The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) supports and guides the university community in obtaining and managing financial resources to enhance research, creative and scholarly activities. OSP provides pre-award and post-award services throughout the award life cycle, as well as training in proposal preparation and grants management. The director of sponsored programs serves as the institutional official for submitting, negotiating and accepting awards on behalf of the Board of Regents.
Pre-Award Services
Pre-award grant/budget coordinators assist in the preparation of proposal budget details, facilitate the administrative review and approval process for all external proposals, and maintain current registrations and knowledge of sponsor electronic submission systems.
Proposal preparation
- Central distribution center for standard application materials to federal, state and other funding agencies.
- Train faculty and staff in the use of NUramp for internal routing approval and sponsored projects.
- Update and maintain NUramp proposal records.
- Train staff on the use of sponsor electronic submission systems (e.g., Grants.gov Workspace, NIH eRA Commons, and NSF FastLane/Research.gov).
- Consult on and assist with in all phases of budget design and preparation.
- Assist in completing all federal forms (budget, representations and certifications, and assurances).
- Communicate with and train departmental personnel involved in proposal preparation.
Liaise with external agencies
- Identify program/administrative officers at external agencies to follow up on proposals and obtain feedback and reviewers’ comments.
- Negotiate pre-award budgets with agency technical and fiscal officers.
- Consult on contacting and working with federal agencies and foundations.
Campus clearance and proposal transmittals
- Assist in securing institutional approvals and authorization signatures.
- Submit proposals to external sponsors on behalf of the institution.
Contractual and Award Services
Award coordinators prepare, review and negotiate a variety of legal documents that are associated with sponsored programs. Documents include awarding contracts and grants, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, data use agreements, teaming agreements and service agreements. This section is responsible for preparing and negotiating subawarding documents to our collaborators. OSP works closely with Industry Relations and NUtech Ventures to ensure that intellectual property is protected. Two of the members of the Contractual and Award Services team are assigned solely to work with NUtech Ventures and Industry Relations.
Negotiations
- Negotiate budget revisions with agency technical and fiscal officers.
- Negotiate agreement terms, as necessary, to ensure acceptability to the university.
Review and acceptance of awards
- Review awards to ensure agreement is acceptable and in compliance with university and state rules and laws.
- Provide necessary institutional acceptance for awards and other legal documents associated with sponsored agreements.
Post-Award Services
Post-award project specialists provide a variety of financial and administrative services once UNL has been awarded a grant or a contract, assisting faculty with everything from budget setup to managing the entire award.
Financial management for awards
- Establish accounts in the UNL and state accounting systems.
- Invoice sponsors and receive funds.
- Draw funds from federal letters of credit.
- Manage sub-agreements with collaborators.
Assistance with other aspects of award management
- Manage effort reporting (Personnel Activity Reports).
- Provide training and guidance to department grant managers.
- Coordinate accounting procedures and provide briefings to principal investigators concerning award instrument requirements.
- Review department procedures for compliance and internal control.
- Obtain approval for budgetary revisions, no-cost extensions and expenditures.
University Foundation financial transfers
- Coordinate the documentation and management of transfer of funding from the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Reporting and closeout
- File required financial reports: 269, 272, 270 reports; contractor’s release; inventions and subcontracts report; property certification; contractor’s assignments of refunds, rebates, credits and amounts; final equipment property report; cumulative claim and reconciliation statement.
- Provide closeout and termination assistance for grants and contracts.
Coordination of audits
- Provide financial schedules for annual single audit.
- Serve as liaison between department and various auditors/reviewers.
Research Compliance Services (RCS) provides expertise and guidance for Federal, State, and University regulations, protection of human subjects, and promotes and safeguards UNL research integrity. Numerous resources, policies, templates, guidance, training/videos are available on each area’s linked webpage below.
RCS also serves as the administrative office for three faculty committees: the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Scientific Research Oversight Committee (SROC), and the Conflict of Interest in Research Committee (CIRC).
Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
The HRPP works with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee the protection of human subjects participating in research conducted by UNL faculty, staff, students and affiliates. Nebraska’s HRPP earned full accreditation from the Association for the
Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) in 2008 with ongoing re-accreditation and is a member of SMART IRB for reliance agreements.
The UNL Institutional Review Board is comprised of UNL faculty, staff and unaffiliated community members from differing disciplines with expertise based on UNL’s research portfolio. The IRB independently reviews and approves all human participant research conducted or supported by the faculty, students, staff, or other representatives of UNL.
Currently the IRB oversees more than 1,000 active protocols. In FY22 1,472 forms associated with these protocols were reviewed, or approximately 368 forms per FTE. In addition, in FY22, 246 single IRB reliance agreements were executed. Review times range from 1-2 days for immediate funding requirements, or more typically, 2 weeks-2 months as varying by risk level and complexity of the research. Current metrics are published on our webpages and are updated daily.
The Human Research Protection Program assists the IRB in these ways:
- Facilitates the review process for all projects
- Facilitates the monitoring process for approved studies
- Tracks all IRB-investigator project-specific conflicts of interest
- Performs project audits and reports results to the IRB
- Manages the accreditation process
- Facilitates communication between the IRB and investigator(s) throughout the life of a project
- Tracks all required human subjects training and conducts investigator education
- Provides educational outreach and facilitates communication with research participants
- The IRB often works with students who are required to complete some human subject related work involving dissertations or theses. This is often the very first opportunity for students to interact with and navigate federal, state, and university regulatory requirements. While these interactions are often rewarding they can also be challenging to balance the needs, time and understanding of the students and their advisors.
Conflicts of Interest in Research
In the research setting, conflict of interest policies focus on situations in which a financial interest and the potential for financial gain may inappropriately influence research decisions. However, regardless of financial involvement, there can also be actual, potential, or perceived conflicts that could bias research in a positive or negative manner. There are ethical ways of addressing COI concerns, and UNL’s COI in research program attempts to help researchers do this through the submission of disclosures of Conflict of Interest/Conflict of Commitment (COI/COC), review of such disclosures, and where warranted, establishment of management plans. Annual disclosures are processed in NuRAMP, through completion of COI/COC disclosure, routing, and administrative review. If a possible conflict with research exists, the disclosure is reviewed by the Conflict of Interest in Research Committee CIRC), and written and signed management plans are implemented.
In FY22, COI staff processed 1,926 disclosures. Of these, 745 required additional review due to actual, potential, or perceived disclosed conflicts. 46 current management plans are active in order to manage conflicts identified by the CIRC.
Public Health Service funders (like NIH, CDC, FDA, etc.) and the Department of Energy (DOE) require additional conflict-of-interest requirements, including training and disclosure of sponsored and reimbursed travel. Training for PHS or DOE-funded research at UNL is completed through required online CITI COI modules.
