Campus Research Awards Review Committee

Winfred M. Phillips, Vice President for Research, Dean of the Graduate School

In the short time I have been in this position, we have dealt with about a half dozen grant or award programs that restrict the number of applications or nominations the University of Florida can submit. Additional ones are on the horizon, including the very important National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program.

Many of these limited application programs focus on selecting promising young faculty for career enhancement awards. Others involve major curriculum and instrumentation initiatives. It is crucial that we select our most competitive nominees and proposals for these opportunities. We also have internal support programs which require reviewers.

We have been fortunate to have a number of faculty kindly agree to serve as ad hoc reviewers for these programs. But because of the number and frequency of these programs, as well as to anticipate the short turn-around time we may occasionally have in which to accomplish these reviews, I plan to establish a faculty review committee. Members would serve a one-year term and have the option of rotating off this committee at that time. Further, we will operate via subgroups depending on the expertise required, conflicts of interest, etc. In this way, the workload will be shared and hopefully not too much of a time infringement.

I seek your nomination(s) of faculty from your colleges to serve on this important committee. Faculty serving on this review committee should be established in their field and have a strong understanding of college and university visions. Please forward names of faculty to me by September 20. We will contact them to determine their willingness and availability to participate in this important effort.