A regular digest for UW faculty with updates on federal and national issues of relevance to their teaching, research and service; actions the University is taking; and ways for faculty to be involved.
Federal Landscape
AI-focused Genesis Mission Consortium launches
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the launch of the Genesis Mission Consortium, a historic public-private partnership advancing the department’s Genesis Mission to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating scientific discovery. Read more on the UW Federal Relations blog.
More on the federal landscape
Check UW Federal Relations for news and updates on federal issues. The Office of Research continues to post federal administration updates, as well as guidance and possible impacts to researchers and research award administrators who are directly affected by federal policies and processes. UW Finance, Planning and Budgeting, as well as the UW Federal Relations team, are keeping leadership apprised of developments.
Resources for Researchers & Instructors
Advance spend period increased to 120 days
Effective Feb. 10, the allowable advance spend period has been increased to up to 120 days for advance/advance extension periods and temporary internal extensions, reflecting the more consistent renewal award notifications that we’ve been seeing.
NIH timeline adjusted
The timeline has been extended to May for the National Institutes of Health’s implementation of the common forms for biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support. The extension is intended to provide users and institutions sufficient time for adoption, allow for full compliance and ensure fairness for all the extramural community.
REMINDER: Preparing for the new ADA rules on digital accessibility arriving in April
Whether you’re just getting started or well on your way, prioritize your efforts around digital accessibility and prepare for the April deadline with step-by-step guidance from the Office of the ADA Coordinator’s course materials checklist and Teaching@UW’s making course materials accessible. Also, to support UW efforts, final drafts of new digital accessibility policies are being made available to the University community for a 30-day review and comment period.
REMINDER: Open private funding opportunities for faculty, researchers
Faculty and researchers may search current open funding opportunities from private sources for their research and programs through a dashboard developed by the UW Corporate & Foundation Relations team.
Key links
- Office of the Provost’s Federal Policy Updates
- UW Medicine’s Federal Policy Updates (UW NetID required)
- Office of Research’s Federal Policy Guidance
- UW Research Makes America
Tell us what you think
Community
SPARK Salon features new music for violin, cello Feb. 19
UW School of Music faculty Pala Garcia, artist in residence, and John Popham, assistant professor and Strings Chamber Music Coordinator, will present new works for violin and cello at the Space for Practice, Art, Reflection and Kinship (SPARK) Salon, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the UW Club. The event, which is third in a series of art-focused salons and open to the public, builds community by highlighting artistic work. A cash bar opens at 4:30 p.m. and continues throughout.
Moore Foundation awards $2.5 million for 16 postdocs
The UW was awarded $2.5 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to fund 16 postdoctoral fellows in a number of fields across the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering and the College of the Environment. The UW is one of 30 U.S. research universities to receive the funding. The grants support work in a range of natural science disciplines supported by the foundation, including disciplines of astronomy, biology, chemistry, Earth and planetary sciences, ecology materials science, physics and quantum information. Post doctoral fellows will receive between $90,000 and $200,000 for work lasting nine to 24 months.
Leadership
Provost’s town hall set for Feb. 12
Provost Tricia Serio will discuss the singular role that public research universities — and the UW in particular — play in our society when she hosts her yearly town hall at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12. While in-person attendance has reached capacity, the town hall will be streamed live online, with a recording available afterward. Registration is not required to view the livestream. Featured speakers include Jodi Sandfort, dean of the Evans School, and Sarah Cusworth Walker, research professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Ted Poor, associate professor in the School of Music, will introduce the provost.