The 2016-17 academic year features more campus events to bring together faculty and staff to learn from one another and discover new opportunities for collaboration. A Campus Conference, new grant-writing group and brown-bag sessions are among the events hosted by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

(Note: This story has been updated to reflect programs for the spring 2017 semester.)

TOPIC-CENTERED COLLOQUIA

A daylong Campus Conference, "Digital Humanities," takes place Friday, March 3 in the Joe Crowley Student Union's Great Room. The conference features oral and poster presentations by faculty members and graduate students from across the colleges and disciplines. Networking opportunities will be available throughout the day and lunch will be provided for registered attendees. 

Two networking meetings follow-up on prior Campus Conferences. "Cybersecurity" is the topic for a networking meeting on Friday, March 10, 3 to 5 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student union's Graduate Student Lounge. "STEM Education" is the topic for a networking meeting on Friday, April 14, 3 to 5 p.m. in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center's Faculty Lounge. RSVPs are required and can be made with Yvonne Callan at ycallan@unr.edu. 

Launched in 2015 the Campus Conferences have been amazing venues to learn about the work being developed across campus. "They have highlighted some of the most exciting and avant-garde scholarly work," Ana de Bettencourt-Dias, associate vice president for research, said. "They have also provided a welcome venue for researchers to meet each other, exchange ideas and form new collaborations."

GRANT WRITING

Following two successful and well-attended Grant Writing Workshops in the fall semester, a new Grant Writing Group will regularly convene to share ideas and best practices. Planning is under way for a kick-off roundtable and reception featuring National Science Foundation CAREER grant recipients on Feb. 3. From that point, the Grant Writing Group will meet weekly on Wednesdays, starting Feb. 8, at lunch time. RSVPs are required and can be made with Yvonne Callan at ycallan@unr.edu.

BROWN BAGS ON HOT TOPICS

Bring your own lunch to the hour-long, topic-focused, drop-in sessions coordinated by de Bettencourt-Dias. These Brown Bag Sessions begin at noon and take place in the Joe Crowley Student Union. The spring-semester schedule is as follows:

• "The Alphabet Soup of NIH Grants Explained," Thursday, Feb. 9, at The Joe, room 406, presented by de Bettencourt-Dias, associate vice president for research and professor of chemistry.
• "Promotion from Associate to Full Professor," Thursday, Feb. 23, at The Joe in the Graduate Student Lounge, presented by Kevin Carman, executive vice president and provost.
• "Work-Life Balance," Thursday, March 16, at The Joe in the Graduate Student Lounge, presented by Chris McClendon of the Work, Life and Family Council.
• "Research and Intellectual Property," Thursday, April 13, at The Joe in the Graduate Student Lounge, presented by Ellen Purpus, associate vice president for enterprise and innovation.
• "The Effective Mentoring of Graduate Students and Postdocs," Thursday, April 27, at The Joe in the Graduate Student Lounge, presented by David Zeh, dean of the Graduate School, and Talline Martins, director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

AVPR LUNCHES

A series of lunches with de Bettencourt Dias will continue and provide the opportunity for open discussion by faculty attendees. Spring semester lunches are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17; Friday, March 17; Friday, March 31; Friday, April 21; and Friday, May 5. RSVPs are required and can be made with Yvonne Callan at ycallan@unr.edu.