Responsible Conduct of Research
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is a broad ethical framework established by many federal funding agencies to address core concepts of how to responsibly conduct research. As stewards of public funds and public trust, these concepts provide a roadmap holding our research to clear standards regarding how we will conduct our work, collectively, as an institution.
In addition to this broad ethical framework, training requirements on the core RCR concepts are also established and required when receiving funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At UNL, RCR training is primarily completed via online CITI RCR training modules. Students, postdocs etc., supported by funding from the NIH are required to complete
and pass the Basic Biomedical RCR modules of the CITI Program followed by face-to-face workshops consisting of 8 hours of short lectures, discussions and presentations of cases on scientific integrity and responsible conduct in research.
Historically, training requirements have focused primarily on trainees, students (undergrad/grads) and postdocs. However, in recent months, some federal sponsors, such as NSF have begun to expand these training requirements to also include faculty.
In FY22, 468 online RCR trainings were completed and 9 in-person trainees completed the 8-hours of required RCR training for NIH purposes. Given the new requirements for faculty, we anticipate these training completion numbers to significantly increase.
Export Controls
Export controls pose unique challenges in academic settings—especially in universities like UNL that are home to many experts and students from outside the United States. A university’s primary export is knowledge, but at times, certain kinds of knowledge materials or equipment can be controlled. UNL is not cleared for classified work, however, we do accept restrictions and engage in various types of controlled work under the ITAR and EAR.
Export Controls include a broad range of activities for a campus. However, the export control program is small and focuses its efforts on helping to ensure research and the university activities with the highest areas of risk are identified. The following are the activities in which the ECCP primarily focuses its efforts:
- Reviews and approves projects involving ITAR, EAR or OFAC controlled
- information or work/materials
- Technology, software, chemical and biological or nuclear materials
- Visas (some J-1s and all H1-Bs)
- International travel to countries of concern
- Foreign national and publication restrictions for research projects
- Licensing and international shipping applications
- Screening of foreign entities and/or foreign nationals
In FY22, 7 Technology Control Plans (TCPs) were active, 1,871 screenings of foreign entities/nationals/materials, and 85 H1-B and J-1 visas were reviewed by 2 FTE.
Research Misconduct
Research Compliance Services addresses issues related to the ethical conduct and reporting of research and oversees the process of investigating instances of research misconduct in the form of fabrication, falsification of data and/or plagiarism in proposing, performing or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Because honest errors, differences in opinion or authorship disputes DO NOT rise to the level of research misconduct, these issues are addressed by the departments.
All research misconduct allegations are treated seriously and confidentially. All institutional members are obligated to promptly report observed, suspected, or apparent research misconduct to the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) or the RCS Director.
Scientific Research Oversight Committee
The Scientific Research Oversight Committee (SROC) is responsible for the review and approval of research involving human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human fetal tissue (hFT) or their derivatives. In FY22, 3 active protocols were processed.
Affiliated Research Safety Committees
Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committees
Oversight of the university’s biosafety and radiation safety committees lies with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged with oversight of research involving recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids and biological agents including bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and toxins. The 12- member committee includes an animal expert, a plant expert and two non-institutional members. The 10- member Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) reviews and approves the use of radioactive materials for research and educational purposes.
The Institutional Animal Care Program (IACP) at Nebraska ensures the humane care, use and health of animals used in the teaching, research, and extension missions of the university. IACP provides veterinary services and coordinates animal health care oversight on campus and at satellite facilities around the state and provides the support and training necessary to assure high quality care and use of the university’s animals.
The IACP’s three strategic goals are to:
- provide exceptional animal care
- ensure compliance with federal, state, local and institutional regulations
- be an advocate and resource for research involving animals
These goals are met through:
- review and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of all research and educational activities involving vertebrate animals before projects are initiated, to assure compliance with all laws, regulations and rules governing the care and use of animals
- continuing review and monitoring of approved studies.
Facility Management
The IACP office manages the Life Sciences Annex (LScA) as well as the Biocontainment Laboratory (BCL) on East Campus and Manter Hall on City Campus. The LScA is a biosecurity/biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) facility and accommodates rodent, laboratory animal and agricultural animal research. The facility contains surgery and necropsy rooms, locker rooms and a conference room. The Biocontainment Laboratory (BCL) is located in the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center is a BSL3/ABSL3 research space supported by LScA staff. Manter Hall is a smaller, BSL-1 facility.
Oversight Responsibility
The Institutional Official (IO), the IACUC and IACP staff cooperate to support the use of animals by faculty and staff in pursuit of the missions of the university. The university’s vice chancellor for research and innovation has delegated overall responsibility for the animal care program to the IO, currently the associate vice chancellor for research.
The IACP and the attending veterinarian (AV) take their direction from the IACUC. The AV is responsible for veterinary care of all animals used in research, teaching or in demonstration by UNL employees. Due to the size and distance of the program, however, local veterinarians, in coordination with the AV, may provide veterinary care. The AV reviews animal research protocols with principal investigators before they are submitted to the IACUC. The intent is to work with investigators on all issues related to animal care and use. In addition, consultation with the AV meets the federal requirement that the attending veterinarian be involved in the design of animal use protocols that entail pain or distress.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees all aspects of animal use in research and teaching, including protocol review and approval, animal facilities inspections and personnel training. Members of the IACUC include:
- at least four practicing scientists experienced in animal research
- one member whose primary concerns are in a non-scientific area
- one member not affiliated with the university and not a member of the immediate family of a person who is officially affiliated with the university
- the university attending veterinarian
The IACUC approved 123 protocols in FY23, taking an average of 21 days (about 3 weeks) from submission to approval.
Research development involves capacity building and catalytic activities that enhance faculty success and increase competitiveness for external funding. At UNL, the research development group within the Office of Research and Innovation provides services and programs to help proposers:
- identify relevant funding opportunities and prepare proposals for external funding;
- advance the broader, societal impacts of research, scholarship, and creative activity; and
- increase external recognition for the excellence and impact of their work.
UNL’s 10-person team of research development professionals provides the university community (primarily faculty) with assistance planning and writing proposals, developing partnerships and plans to maximize the societal outcomes of their work, and pursuing external honorific awards.
Core research development services at Nebraska include:
Proposal Development
Staff in the Office of Proposal Development (OPD) collaborate with individual proposers and teams to increase the competitiveness of externally sponsored proposals and increase success securing external funding for their research, scholarship, and creative activity. OPD staff:
- Help develop marketing materials in preparation for meetings with funding agency staff.
