Monday, September 11, 2023

12:30-12:40

Welcome by John Hanold

12:45-1:15

ACOR Award Presentation
John Hanold - Associate Vice President for Research - Director, Office of Sponsored Programs
Brenda Brooks – Senior Associate Director, Office of Sponsored Programs

1:15-1:30

"Mastering the Art of Identifying (Rogue) Government Markings"
Natalie Mansell – Cyber Security Systems Engineer, Office of Information Security
Kris McNitt – Research Security Compliance, Office of Sponsored Programs

In this session, Natalie and Kris will provide a high-level overview of what Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is, how to identify it, and what you should do in the event you find yourself in receipt of marked documents and/or emails.

1:30-1:45

Introducing Research Administration Intern Program
Rashonda Harris - Assistant Vice President for Research

Exciting news! We're launching the Research Administration Intern Program, aiming to foster fresh talent for and a pipeline of new research administrators. The 15-week paid internship targets local college seniors from August 28th to December 4th in fields like public health, business administration, and social sciences. This hands-on experience will help us identify potential future team members.

We'll actively recruit from top local colleges, ensuring a strong candidate pool. Importantly, intern pay won't impact department budgets unless they become permanent employees. If you have openings or foresee needing support, consider hosting an intern. This collaboration benefits both sides and supports a stronger research administration future.

1:45-1:50

Break

1:50-2:50

Break-Out Session #1

1. “Bayh-Dole” Reporting Requirements for Federally Sponsored Inventions
   Presenter: Brad Swope
   In the 1980s a law was passed to allow universities to own inventions created with federal funding.  This law and its related regulations (known colloquially as “Bayh-Dole”) places various reporting requirements on universities for any such inventions.  Penn State’s Office of Technology Management (“OTM”) has responsibility for managing these inventions and submitting the required reports to our various federal sponsoring agencies.  In this session, we will briefly cover: (i) an overview/history of Bayh-Dole, (ii) the various reporting requirements, and (iii) some of OTM’s processes for managing such inventions and their related reporting requirements.
    
2. MyFunds PI Report and export budget demonstration
   Presenter:  Edit Radone
   Introducing and setting up three reports/tiles in myFunds that show: (1) Overview with burning rates; (2) Balances by Sponsored Class; (3) Monthly expense report. Show a couple of examples of using the budget export tool in SIMS.  Please bring your laptop to follow up in real-time.
    
3. Working with Researchers: Strategies for Supporting and Building Relationships with PIs
   Presenters:  Maryellen O’Brien and Jennifer Surrena
   In this session, we will describe programs and strategies that have been used by different units to engage with researchers, including orientation programs for new PIs and other initiatives focused on building positive working relationships with faculty. Participants will have an opportunity to share tips and best practices from their own experience with faculty.
    
4. Onboarding: Help your new hires engage, perform, and stay
   Presenter:  Angela Rogers
   Onboarding, the process of bringing in, training, and acculturating new hires is one of the most common talent development interventions. It is critical for retention, engagement, and career development. However, is often poorly operationalized. As a result, it is common for newcomers to have negative experiences. Negative onboarding is a significant driver of first-year turnover.

   What are the most common problems and how can they be fixed? What do newcomers really need? What are the best practices and the keys to implementing them effectively? What are the pitfalls to avoid? This presentation will answer those questions and more by sharing the results obtained from a study conducted with new hires across a variety of industries during the spring of 2022.

   Validate your current onboarding best practices to continue.
   Identify your current onboarding mistakes to stop.
   Discover what newcomers wish you knew, so you can introduce those practices.

2:50-2:55

Break

2:55-3:55

Break-Out Session #2

1. Disclosure of Foreign Support and Affiliations
   Presenters:  Garth Gregor and Clint Schmidt
   Researcher disclosures to Federal Sponsors continue to be an important aspect of Research Compliance. High profile audit findings related to disclosure of foreign activities have resulted in massive amounts of payback, suspension of projects and damage to institutional reputation at universities nationwide.  Our focus will be on disclosure of foreign support and affiliations, as well as a look at the financial disclosures submitted by researchers through Penn State’s COINS system and associated data feed in the IAF.  There will also be an overview of Risk Assessments and mitigation plans by Federal sponsors.
    
2. Creating Value through Project Management: Best Practices for use in Research Administration
   Presenters:  Ashley Stauffer, Rashonda Harris, Shaweta Singla, Danielle Salerno and Crystal Hubler
   This presentation provides a gateway into project management best practices for research administrators. Learn essential project management tools and techniques that can be deployed to manage work throughout the sponsored award lifecycle (both pre- and post-award processes).
    
3. New Grant/Account set up in SIMBA
   Presenters:  Matt Beissel, Corry Bullock and Nicole Wolfe
   A discussion and hands-on demonstration of the award setup process, from SIMS to SIMBA.
    

