MARCH 12, 2020 — Editor’s note: The follow message was sent via email today from Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise Bernard Arulanandam to all faculty and staff:
Following up on President Eighmy’s announcement yesterday regarding operational changes, I am writing to provide some additional information regarding impact to research activities at UTSA.
While only a percentage of faculty is directly involved in active research, many people across campus help sustain research activities. We are providing this update so that the campus community is informed of current procedures in place and key contacts should they have any questions or concerns.
The Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise remains open and fully staffed. Research business operations will continue as usual, and we do not expect research activities to be interrupted at this juncture. Students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to continue to engage in research activities.
Research Integrity
REDKE staff is available to assist research and laboratory personnel to adjust their operations as needed. This includes modifications to protocols, physical lab spaces or immediate training of new personnel. Our main office line is 210-458-4340.
Richard Garza x5808 or Amanda Haley x8515
Research Integrity: Lab Safety
Our Lab Safety team has prepared a set of resource documents to provide general guidance on running and preparing a lab should there be any future interruption based on illness or overall university closure.
In the event of a closure the door signage template should be used to indicate to Public Safety how the lab has been left, who the lab point of contact is and which ongoing checks will be done to maintain research activities, if any.
Contacts
Research Integrity: Laboratory Animal Resources Center
LARC has been preparing to minimize impacts to ongoing research activities if the situation escalates, including closure. LARC is storing additional feed, water, bedding, PPE, disinfectant, chemicals, wipes, spray bottles and more. LARC staff will stay in communication with researchers throughout this process and, where possible, partner with teams to maintain continuity. Please let us know if you have specific needs and suggestions.
Public awareness of the coronavirus has led to a shortage of surgical masks. In the animal facilities these masks are required only in the BSL-2 rooms. Staff and students have been asked to refrain from using them in other areas of the animal facility unless instructed otherwise by LARC staff, based on evolving updates from the OHP nurse.
Contacts
Sponsored Project Administration: Research Service Centers and Contracts and Industry Agreements
The three Research Service Centers, Contracts and Industry Agreements and Sponsored Project Administration remain open and fully staffed.
Contacts
Commercialization and Innovation
Services offered by the Office of Commercialization and Innovation will continue to be available for those working on campus or remotely. Using your myUTSA ID and password:
Contacts
Research Support is transferring faculty development trainings and workshops to virtual platforms wherever feasible. Plans are to maintain as much of the full schedule of offerings as is possible throughout the spring semester. Access details will be sent to all registered participants and will be updated on the REDKE events page and other applicable calendars.
Following UTSA guidelines, meetings and external partnership engagements expected to have 50 or more attendees will move to virtual platforms wherever possible.
Contacts
Research Finance and Operations
Grants and Contracts Financial Services will remain in full operation to ensure project setups, sponsor billing, and financial reporting are completed on schedule.
Contacts
Research Core Facilities will continue to be operational. Any changes will be posted to the individual core and/or iLab website.
Contact
Research Computing and Business Intelligence will remain available to help with all REDKE applications located on the Research Portal.
Contact
Research Computing Support Group
All forms of support from the Research Computing Support Group, part of University Technology Solutions, are still available with the exception of the VizLab.
The VizLab remains closed until April 13 or until further guidance is released. Scheduled tours are canceled for the time being.
Contact
Moving forward, our office will provide updates on UTSA’s Coronavirus Updates website. We will also cross-post on the research site as well.
We thank you for your attention and cooperation. Please contact us should you have any questions.
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Covidence is a systematic & scoping review tool used to streamline the process of screening and reviewing articles. Using this software, research teams can easily import studies, perform automatic deduplication, and extract data using templates. This workshop will show attendees how to start a review in Covidence, add collaborators, and get started on screening.
Virtual (Zoom)In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to Pandas, a Python tool for working with data easily. It makes it simple to organize and analyze information when data is organized and categorized, like spreadsheets or tables.
Group Spot B, John Peace LibraryEach fall and spring semester, students convene at the Main Campus at UTSA with booths, ideas and prototypes. A crowd of judges, local organizations, students, faculty and sponsors walk around and talk to the students about their projects and ask questions. Students get the real-life experience of "pitching" their project with hopes of getting funding or support to move to the next level.
UTSA Convocation Center, Main CampusJoin the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusCelebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