- Support the proposal planning process by creating proposal checklists, outlines, and timelines.
- Review proposal drafts to ensure alignment with review criteria and sponsor requirements.
- Edit and format grant proposals for enhanced readability and visual appeal.
- Offer graphic design support to create easy-to-read, visually appealing illustrations that conform to proposal preparation requirements.
- Connect investigators with institutional resources for budget development, assessment and evaluation, and broader impacts (education/outreach) plans.
OPD collaborates with 150 to 200 faculty annually and has helped UNL investigators secure more than
$600 million in external funding since 2005.
Research Impacts
The Research Impact Coordinator anchors the research development group’s efforts to grow the value of UNL research for diverse audiences, helping faculty to develop innovative impact
programs and facilitating strategic impact partnerships across and beyond campus. Regular impact training sessions—including Research Impacts 101, Developing Your Impact Identity, and Partnering for Impact—support researchers with the knowledge and resources to engage meaningfully with diverse stakeholders and to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate the impact of their work. To date, over 400 faculty representing all nine academic colleges have participated in these trainings, along with more than 100 graduate students and postdocs. Campus events like the annual Faculty Research and Creative Activity Slam and the Student Research Days Slam augment these efforts, cultivating a culture in which impact is understood as an essential part of research.
Faculty Recognitions
UNL’s External Recognition and Awards Coordinator helps faculty pursue external honorific awards important in their fields and helps foster a campus culture that celebrates excellence. The position provides consultation and professional support for department executive officers, awards committees, and faculty interested in being nominated and nominating their colleagues for recognition. Support includes creating award strategies, preparing and submitting external award nominations, and promoting recognition after an award is earned. This position partners with the Executive Vice Chancellor’s office to provide annual awards-focused workshops to department executive officers, regularly meets with departments and colleges to talk about award strategies and how faculty can position themselves to be award-ready, and coordinates annual workshops for UNL faculty around the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Since this role was established in 2013, UNL faculty members’ receipt of external honorifics has increased by 45 percent.
In addition, UNL’s research development group organizes several professional learning programs to position faculty for research funding success and compete for specific funding opportunities. Examples of current offerings include:
- The NSF CAREER Club is a cohort-based program for faculty submitting applications to the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program. NSF Awards are granted to early career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. CAREER Club activities, ranging from project idea conception to submission, include engagement with NSF program officers, mentoring and coaching from experienced administrators and staff, access to an external consultant, one-on-one consultation on broader impacts, pre-submission expert external review, and access to space for quiet writing time and ongoing consultation. CAREER awards to UNL faculty have tripled since the CAREER Club was implemented in 2017, and most awards occur the first time a faculty submits their CAREER proposal. More than 80 percent of UNL faculty who submit a CAREER proposal participate in the club, and among those who do, the proposal success rate is over 50 percent.
- The Research Development Fellows Program (RDFP) helps position early career faculty across all disciplines to acquire external funding to support their research, scholarship, and creative activity. The academic-year program is comprised of learning sessions, interactive workshops, and one-on-one coaching. Fellows graduate the program with a concept paper summarizing a project for which they will pursue funding and a five-year plan for strategically pursuing external funding. The program celebrated its 15th year in 2022, and more than 260 faculty from all nine of UNL’s academic colleges have completed the program. Faculty who complete RDFP have about 2.5 times more externally funded projects active at any given time than their non-RDFP peers, and the average size of those externally funded project awards is double that of non-RDFP faculty. Significantly, the retention rate for RDFP Fellows at UNL is 12 percent higher than for non-RDFP peer faculty.
- The Research Leaders Program (RLP) is designed to propel UNL faculty members with the interest, vision, and motivation to take their research programs to a higher and more collaborative level. It is among the first program of its kind nationally and arguably the first such program at any Big Ten Conference member institution. Program content focuses on the fundamentals of management and leading-edge topics that high-impact research leaders need to know, including: strategic leadership, goal setting, team science, diversity and inclusion and design thinking. The development of a personal research growth plan is a key element of the program. Participants are coached to develop an execution plan aimed at strengthening and elevating their research activities. A major benefit of RLP is the networking available to participants, which often yields new opportunities and collaborative connections. Since 2020, 45 UNL faculty have completed the RLP. Fifteen additional faculty were selected to join RLP during the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Research Project Management Office (PMO) collaborates across Research and Innovation offices in combination with faculty, staff, and administrators to strengthen the success of large-scale, complex, and translational research projects at UNL. The PMO supports multifaceted teams managing intricate projects from proposal development through project execution, allowing scholars to focus on the research.
Project Proposal Support
Enhancing the impact of large translational project proposals by:
- Putting together the budget projections for justifying the resources that are needed to undertake the project.
- Preparing project execution/management plans by conducting scope, schedule, communication, and risk analysis.
- Planning best practices for procurement methods.
- Facilitating proposal timelines by managing logistics including liaising with Research and Innovation offices, the project team, stakeholders, and sponsors.
Project Management
Ensuring project key deliverables and milestones are met within schedule and budget by providing or training research project managers who:
- Facilitate procurement contracts and agreements through proper university channels.
- Coordinate project reporting activities and communication with the sponsor and applicable Research and Innovation offices.
- Execute the communication plan, ensuring all stakeholders are constantly updated on the project status.
- Continuously monitor the project’s overall health and status through monthly detailed financial and schedule analysis.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and university, state, and sponsor policies.
- Create and maintain the project’s website and social media channels. We can drive the implementation of branding, website, and social media presence, and support your project team as you engage in public engagement activities.
- Disseminating project results in a highly impactful manner befitting the project scope. This can include coordinating outreach programs, online and digital media, and event planning.
- Assist in the final stages of closing the project and transitioning into sustainability.
Portfolio Management
Delivering comprehensive, direct pre- and post-award support for principal investigators who have substantial, multifaceted research portfolios by providing research portfolio managers who:
- Work closely with the principal investigator and the Office of Sponsored Programs to review new awards, set up budgets, and provide guidance on policy.
- Deliver research administration.
- Provide guidance on finance and sponsored research matters including systems, policies, and procedures.
- Create and maintain various websites and social media content related to their portfolio.
- Continuously monitor the portfolio’s overall health and status through monthly detailed financial analysis of the portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and university, state, and sponsor policies.
- Implement new and updated university procedures, recommend process improvements, and resolve issues related to individual projects within the portfolio.
Consultation
Strategically identifying established projects that exhibit project management deficiencies, skill gaps, and impediments and putting them back on target by:
- Assessing and analyzing existing project plans, scope, deliverables, schedules, and budgets.
- Conceptualizing and implementing solutions that relate to quality or process improvements.
