{"id":4185,"date":"2026-01-09T15:32:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T21:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/open\/?p=4185"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T21:32:34","slug":"open-book-happy-new-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/open\/open-book-happy-new-year-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"OPEN Book – Happy New Year 2026!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OPEN Book<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is the Office of Research and Innovation\u2019s internal monthly electronic newsletter that highlights upcoming activities, office news, and accomplishments.\u00a0 The OPEN Book newsletter is sent on the last business day of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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News, Information and Upcoming Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Research & Innovation Winter Apparel Store is open!<\/strong>

The Office of Research and Innovation has launched on online apparel store<\/a>. To show you our appreciation for all the work you are doing to support and elevate Nebraska Research, R&I will cover up to $35 of your apparel order.  The coupon code is RI2026<\/strong>and can be entered at checkout. The will remain open until 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22nd.  

Orders for local employees will be delivered to your campus office on either <\/em>Monday, February 9 or Tuesday, February 10.  You will be asked for a campus building at checkout.  

Fully remote employees will have items shipped directly to your home via USPS and can take 1-5 days to arrive depending on distance.  Please enter N\/A for building at checkout.  

Thank you for all you do!     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Staff Recognition Event – Save the Date February 19<\/strong>
 
We will continue the tradition of celebrating our colleague\u2019s accomplishments and enjoying time together.  We will return to Sun Valley Lanes on Thursday, February 19, from 11:45-3:00 p.m. for our annual recognition presentation and afternoon of bowling and prizes! Registration will be sent out at the end of January.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nomination for the Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award – accepted through Jan. 19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nominations for the 2025 Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Services Award <\/a>are being accepted now through January 19.  Each year, Research and Innovation 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 R&I’s mission. These staff members go above and beyond to support the values of leadership, innovation, and initiative as they provided exceptional service to clients and to the university.  Nominate a colleague<\/a>!    

Occasionally, an award is also given to individuals outside R&I 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 Innovation<\/a>.

If you have any questions, please contact Becky Carter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Performance Management App – Trakstar Perform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Trakstar Perform has a new look\/user interface.  The same features are still available.  To learn about what’s changed, check out this guide: Welcome to the New Trakstar Perform UI<\/a>.  

 The new performance conversation window opens on Monday, January 12, 2026.If you have any questions, please contact Becky Carter<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome New R&I Team Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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New Hire Announcement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Autumn Bergers <\/strong>started on December 15, as an Animal Care Program Technician II on the Animal Care Program team. Autumn reports to Katelin VanDerslice and will be located at the Life Sciences Annex. Attached is an organizational chart which can also be found at https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/open\/staff\/<\/a> .

Autumn\u2019s role will be to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n