3:55-4:00

Break

4:00-4:45

An Overview of The Penn State Grape and Wine Team and Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry
(WHOLE GROUP)
Dr. Cain Hickey, Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Science

Cain has been involved in viticulture research and extension since 2007. He has presented at state, regional, national, and international academic and industry conferences, and developed and coordinated numerous extension workshops. Cain has authored peer-reviewed journal articles and extension publications. His research has an applied viticulture emphasis, and has recently been focused on cultivar evaluation, and pruning, trellising, and fruit-zone management as they relate to crop yield, fruit composition, and spring frost mitigation. As Viticulture Extension Educator at Penn State, Cain works with the Pennsylvania grape and wine industry to solve vineyard management issues and optimize crop production practices.
 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

8:30-9:30

Break-Out Session #3

1. Purchase Order Lifecycle
   Presenters:  Becky Heltman and Paul Anderson
   This session will train users on how a purchase flows through SIMBA from Shopping Cart to payment to vendor. It will give SIMBA users insight to be able to track purchases and expenditures through SAP and assist users in monitoring their accounts and commitments.
    
2. Research.gov Demo: Navigating the Ins and Outs of an NSF Proposal from Start to Finish
   Presenters: Leah Rattie, Laura Reddington, Mary Masterson 
   This presentation will provide step-by-step instructions on how to develop and submit NSF applications in Research.gov. We’ll discuss how to create a research.gov account and affiliate it with PSU, what steps the PI needs to take to create the application and provide you with Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) access, what documents are commonly required, how to work with your AOR to review and submit the application, and more.
    
3. MTA Complexities
   Presenters: Suzanne Kijewski and Erika Swift
   Come learn about the standard process for material transfer agreements and what complicating factors that can arise.
    
4. Virtual Harmonizing: Cultivating Belonging in Research Administration through Diversity and Inclusion
   Presenter:  Rashonda Harris
   Join us as we delve into the intersections of diverse perspectives, bridging the gap between digital and physical spaces to create a harmonious environment. Explore innovative strategies, engaging case studies, and powerful best practices that empower individuals and organizations to foster a sense of belonging, all while embracing the richness of diversity.

9:30-9:35

Break

9:35-10:35

Break-Out Session #4

1. Documenting, Training, and Sharing…Oh My! Trying to manage training and knowledge transfer and keeping it consistent in an ever-changing environment.
   Presenters:  Kayla Bailey, Jaimie Garrison, Aubry Hoffman, Erin Nilson, and Stacie Schlesinger
   OERA shares their processes of both Pre and Post Award from onboarding to retention and off to retirement or death -whichever comes first.
    
2. Digital Literacy for Research Administration- How to Get Data, How To Use Data
   Presenter:  Jeff Popadines and Miranda Bair
   In this presentation we will be examining data from the lens of a research administrator, corporate engagement/ industry relations professional, academic adviser, and a senior leader. How can just a few data pulls bring valuable information to all these people? How can we get our message across? What matters? Let’s get started by exploring our own systems- SIMBA and SIMS.
    
3. Virtual Tour of myResearch Portal
   Presenter:  Corry Bullock and Chris Lose
   This session will introduce end-users to Penn State's myResearch portal with a focus on the newly introduced Financial Accounts section.
    
4. Pre-Award Work on Grant Proposals Leads to A Post-Award Harvest
   Presenters: Kyle Fagan, Rebecca Shultz, Niki Page
   A beginner—intermediate level presentation offering an overview of pre-award budgeting considerations and how they impact the post-award experience. Careful planting at the start of the season can help ensure a more successful (and less stressful) harvest.

10:35-10:40

Break

10:40-11:40

Break-Out Session #5

1. Demonstration Post Award Management Database
   Presenters:  Edit Radone
   Demonstration of the College of Agricultural Sciences' post-award management database: structure, input data, searches, and functionality!
    
2. Uncrossing Wires - Streamlining Interactions with OSP
   Presenters:  Sarah Kronenwetter and Robin Riglin
   This presentation aims to provide a brief overview of some of the common OSP processes and the associated information that we utilize to perform those functions.  Additionally, we plan to discuss and identify resources and offices external to OSP and their role in Research Administration.
    

3. Research and Tech Transfer Case Studies
   Presenters: Suzanne Kijewski and Erika Swift
   Come walk through case studies outlining complicated scenarios that can occur when navigating academic research and technology transfer.
    
4. NIH’s Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy: What Research Administrators Need to Know
   Presenters:  Briana Wham and Kara Marshall
   This session will provide an overview of NIH’s DMS Policy and its requirements, which went into effect in January 2023.  Participants will learn about PSU resources that are available to support researchers with the development of a data management and sharing plan (DMSP).  Presenters will also discuss enhancements made to SIMS to accommodate this policy and anticipated changes that may result from new NIH guidance.

11:40-11:45

Break

11:45-12:30

Decoding Microbial Diversity in the Human Gut (WHOLE GROUP)
Jordan Bisanz, Eberly College of Science - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Humans are colonized by highly diverse communities of microbes which shape our health. While diversity is correlated with health, it is often not clear why. This Bisanz lab uses lab-built microbial communities and germ-free animal models to understand the mechanisms through which microbes interact with each other and the host.

Jordan Bisanz has been involved in microbiome research for more than a decade. After finishing his training in San Francisco, Canada, France, and Tanzania, he established a research group at PSU in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2021. His group seeks to conduct mechanistic research with real world applications. Current research includes how healthy gut microbes impact resistance to infectious disease, pharmaceutical therapy, and exposure to environmental chemicals.