- Training and mentoring project managers hired outside of the PMO.
Tools and Resources
Promoting best practice standards, quality, and methodologies in project management and research administration by:
- Providing a repository of project management templates, guides, and a lesson learned database.
- Mentoring and coaching in the use of project management practices.
- Developing project management competencies through training, workshops, and seminars.
- Participating in Research and Innovation training and outreach.
The Office of Research and Innovation (R&I) promotes and facilitates UNL’s research enterprise, strategic partnerships and innovation efforts. The mission of Research Finance and Information Systems (RFIS) is to support these efforts through these key responsibilities:
- Provide business support to the Office of Research and Innovation, NUtech Ventures, Nebraska Innovation Campus, Industry Relations, Nebraska Museum, Nebraska Press and affiliated centers
- Provide data and analysis to Research and Innovation administrators to inform assessment, planning and decision-making
- Provide campuswide research expenditure reporting
- Serve as a business center for research centers
- Serve as a training resource and liaison between research centers and compliance/business and finance offices
- Oversee internal research funds and awards
Financial Oversight and Business Support
Research Finance manages R&I’s financial portfolio including financial commitments, cash-flow analysis, budgetary, salary and financial reporting to R&I and its units. Access to timely, accurate financial information is essential when making strategic decisions about how to most effectively allocate resources, assess return on R&I investments and comply with university and federal policies.
Data Analysis and Reporting
Research Finance produces campuswide productivity reporting and analysis based on research awards and expenditures and university- and unit-level (including college/institute, department and center) reporting on research expenditure and sponsored award history and future projections to ensure achievement of institutional goals. The office also develops reporting and delivery mechanisms for these reports (NuRamp, and Tableau) for administrators to include in college/institute strategic plans and to support enhanced decision-making. This reporting provides a clear picture of actual performance compared with goals.
Liaison and Training Resource
Research Finance serves as a liaison with UNL research centers, particularly in relation to the business and financial support of the centers and serves as a resource for center staff, providing technical advice, problem-solving assistance and answers to questions. The office assists with the preparation and submission of large center proposals and projects, provides training to new center staff, assists with recruitment of new staff and serves as backup coordinator/office managers during extended staff absences. Providing these services directly supports the overall success of university research centers, allowing center directors to focus on their centers’ core research responsibilities.
Internal Awards
Research Finance manages the awarding and oversight of all internal awards funded with F&A, NRI, tobacco or revolving funds, including setting up the cost objects, sending award letters, monitoring spending (both within proposed budget categories and rate of spend), sending reminders of reporting requirements, overseeing extension and rebudgeting requests, and managing the award closeout process.
Quick and efficient processing of internal awards directly supports R&I’s expenditure goals. The faster funding (especially seed funding) gets into the faculty’s hands, the faster they can begin their research. Historic trends tell indicate that increased communication throughout the award period, especially focused on projects with unusually high or low spending rates, results in fewer extension request and fewer projects ending with unused or deficit balances.
Facilities & Administration (F&A) Distribution and Reporting
Research Finance manages the annual F&A distribution to the campus, including annual reporting on how these funds were invested.
NuRamp Management
The RFIS software engineer and database analyst are responsible for managing and maintaining the NuRamp system described later in this document.
Research Communications supports the N2025 goals for growing research and innovation by strategically communicating the value and impact of Nebraska research, scholarly and creative activities to our state, the nation and the world.
Goals
- Enhance institutional reputation among local, state and national audiences through communicating the breadth, depth and impact of Nebraska Research (R&I).
- Tell the stories of Nebraska research excellence, innovation and impact.
- Share major research milestones with internal and external audiences, including growth of expenditures and awards; national recognitions and honors; and faculty members’ national leadership roles.
- Highlight how research drives innovation and economic development activities in the state of Nebraska.
- Through strategic communications and marketing efforts, ensure that faculty, staff and students are aware of R&I resources that can help support their work.
Activities
- Research Communications uses a range of print, web, video, visual and social media tools and strategies, matched to target audiences and needs, to effectively communicate with internal and external audiences, with the goal of enhancing the university’s reputation. Using the art of storytelling to explain complex topics in language that the layperson can understand and appreciate, is at the heart of what we do.
- The Research Communications team partners closely with University Communication and Marketing and other communications teams across campus to ensure consistent messaging and to amplify strategic messages.
- The team collaborates with R&I, college, center and departments on grant celebrations to celebrate major external research awards, with the goal of cultivating a culture of research success on campus.
- The team produces a monthly newsletter for the Nebraska Research community that includes important information on university resources, major policy changes and other tips that support faculty in their research and creative endeavors. Approximately 4,400 individuals at UNL receive this digital publication.
- In collaboration with the Events and Outreach team, Research Communications coordinates marketing efforts for Nebraska Research Days, a celebration of research, scholarly and creative activities.
- This team coordinates communication and marketing activities for the Nebraska Lectures: Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
- With guidance from the Grand Challenges Core Team, this team coordinates strategic communications efforts around the Grand Challenges initiative.
Tools
- research.unl.edu
- Marketing, news and promotional materials, including the annual Research Report. View the latest edition here.
- Direct email marketing
- Social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
- Video, photos
- Scientific illustration, graphic design
The Office of Industry Relations connects the resources of the university with the private sector with a focus on advancing research and technology development collaborations with companies. Industry Relations also facilitates and provides guidance on other types of university-industry engagement industry, including:
- Direct or cooperative funding of research
- Licensing of university-owned patents and technology
- Professional development, continuing education and training
- Student internships and recruitment
- Professional and scientific exchange programs
- Industry participation on university advisory boards or consortia
- Use of specialized university facilities
- Research and development facilities of industries housed on university property
- Faculty consulting
- Philanthropic support of academic units, research centers, programs or individuals
Industry Relations works closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs and NUtech Ventures to execute research, service and testing, material transfer, licensing, data transfer, confidentiality and other agreements to support UNL’s industry collaborations.
The Office also collaborates with NICDC on recruitment of NIC partners, and helping existing NIC partners navigate UNL, NU and local resources/providers, along with other important ecosystem partners including, but not limited to:
- Nebraska Department of Economic Development
- Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development
- Invest Nebraska
- Nebraska Business Development Center
- BIO Nebraska
The School of Computing and Industry Relations partner on business development for the School’s Senior Design Program, specifically to increase company sponsorship of student projects. The two units share one-full-time employee who also promotes College of Engineering capstone programs in the Department of Materials and Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
NUtech Ventures is the intellectual property and commercialization unit of the University of Nebraska‒Lincoln. NUtech’s mission is to facilitate the commercialization and practical use of innovations generated through university research activities. NUtech identifies, evaluates, protects, markets and licenses UNL intellectual property to promote innovation and economic development and improve quality of life. Further, NUtech Ventures also connects innovators with the people, coaching and resources they need to start companies, develop products, and create jobs.
