free time, you can also find me and my green thumb in the dirt, tending to my garden and cherished plant babies.  

Mekenzie Kerr, Research Portfolio Manager II, Vice Chancellor’s Office, started on October 9

My name is Mekenzie Kerr and I recently joined ORED’s team as a Research Portfolio Manager II. I have been with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 6+ years working as a project manager at an on-campus survey research and methodology organization. Along with quantitative and qualitative data collection and methodology experience, my project management positions have allowed me to work with a wide variety of clients (in-state, on-campus, you name it!) to successfully reach project and research objectives.

Outside of the office you can find me tending to my plants and propagations, hanging out with my pets (1 dog, 2 hermit crabs, 3 hamsters), or working on some crafty project venture.

I am so very excited to be a part of the ORED team. I look forward to meeting everyone.

Sherri Jones, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, started on October 10

I am thrilled to be part of the ORED team, which has a great reputation across campus.  I am originally from Nebraska having grown up on a farm near Clatonia.  I am the youngest of 7 children, one of whom is my identical twin (Sheila lives in North Carolina). I have 3 degrees from UNL. My 3 children have 6 degrees from UNL.  My daughter-in-law and my son-in-law have 3 degrees from UNL. I am proud of my family and our connections with UNL.  I love to cook and have a large collection of cookbooks that cover cuisine and culture from around the world.
Alisson Rios, Intellectual Property Specialist, NUtech Ventures, startd on October 23

Hello, my name is Alisson Rios. I am joining the NUtech team as the new Intellectual Property Specialist. Prior to this position, I was a paralegal with a law firm in Lincoln specializing in business law and estate administration.  I am originally from Southern California, my fiance’ and I moved to Lincoln a little over two years ago for him to go to UNL College of Law. I received my B.A. in political science from California State University-Fullerton. I enjoy spending time with my fiance’ and our two cats, Jojo and Snoopy.  I love reading, fashion, and all things cat related!

Elyse Watson, Research Project Manager I, Vice Chancellor’s Office, started on October 24

I received my BS in Fisheries and Wildlife at UNL in 2009. Since then, I’ve worked in a variety of roles including education at the Omaha Zoo. I started my tenure as a staff member at UNL in the fall of 2016, starting in the School of Natural Resources as a recruiter and then undergraduate advisor. Last fall, I moved from student services to research, becoming project manager for the STOICH Project, an NSF EPSCoR Track-II grant. I’m excited to start this new role in ORED where I can still assist in grant project management, but also get to once again work with undergrads. When I’m not at work I’m either playing outside or hanging out on the couch with my husband and two black cats. 

Peter Educate, Evaluation Project Associate, Methodology and Evaluation Research Core, started on October 25

Peter Educate graduated the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May of 2023 majoring in Sociology while minoring in Statistics. As an Evaluation Project Associate, his tasks include data collection, analysis, and reporting for a number of different projects.  He is passionate in research of almost all areas and is excited to be a part of the MERC team. Outside of working for MERC, he enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music, and traveling.

Farewells

Emily Shultz’s last day with Research Compliance Services will be November 8.  In the interim, please contact Sara Quinn.

Katie Pelland’s last day with Office of Proposal Development will be November 10. Katie, who is returning to the east coast to be closer to family, has accepted a position in research development at the University of Virginia.  In the interim, please contact Tisha Gilreath Mullen.  

Kudos to Our Colleagues

Matthew Dwyer, Senior Proposal Development Specialist, Office of Proposal Development, was honored with a Kudos Award at the University of Nebraska Board of Regents meeting in October. These awards recognize the accomplishments of employees from across the University of Nebraska system. (https://nebraska.edu/regents/awards-and-recognition/kudo-awards/2023/10/matthew-dwyer)
Pictured from left to right: Harry Brislin, Kate Engel, Vickie Palmer 

Nebraska Innovation Campus named Outstanding Research Park at AURP’s 27th Annual Awards of Excellence in Innovation

Nebraska Innovation Campus was named Outstanding Research Park at the Association of University Research Parks’ (AURP) 2023 International Conference held Oct. 16-19 at the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus. AURP is the leading nonprofit organization representing research parks, innovation districts, tech hubs and all communities of innovation.
 
The Outstanding Research Park Award recognizes research parks and innovation districts and their leadership for their achievements and encourages continuous evaluation and development of best practices for the research park community. The award also highlights research parks and innovation districts which have created an exceptional ecosystem that supports bringing technology from inception to market thereby positively impacting the sustainable growth of scalable businesses, creation of jobs that are higher paying than the regional average and contribute to the economic health of the region where they are located. Full Story>>

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

The Month in Pictures

Jocelyn Bosley, Matthew Dwyer, and Tisha Gilreath Mullen (Research Development Group) participated in a writing retreat organized by the Center for Advancing Research Impacts in Society (ARIS) September 18-21 in Princeton, NJ. UNL is one of ten universities selected to participate in the NSF-funded ARIS Broader Impacts Toolkit project, which will culminate in the publication of a special issue of the Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship exploring the Toolkit and its applications. Here, the Nebraska team visits the Yankee Tap Room, and Albert Einstein – who frequented the Tap Room during his years with the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and carved his name in this booth – puts in a cameo appearance.
Brad Roth’s (NUtech Ventures) newest granddaughter, Amber Lydia Glett, born to their daughter Lauren and David Glett on September 22.  5lbs 9oz. Amber is pictured here with her proud older sister, Natalie.
Kate Carlin (Sponsored Programs)  with Murr (on the left) and Mittens (on the right)

My husband and I recently adopted two kittens (Murr on the left and Mittens on the right).  These two are bringing all sorts of joy, snuggles, and a little bit of mischief to our lives!
Nick Glass’ (Vice Chancellor’s Office) family in the hammock while out hiking at Indian Caves, it was Rylee and Koda’s first time hiking and camping. Pictured left to right:  Koda, Nick, Megan and Rylee Glass
Nick Glass’ daughter, Rylee, all dressed up as Pebbles to trick or treat at the campgrounds at Indian Caves State Park.
Nick Kumpula, Nick Glass and Becky Zavala spent an afternoon touring Chancellor Bennett and VCRED Sherri Jones around city campus research facilities.  Pictured here left to right: Nick Kumpula, VCRED Sherri Jones, Chancellor Bennett, and Nick Glass. 
Nick Kumpula (Research Communications) exploring new habitats. 
The Heartland Robotics Cluster (HRC) team based in Nebraska Innovation Studio built two robots featured during the happy hour at the inaugural Heartland Robotics & Automation Conference on October 25. One robot handed attendees their beverage and rang a bell when it was done, the other added a couple ounces of grenadine and stirred the beverage. Over 200 attendees gathered at NIC for insightful discussions about the latest trends and advancements in the field of robotics and automation, interactive demos and networking.
Watch the robots in action!   NIS Bartender Robot Arm.MOV  and   NIS Bartender Robot Injector.MOV

 Pictured from left to right: Elijah Paulson, Isaac Regier, John Strope, Travis Ray (Nebraska Innovation Studio) 

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:

Jacque Barmore (Methodology and Evaluation Research Core)
Mardi Bonner (Office of Sponsored Programs)
Megan Ebbers (Institutional Animal Care Program)
Tisha Gilreath Mullen (Office of Proposal Development)
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).

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