Research Notes
March 2025
Information from the Division of Research for Brown faculty, grant-related staff, and students
Whose data is it, anyway?
This year marked a record-breaking sixth annual Love Data Week at Brown, attracting 457 attendees to 16 virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, including faculty lightning talks, panel discussions, and keynote presentations by physician-scientist Dr. Sheldon Holder and epidemiology professor Stephen Buka.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS
Kimani Toussaint discusses pulse oximeters on The Angel Nest Podcast
Kimani Toussaint, senior associate dean for research and strategic initiatives at Brown's School of Engineering, spoke with The Angel Nest Podcast about his work to find a pulse oximeter that accurately measures blood oxygen levels for all skin types. Listen to the podcast.
2025 CTO Business Accelerator
Cleantech Open (CTO) provides entrepreneurs and technologists with the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. The application deadline for its next annual business accelerator is April 13, 2025. Apply here.
Apply for XSeed Award by March 14!
The XSeed Award brings promising preclinical drug development research to the marketplace. The next Award provides two teams up to $250,000 each for New York City minority- and women-led life science and healthcare startups. Applications due March 14. Apply here.
Rhode Island Neuroscience Symposium
BTI’s Melissa Simon was on the planning committee for the first Rhode Island Neuroscience Symposium. Contact her to engage with Brown research to drive neuro-related innovation and medical solutions: melissa_j_simon@brown.edu
RILSH launches new funding programs
The Rhode Island Life Sciences Hub launched four funding programs that may apply to newly launched Brown startups. Applications are rolling, but those submitted by March 23 will be considered at RILSH's April board meeting.
Faculty: Learn about doing sponsored research with companies
Save the Date: BTI and the Division of Research will host an industry engagement panel discussion for faculty interested in doing sponsored research with companies on April 21, 1-2pm in South Street Landing. More details to follow. Contact tech-innovations@brown.edu with questions.
SPONSORED PROJECTS
Double-check your Huron role if an action appears unavailable to you
Many actions in Huron require you to be the Administrative Contact on the FP or Award record. If you need to send a Grant Status Update, start a Modification Request, or initiate a specific proposal type, you can assign yourself as the Administrative Contact using the "Manage Access" activity.
2025 federal administration transition email inbox
Please continue to forward federal sponsor communications that impact active awards or pending proposals to the central DoR email address at fed2025admintransition@brown.edu.
Understanding the Real Costs of Research - a video resource on facilities & administrative (indirect) costs
A video produced by the Council on Governmental Relations explains that the total costs of research consists of both direct and indirect costs. Brown contributes internal funds to research over and above what external sponsors support. Watch the short video on Vimeo.
Timely reports on annual and final programmatic/ scientific progress is essential
In light of the rapidly changing federal funding landscape, reports should not be allowed to enter overdue status. Check your award documents to ensure on-time submission. Thank you!
Join us for the Brown Bag Spring Meeting covering topics of interest to Brown’s research administration community
The virtual meeting will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2-4pm. To be added to the invitation list, please email reasadmin@brown.edu.
Subaward invoice receipt review in Workday
Sponsored Projects Research Subcontracting is piloting a new process for reviewing sub-award invoices. This step examines specific information on the invoice but does not alter the PI and department's responsibilities for approving the allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of the costs.
Publication cost allowability and allocability
This is a reminder that sponsor acknowledgments must be included on all research publications. An allocation methodology must support citations with multiple awards. Follow the link for guidance.
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Update to Huron integration of Workday grant roles (Amendment to Dec. 2024 article)
With the introduction of the new Huron Grants system, the Division of Research, Office of the Controller, and the Office of Information Technology have considered feedback from the research administration community on the December 2024 change to Huron integration of Workday Grant Roles.
All divisions have collaboratively devised an integration update to alleviate obstacles in view access to awards across child financial accounts (including in different cost centers). Read more.
Huron funding proposal: Responsible department/division/institute
Did you know you can change the Responsible department/division/institute on a funding proposal?
Huron: Selecting correct sponsor
End users must select the correct sponsor organization when selecting sponsors. For steps on choosing the correct sponsor, visit RAIS' guidance.
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
Insights from proposal development workshop for federal funding targets
The Research Strategy and Development (RSD) team held a two-day proposal development workshop presented by the AtKisson Training Group (ATG), attended by 175 Brown faculty. Learn insights from sessions on leadership, NSF CAREER awards, center-level proposals, and early career awards.
Considering an NSF CAREER proposal? We have you covered.
RSD will hold two events to help Brown faculty develop full proposals for an NSF CAREER award (sponsor deadline: July 23; due to Sponsored Projects: July 15). View details and deadlines.
Research Development and Grant Writing Newsletter
This newsletter highlights new funding opportunities and offers strategies to compete for research funding successfully. Read the current issue and catch up on past issues.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Research Security Program implementation continues
Research security continues to be important and in effect. Brown’s Research Security Program implementation is proceeding, and affected investigators/departments will receive tailored communication as relevant. Review the Research Security Program website for general information.
BEARCORE RCR Training - registration open
BEARCORE will be held in person on May 7-8. Register in Workday Learning. BEARCORE meets NSF and NIH RCR Training requirements. Email Torrey Truszkowski with questions.
Meeting dates & submission deadlines
RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMS
New Huron job aids available
New job aids have been published to the Huron Grants Training page: Huron Grants – Funding Proposal Quick Reference Guide, Huron Grants – Create a Modular Budget, and Huron Agreements – Email Catcher. All Huron job aids and other resources can be found on the Huron Knowledge Center.
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Love Data Week 2025 highlight video
Data ownership, health data, and AI were among the events of Love Data Week 2025. Watch the highlight video.
DoR website feedback
Do you have feedback on the Division of Research website you’d like to share with DoR's web team? Send your email to research-web@brown.edu, and we'll consider your input as we strive to improve the user experience
CONFERENCES & TRAINING
NCURA Region I Spring Meeting: The Case of the Changing Landscape: Navigating the Future!
NCURA invites you to don your detective hat and crack the code of research administration’s evolving challenges. Solve clues, uncover solutions, and connect with fellow investigators in this exciting journey toward success! April 28-30, 2025, DoubleTree by Hilton, Manchester, NH. Learn more and register.
Sharing stories of research and discovery at Brown University.