The technology commercialization process is governed by the Board of Regents Bylaw 3.10 and Policy 4.4. The bylaw provides that “every invention or discovery by members of the faculty and staff that results from the performance of duties within the scope of their University employment, or from the use of University personnel, property, facilities, or other resources … shall be solely owned by the University.” Inventors receive a share of at least one-third (1/3) of the net proceeds from licensing or sale of intellectual property rights associated with the invention or discovery. The Board’s Patent and Technology Transfer Policy governs the disclosure of such inventions and discoveries.
Technology Screening and Evaluation
NUtech Ventures uses a structured screening evaluation process for invention disclosures. The invention disclosure is assigned to a technology manager (TM) and a commercialization analyst intern (CAI) based on the scientific area of the invention. An initial inventor meeting with the TM, CAI, and the inventor is scheduled to review the disclosure and ask questions to ensure understanding of the technology.
NUtech Ventures’ commercialization analysts are university graduate and/or law students with a background in life sciences, engineering, chemistry, physical sciences or other STEM fields. Over the course of a one-year internship program, commercialization analysts assist the technology managers in the technology screening evaluation process. They compile the screening documents that address technology overview, intellectual property assessment, commercialization readiness, market overview and licensing potential.
The TM reviews the screening documents throughout the screening process. The TM is responsible for the workflow and ultimately makes the recommendation. The results of the screening evaluation are then presented to the NUtech team, which collectively decides whether to move forward and agrees to the next steps for IP protection and commercialization. The inventor(s) is subsequently informed of the results.
Following NUtech’s determination to move forward with intellectual property protection and commercialization, the inventor(s) will be directly involved in the patent drafting process along with the attorney, TM, and NUtech IP team.
Intellectual Property and Patents
Intellectual property protection comes in the form of patents, plant variety protection (PVP) certificates, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. NUtech determines the appropriate protection type and assesses the elements and potential barriers of patent protection and commercialization potential for each invention disclosure. Typically, the patent attorney works with NUtech and the inventors to draft patent applications and respond to USPTO patent prosecution matters. Generally, there are two to three such office actions before the patent issues and is enforceable or the patent application is subject to final rejection. The NU System, including NUtech and UNMC’s office, UNeMed, have been named in the top 100 Universities worldwide for issued US patents the last 6 years (2023). Making this list is admirable, but the first step to commercializing technologies and ultimately realizing the societal and financial impact of the innovations.
Licenses and the Licensing Process
License Agreements with industry partners depend on a number of factors, such as the technology itself, commercialization partner, product, requirement for other technologies/ licenses, and market size.
- An exclusive license includes the standard terms and offers the licensee exclusive right, or sole right, to use the technology.
- A non-exclusive license includes the standard terms but it does not offer exclusivity. In this situation a technology can be licensed to multiple partners on a non-exclusive basis.
- An option agreement is used when the industry partner needs time to further evaluate the technology. Option agreements generally have very restricted use for research and evaluation purposes only, short timelines of less than one year, and often require upfront payments from the licensee to reserve the rights.
Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC) is designed to facilitate new and in-depth partnerships between the University of Nebraska and private sector businesses. NIC is adjacent to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and strategically provides organizations with access to needed research faculty, facilities and students.
In November 2022, Nebraska Innovation Campus celebrated 10 years since the campus’ groundbreaking. In that time, the campus facilities have grown to include office space, a makerspace, a conference center, a local coffee shop, a hotel, lab space, pilot plant space and greenhouse space. By celebrating 10 years of innovation, the campus honored impactful partnerships, collaborations and developments.
Nebraska Innovation Campus is home to over 65 companies including private businesses and University of Nebraska entities and welcomes companies of all sizes. Called NIC Partners, organizations leasing space at NIC are a mix of startups, mediums sized companies and larger companies. The diverse mix of companies located on the campus creates and builds a culture of innovation and creativity.
Space & Place
Nebraska Innovation Studio (NIS) is one of the nation’s top makerspaces. Located at Nebraska Innovation Campus, the makerspace houses a full metal shop, wood shop, rapid prototyping room, art studio, ceramics and textiles equipment and more. Innovation Studio is open to university faculty, students, staff and community members for a monthly membership fee. Makerspace members receive free training on all equipment. For more information about taking a tour of NIS, becoming a member and seeing full equipment lists, please visit INNOVATIONSTUDIO.UNL.EDU.
The Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center is housed in a historic building that has been reconstructed to provide a unique full-service conference center. Operated and managed by the Nebraska Alumni Association, the conference center provides multi-functional meeting and collaboration space that includes a 400-seat auditorium, 350-seat banquet hall and eight breakout rooms. Each space features state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities. For more information and to book your conference, meeting or event, please visit INNOVATE.UNL.EDU/NIC-CONFERENCECENTER.
The Mill Coffee & Bistro offers The Mill Coffee & Tea’s signature coffees and teas. Located at Nebraska Innovation Campus, the coffee shop also offers breakfast and lunch items as well as wine, craft beer and cocktails. The Mill Coffee & Bistro provides a warm, welcoming, collaborative environment for NIC Partners and the community.
The Scarlet Hotel is a new six-story, 154-room boutique hotel located in the heart of Nebraska Innovation Campus. Designed with unique local touches and staying true to Nebraska’s motto, each room gives guests a taste of “the good life” while paying homage to local towns and homegrown heroes. The hotel includes a full-service restaurant, coffee shop, fitness facility, rooftop bar and additional high-end features to ensure an outstanding guest experience. For more information, please visit SCARLETHOTELNEBRASKA.COM.
The Food Innovation Center is a complex that serves private/public partnerships. The center provides world-class facilities for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Food Science and Technology Department and private companies in leased space. The Food Innovation Center features wet/dry lab research space, food grade/non-food grade pilot plant space, a state-of-the-art distance education classroom and office space. For more information, please visit INNOVATE.UNL.EDU/FOOD-INNOVATIONCENTER.
The Greenhouse Innovation Center is comprised of greenhouse and headhouse space. The facility features state-of-the-art computer environmental controls, a LemnaTec High-Throughput Plant Phenotyping system and 22-foot eave heights to allow for optimal air circulation. The greenhouses are heated and cooled with sustainable energy. Tailored greenhouse services are available. For more information, please visit INNOVATE.UNL.EDU/GREENHOUSEINNOVATION-CENTER.
