Originally published through the Research Radar e-newsletter
on April 24, 2024.
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Colleagues,
The faculty member who eventually convinced me to pursue a PhD lived just off campus. Every morning, I saw him walking to campus with a paper under his arm and a briefcase in one hand. His office was in a suite with a shared room where faculty would gather for lunch. I went to school on a half-athletic scholarship. This meant that I had half my bills paid for by scholarship and a ton of work-study hours to earn the other half. My college accommodated my crazy schedule of classes, training, travel, and work by putting me on whatever project needed something done. So, I constantly went into the faculty room to get assignments. Their life seemed almost stereotypically simple to me.
But it was the myriad of research projects and the opportunity of life-long-learning, not the simple existence, that drew me to academia. And juggling the classes, training, travel schedule, and work-study hours was quite posibly the best training for what my, and likely your, life feels like. I don’t think we even have a faculty lounge on campus, do we?
I am trying to maintain connection to my personal research during this year as Interim VPR. ASCENT, the FAA center I direct, hosted our fuels meeting with the University of Hawaii so we could visit the only refinery on the islands and see their new sustainable aviation fuels facility. I flew in a day early because it was the only way I could juggle a virtual meeting and still get here. Turns out that a colleague from another university did the same thing. Instead of hiking up Diamond Head, we both spent the day in hotel rooms doing Zoom meetings. A young colleague from MIT reached out so we could meet up for dinner. We talked about some of our research projects, but also about the issues he was experiencing at MIT trying to get things done. Their graduate students have unionized, he feels like he spends too much of his time dealing with budgets, purchasing, hiring students and researchers, and his classes are killing him right now! Sound familiar?
My point is that the issues here at WSU may feel unique to us, but I can assure you that they are not. I don’t know if it is a sign of the times or that the personality types that have attracted us to our work also crave overloading ourselves. I am flying back to Spokane as you read this so that I can meet with the Murdock Foundation. Next week, I will be at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, WSU Vancouver, Seattle, and celebrating commencement on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. So, I know how Lisa, my wife, would answer my question above, but we won’t go there.
Commencement is nearly here, a time to celebrate and reflect. Many of us will be hooding our newest PhD’s. And we will soon have a bit more time to focus on our research. As we do so, I hope you take a moment to pause on your own journey from student to researcher. And while you’re at it, instill some parting words of encouragement and wisdom to the next generation of researchers.
Michael P. Wolcott
Regents Professor
Interim Vice President for Research
Grant Writing Workshop for Social Sciences Faculty
The Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships (ORAP) invites faculty in the social sciences across all WSU campuses to join Cheryl Dykstra-Aiello, research development specialist, for “Grant Proposals: Nuts & Bolts for Social Sciences Faculty,” a series of four workshops that will be offered 10 a.m. – noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 14 – May 23 in CUE 114. Due to limited class size, faculty in all tracks and at all campuses are invited to submit an online application before the May 1 deadline.
Tribal Engagement and Consultation Mini Grants
The Office of Tribal Relations is partnering with the Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships to offer mini grants to researchers who demonstrate experience collaborating with Native communities and who are seeking funds for tribal outreach and engagement on a current or new project that will lead to the submission of an extramural grant proposal.
Proposals are due May 15 for funds that can be used during the summer and the following academic year. Funds can be utilized for activities (travel, listening sessions, tribal elder or cultural stipends, participant honorariums, etc.) that enhance the research partnership. The PI must be a faculty member at WSU (any track and rank). Awardees will be expected to work with the Office of Tribal Relations to ensure the project meets the expectations for tribal engagement and will also receive proposal development support from the Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships.
Seeking Candidates for Office of Research Faculty Fellows Position
The Office of Research National Laboratory Partnerships is starting its search for the next Faculty Fellow to coordinate the WSU-PNNL Distinguished Graduate Research Program (DGRP). The selected candidate will begin during mid- to late-fall 2024 to onboard before taking on full responsibility of duties effective in January 2025.
In this role, you will report to Jonathan Male, director of the Office of National Laboratory Partnerships and assistant vice chancellor for research. Responsibilities will include leadership for the DGRP, raising the visibility of the DGRP across the WSU system, shaping procedures that foster participation by faculty and academic units related to the DGRP, and contributing to overall student success in the program. A time commitment of at least 12 hours per month is expected with compensation provided through additional duties and responsibilities (ADR), course buy-out, or partial support for a student/post-doc.
Please contact Jonathan Male by email at jonathan.male@wsu.edu and cc DGRP@wsu.edu for more information.
State and Federal Budget Plans Include Support for WSU
WSU is seeing much-appreciated support for its programs and initiatives in budget packages advancing at the state and federal levels. More information on WSU’s legislative efforts is available on the External Affairs and Government Relations website.
Amplifying dreams: how SBDC advising empowered online business to soar
Legacy media has incredible barrers to entry; new media, not so much. Just ask Rafael Aguilar, owner of La Pera Radio and TV, based in Wenatchee. The challenge is how to create a sustainable business.
La Pera Radio and TV broadcasts live online through the La Pera app from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, and recorded music fills out the rest of the schedule 24/7. For four hours every weekday morning, Aguilar provides news and information in Spanish and English. The live program is a mix of news, paid content, public service announcements and music.
Help name WSU’s new apple in online contest
For more than 20 years, Washington State University’s newest apple has been known by a mix of numbers and initials. It’s now time for apple lovers to give WA 64 a name. An online survey and contest is currently open, seeking a distinctive name for this pink-hued, firmly crisp, sweet, and tart apple. Visitors to the Pullman campus can learn about the apple at in-person events planned this spring. A hybrid of Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink, a variety better known as the trademarked Pink Lady® apple, WA 64 has outstanding eating and storage qualities. It was selected for the fresh market.
The contest to name the apple is open to all U.S. residents age 18 and older, and ends May 5. Along with name ideas, survey respondents are also asked a few additional questions, including why they chose their suggestion and whether they have purchased fresh apples in the past three months.
NEH Accepting Applications for the Digital Projects for the Public Program
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Public Programs is accepting applications for the Digital Projects for the Public program. This program supports projects that interpret and analyze humanities content in primarily digital platforms and formats, such as websites, mobile applications and tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual environments. Proposals are due June 12.
National Endowment for the Humanities – Humanities Collections and Reference Resources
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access is accepting applications for the Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program. The program supports projects that facilitate the discovery and use of humanities collections for research, teaching, and public engagement. Primary activities include digitizing and describing collections, as well as creating reference resources to synthesize humanities information. Proposals are due July 16.
NSF Regional Innovation Engines
The NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program creates regional-scale, technology-driven, inclusive innovation ecosystems throughout the United States by accelerating key technologies, addressing regional, national, societal, and/or geostrategic challenges, driving economic growth, creating and retaining quality jobs, expanding equitable pathways into careers, and strengthening national competitiveness and security.
This is a limited submission opportunity. You MUST complete a cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.