Culture
Nebraska Innovation Campus is the place to build the big idea, where imagination meets hard work and collaboration yields results. The Nebraska Innovation Campus staff is focused on placemaking – creating space, place, programs and events that encourage unplanned conversations and creative collisions. The campus allows organizations and guests to be immersed in a collaborative environment and innovative culture filled with creative energy. The intentionally designed campus environment promotes sharing of ideas and their synergistic development.
Sustainability
Through innovative spaces, the campus strives to catalyze employee satisfaction and retention, and empower NIC Partners to reach their goals more effectively. Sustainability matters at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Campus buildings are heated and cooled by a renewable energy source, the Centralized Renewable Energy System (CRES). The CRES uses reclaimed, non-drinkable water from the nearby Theresa Street wastewater treatment plant to heat and cool the campus buildings. This award-winning closed-loop system transfers thermal energy in underground piping to the entire campus.
Nebraska Innovation Campus buildings are built to LEED Silver standards and enable the campus to minimize its impact on the environment while maximizing the utility and well-being of users. Abundant natural lighting and extensive measures to ensure high indoor air quality translate into tangible benefits to the health and productivity of occupants.
Nebraska Innovation Campus is dedicated to keeping waste out of the landfill and strives to become a zero waste facility. Compostable materials (including food waste, paper towels and cardboard) are collected and composted. Campus facilities also feature single-stream recycling and the Hefty® EnergyBag program.
Nebraska Innovation Campus connects the talents of experts, companies and the university through space, place, programs and events to create a unique culture of innovation. To learn more about Nebraska Innovation Campus and take a virtual tour, please visit INNOVATE.UNL.EDU.
The University of Nebraska State Museum (UNSM), founded in 1871 to educate Nebraskans, promotes discovery of the natural world and world cultures. We accomplish our mission through research, scientific collections, learner‐centered education, and public exhibitions. The UNSM is comprised of four locations: Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park (Royal, Nebraska; established 1991); Trailside Museum of Natural History (Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford, Nebraska; established 1961); Morrill Hall (established 1927 and its Mueller Planetarium in 1957), and the Research Divisions (established 1871). Both Morrill Hall and the Research Divisions are located on the University of Nebraska city campus (Lincoln, Nebraska).
The UNSM serves the needs of Nebraskans, the University of Nebraska‐Lincoln, and its three other campuses through its land grant mission of research, teaching, and outreach. The UNSM has been continuously accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since the 1970’s and was named a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2013, joining an elite group of organizations as part of the international Smithsonian Institution network.
Education and Outreach. Morrill Hall serves as the primary public education site and contributes directly to workforce development through informal science education. Typically, over 90,000 visitors, of which 25,000 are K12 students, visit Morrill Hall in a given year. In 2019, Cherish Nebraska opened on the 4th floor of Morrill Hall. This Smithsonian‐inspired renovation of galleries was a significant renovation of the museum’s flagship location. Currently, a state‐funded deferred maintenance project is underway to refresh the other three floors and workspaces. To promote access for underserved Nebraskans, Morrill Hall participates in the national Museums for All program, Blue Star Museum Program, and launched a community access program as part of its membership drives (program feature in Lincoln Today 2023).
Ashfall Fossil Beds is unique as it combines exhibits with an active paleontological site. The site provides public viewing of fossil excavation by student interns. Trailside Museum serves western Nebraska with exhibits highlighting the area’s unique geological history. Combined, these two sites typically welcome over 30,000 visitors annually.
In addition, the Education Department serves preK‐12 youth across the region and has an international reach with its virtual learning programs. Half of Nebraskans and 60% of youth live in rural communities. Museum exhibits include a virtual museum and Expedition Nebraska, a virtual reality exploration of selected paleontological specimens in partnership with Nebraska Public Media. The virtual learning programs and Expedition Nebraska have received national awards for their innovation. Exhibits and Education departments host student interns annually.
Native American Human Remains and Objects. The museum complies with the campus policy as revised February 12, 1998 for Native American human remains and cultural objects subject to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and related state statutes. The UNL NAGPRA Coordinator, currently the Museum Director, is appointed by the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation and serves as the campus compliance officer. The museum strives to build relationships with Indigenous groups and individuals rooted in respect, communication, collaboration, reciprocity, transparency, and open dialogue.
Research Divisions ‐ Collections. The UNSM stewards research collections, approximately 13 million items, on behalf of the Nebraska University Board of Regents. The Museum holds its collections in trust for Nebraskans and the U.S. public, global scientific and scholarly communities, and U.S. federal and state agencies. Located in Nebraska Hall, collection faculty and staff routinely mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students as part of a unique internship that prepares future researchers on biological diversity and environmental sciences.
i. Anthropology ‐The Anthropology Collection explores the rich cultural diversity of our shared world through the over 40,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects held in the collection. Extensive archaeology collections represent sites from around the world with particular emphasis on Nebraska and the Great Plains. The ethnographic collection has a global scope, representing the peoples of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands. The collections have notable holdings in beadwork, basketry, textiles, weaponry, carvings and statuary, and ceramics.
ii. Entomology ‐The Entomology Division cares for specimens of terrestrial arthropods, predominantly insects. As one of the largest collections in the Great Plains (~2 million specimens), the holdings focus on Nebraska, but are cosmopolitan in scope. The museum has long‐standing collaborations with the Smithsonian that includes maintaining the Smithsonian’s scarab beetle collection as a long‐term collection improvement site. This nearly 30‐year arrangement has enabled international access to this Smithsonian research resource.
iii. Geology ‐ The Geology Division contains many large crystal specimens of various minerals, including meteorite specimens. A complete synoptic collection of minerals and gemstones from Nebraska is displayed in Morrill Hall.
iv. Herbarium ‐The Charles W. Bessey Herbarium, named for UNL’s third Chancellor, is among the oldest and largest in the Great Plains. The collection has more than 310,000 specimens from Nebraska, the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, other parts of North America, and Europe. Also included are approximately 10,000 fossil plant specimens.
v. Paleontology, Invertebrate ‐The Division of Invertebrate Paleontology houses one of the largest UNSM collections (~7‐8 million). It contains representative fossils of all the major taxa spanning geologic time from Precambrian through Pleistocene.
vi. Paleontology, Vertebrate ‐The vertebrate paleontology collections are a recognized national resource denoting the evolution of vertebrates for the last 38 million years. The collections are comprised of over 1.5 million specimens with over 300 holotypes and paratypes. The UNSM fossil mammal collection is one of the largest in the country. The VP Division includes numerous specimens of large mammals such as camels, horses, rhinos, and ancient elephants (proboscideans). The UNSM Plio‐Pleistocene collection encompasses the entire time span and is the most complete at any institution in North America. The Division includes the Nebraska Highway Salvage Paleontology program, a formal cooperation between the Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Museum which has been continuously renewed since 1960. The Nebraska Highway Salvage paleontologist and assistants actively conduct fieldwork to recover fossils threatened by highway construction. These are prepared and accessioned into the UNSM paleontology collections.
vii. Parasitology ‐The Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML) was named as one of three U.S. National Resource Centers for Parasitology in 1982 by the American Society of Parasitologists. Holding more than 473 holotypes, 11,041 paratypes, over 9,000 identified species, 171,202 database entries, and several million specimens, HWML maintains the largest university‐based systematic parasitology research collection globally.
viii. Zoology ‐With a focus on the biodiversity of the Great Plains, the Division of Zoology encompasses all vertebrate groups in one administrative unit: mammals (22,650 specimens), birds (13,400 specimens), amphibians and reptiles (18,950 specimens), and fishes (14,600 lots representing 445,499 specimens).
Growing the Museum. The museum participates in donor development and the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Only in Nebraska Campaign (OiN) to enable us to better serve Nebraskans. To date, we are 50% to our $18 million OiN goal to support exhibits and planetarium as classrooms of the future, UNL student museum internships in research and science communication, educational programs, and a Museum Café featuring Dairy Store ice cream.
The University of Nebraska Press, founded in 1941, extends the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. We publish and make accessible works of intellectual and cultural significance that advance the boundaries of human knowledge and experience. We do this collaboratively, with agility and creativity, with innovation and dedication, every day. UNP primarily publishes scholarly, general interest, and creative works—approximately 140 new titles each year added to a backlist of 6,000 titles. The press also reprints outstanding previously published works, or works in translation, and has five authors who have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In addition to the Nebraska imprint, the press also publishes books under the Bison Books and Potomac Books imprints and publishes the books of The Jewish Publication Society under a special arrangement.
The University of Nebraska Press publishes 34 journals each year in a variety of fields including Native American studies, anthropology, history, women’s studies, music, literature, sports, French studies, German studies, Great Plains and Midwestern studies, psychology, philosophy, and journalism.
A current catalog of Press offerings, as well as a history of the Press, Big House on the Prairie: 75 Years of the University of Nebraska Press (2016), are included in the supplemental materials packet.
University-wide research centers (UWRCs) engage faculty from multiple Colleges, and are overseen by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, with involvement in each case from Deans of engaged Colleges. Other research centers are overseen within the College where Center research activities predominantly occur. In addition, a number of core facilities support researchers at UNL and across the University of Nebraska.
University-Wide Research Centers
Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior is an interdisciplinary center that brings together faculty in the social, biological and behavioral sciences and engineering to enable diverse studies that expand understanding of brain function and its effects on human behavior and health. The Center houses brain imaging facilities, and its location in Memorial Stadium affords unique opportunities for collaboration with Nebraska Athletics.
Center for Digital Research in the Humanities promotes collaborative, transdisciplinary digital humanities research through building digital content and systems in order to generate and express knowledge of the humanities.
Center for Plant Science Innovation is an interdisciplinary research and development and training program in basic and translational plant sciences. PSI faculty are dedicated to strong basic research that has translational significance for crop improvement to benefit Nebraska US, and global agriculture. Basic discoveries, often in model plants, are advanced to crop species through a plant biotechnology pipeline that includes a world-class plant transformation facility that is complemented by down-stream biotech field facilities for crop performance evaluation and linkages to processing facilities.
Holland Computing Center boasts the fastest computing resources in the state of Nebraska at two locations: the Peter Kiewit Institute at Omaha and the Schorr Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Personnel based in each location assist users, engage students and researchers, and maintain systems.
Nebraska Center for Biotechnology provides state of the art technologies for research through core facilities, specifically core facilities for microscopy, bioinformatics, flow cytometry, proteomics/metabolomics, single cell genomics, and a new cryo EM facility opening Fall 2023. The Center also provides training to faculty, students and staff through workshops and short courses, and awards student fellowships and scholarships.
Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, a collaboration between the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), supports research on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and energy conservation.
Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication develops research strengths directed toward understanding metabolic pathway shifts in complex diseases, and develops novel biomolecular sensing strategies to diagnose, stage, and gauge the effectiveness of therapies for these disorders. The Center receives NIGMS funding as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience serves as the focal point of interdisciplinary research in materials in the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering. The overall goal of NCMN is to provide for the State of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska a nationally recognized center of excellence in materials research science and engineering, nanoscience, and nanotechnology.
Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases works to combat the most eminent threat to the health of U.S. citizens – obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Researchers across UNL and UNMC have joined forces to devise consumer friendly strategies for decreasing the risk of obesity and related diseases through manipulating nutrient-dependent cell signals. The Center receives NIGMS funding as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
Nebraska Center for Virology focuses on the pathogenesis of viral diseases of humans, animals, and plants, including viral oncology. The Center was established as a NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in 2000.
Rural Drug Addiction Research Center facilitates collaboration between basic and health scientists to address the etiology, assessment, prevention, and treatment of substance use and misuse. Center-affiliated research spans topics ranging from synapse to society. The Center receives NIGMS funding as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
Other Research Centers
Buffett Early Childhood Institute partners with schools, communities, policymakers, and others to improve early childhood education and development.
Center on Children, Families and the Law is a home for research and public service on child and family policy issues. Knowledge gained of child and family issues is used to educate policymakers, scholars, service providers, and the public. The Center helps the helpers by providing training, resources, and expertise to helping professionals, with the ultimate goal to improve systems and outcomes for children and families.
Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education supports faculty engaged in educational activities focused on improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at both the PK-12 and collegiate level and in both formal and informal settings. This can include organizing events, conferences and workshops as well as pre- and post-award support for external proposals.
Food Processing Center serves as a major food processing and applied research hub because it integrates applied research with state-of-the-art pilot plants, laboratory services, a team of product developers, and a team that supports food entrepreneurship. The Center is a multi-disciplinary resource which offers both technical and business development services under one roof. This combination is rare in the food industry, which enables the Center to meet the needs of its diverse clients including manufacturers, entrepreneurs, suppliers, distributors, associations, retailers, and food service providers.
Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts aims to leverage technology to innovate, to solve human-scale problems, to entertain audiences, and to tell breathtaking stories that stimulate, provoke, and inspire, all the while producing transformative creative leaders through its educational programs.
Mid-America Transportation Center works to improve safety and minimize risk associated with increasing multi-modal freight movements on the U.S. surface transportation system.
Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools conducts, supports and shares research in academic intervention and learning; early education and development; psychosocial development and social-emotional learning; research and evaluation methods; and rural education and communities.
Nebraska Food for Health Center improves human health by linking agriculture and food production to wellness and disease prevention through microbiome research. The multidisciplinary center brings together strengths in agriculture and medicine at the University of Nebraska to help develop hybrid crops and foods to improve the quality of life of those affected by critical diseases including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancers, inflammatory bowel disease and mental disorders.
Nebraska Public Policy Center brings together policy makers and researchers to address the challenges of local, state, and federal policy.
Nebraska Transportation Center is the umbrella organization for transportation research at the University of Nebraska and represents a unique partnership between university researchers, industry leaders, and government entities. NTC integrates transportation research, education, and technology transfer programs across the four NU campuses.
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute addresses the global challenge of achieving food security with less stress on water resources through improved water management in agricultural and food systems.
Core Facilities
Bioinformatics Core Research Facility offers education, analysis and computational services in the areas of bioinformatics and computational biology.
Biological Process Development Facility provides biopharmaceutical process development designed for successful technology transfer from the bench to large-scale GMP manufacturing, and manufactures material suitable for non-clinical and clinical studies.
Biomedical and Obesity Research Core offers services in molecular and cell biology, nanoparticle tracking, clinical chemistry, metabolite flux analysis, small-animal imaging, neurocognitive phenotyping and metabolic cages. Consultation regarding experimental design and bioinformatics and biostatistics is available.
Bureau of Sociological Research is a one-stop survey research shop that collects data for faculty, graduate students, non-profits, and government entities. The Bureau supports a number of projects that use mail surveys, web surveys, telephone interviews and focus groups.
Central Facility for Nanomaterials and Thin Films provides state-of-the-art instruments for fabricating material samples and devices. The primary focus of the facility is on nanostructuring by using thin film deposition and multi-layering.
Central Plains Research Data Center is part of a network of research data centers operated in conjunction with the U.S. Census Bureau that provides researchers with access to restricted-use federal datasets, including Census and health data (through the National Center for Health Statistics and the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality), as well as other federal agencies.
Chemistry Research Instrumentation Facility is equipped with a wide variety of instrumentation for chemical analysis including NMR, optical spectroscopy, thermal analysis and GC-MS.
Edgeworks Core Facility in the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts harnesses computational media, human centered design processes, and mixed media for creating novel research and solutions with partners. The Core engages emerging technology and story via advanced production techniques, novel data collection, and immersive technologies.
Electron Nanoscopy Instrumentation Facility provides hands-on access to electron microscopes, sample preparation equipment, data collection and data reduction instrumentation for characterization of the topography, morphology, elemental composition, crystalline microstructure, crystal defects and atomic arrangements of materials, mainly on a scale from 10 micrometers down to the near-atomic level.
Flow Cytometry Core Facility provides access to equipment and training for flow cytometry techniques and research methodologies, including data analysis of flow cytometric data utilizing the most current versions of instrument specific and data analysis software.
Life Sciences Annex and Manter Hall The Life Sciences Annex accommodates rodent, laboratory animal and agricultural animal research and offers strict bio-containment conditions for experimentation involving infectious agents and genetically engineered micro-organisms. Manter Hall is designed to accommodate traditional laboratory animals at a BSL-1 level.
Longitudinal Networks Core provides social science researchers access to innovative technology-enabled methodologies for harvesting and analyzing high-fidelity longitudinal data from populations of interest, specializing in hidden or hard-to-reach populations.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility features a research-dedicated Siemens 3 Tesla Skyra MRI scanner and optional capabilities for concurrent 256-channel high-density electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking. The MRI scanner includes multiple head and body coils that allow for conducting functional brain MRI (fMRI), as well as orthopedic, cardiac and other MRI.
Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility provides start-of-the-art social and behavioral science methodological support, expert evaluation and consultation services. The Core primarily provides evaluation services to multiple campuses, communities, state and local non-profit agencies, and private partners, including providing this service for a large number of federally funded projects.
Minority Health Disparities Initiative works to create a community of scholars who engage in the pursuit of high level research on minority health and health disparities, increase the participation of minority scholars at all levels in health related research, and train the next generation of minority health scholars.
Microscopy Core Research Facility provides advanced imaging instrumentation and technical support for multidisciplinary studies conducted mainly by Nebraska academic and industrial research communities.
Nano-Engineering Research Core Facility provides state-of-the-art research instrumentation necessary to position Nebraska researchers at the forefront of global research efforts focused on functional nanostructures and nanodevices. In-house nanofabrication and nanocharacterization facilities are provided.
Nanofabrication Cleanroom Facility provides state-of-the-art instrumentation for designing, fabricating, characterizing and testing complex nano/micro-scale structures and devices.
Nebraska Innovation Studio is a community-oriented makerspace that serves as a hub for innovators, artists and entrepreneurs.
Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory provides advanced methods, technical expertise and sophisticated analytical instrumentation for environmental and water resources research. Specialized methods and instrumentation are available for measuring traces of organic and inorganic contaminants and a variety of stable isotopes.
Physical Properties Facility provides the means for obtaining liquid nitrogen and liquid helium for low-temperature research, cold traps, etc.
Plant Growth Facilities provide high quality greenhouse and growth chamber spaces and plant growing services.
Plant Phenotyping Facilities offers cutting-edge instrumentation and supporting infrastructure for plant phenotyping in the plant sciences. These technologies offer the opportunity to integrate proximal remote sensing and imaging measurements of intricate morphological and functional characteristics of plants.
Plant Transformation Core Research Facility provides services for vector constructions, plant transformations, and characterizations of the derived transformants.
Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility offers a range of technical analytical services that use mass spectrometry, including identification and relative quantification of proteins and several advanced methods for profiling and quantitation of small molecules.
Single Cell Genomics Core The ability to analyze independently or concomitantly the expression of genes and the accessibility profile of the genomic DNA at the single-cell level has now enabled deeper insights into cell function. Analyzing the molecular features of thousands of animal and plant cells in the same workflow also provides information regarding gene function, regulatory networks, and their regulation in response to stress or during cell differentiation.
Spectroscopy and Biophysics Core provides instrumentation, training and support for any type of experimental work involving biophysical and spectroscopic measurements.
Surface and Materials Characterization Facility provides state-of-the-art instruments for nanometer-scale surface measurement, thermal analysis and mechanical characterization of a variety of materials.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Data Management Services includes workshops and one-on-one consultations on data management and writing data management plans for grant proposals, as well as a data repository for preserving and sharing research data.
X-Ray Structural Characterization Facility is dedicated to materials identification and characterization through nondestructive, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), high-resolution diffraction for analysis of thin films, complete structure determination of single crystals (crystallography).
