Research: Starting your own research program

1
Research Starting your own research
program Research Proposals Comments from senior
colleagues Allow yourself to go in new directions
(but keep a research focus) Collaborations Fund
ing may inspire projects you had not previously
envisioned www.vpresearch.iastate.edu/Funding/ind
ex.html Become part of a ISU center/Institute ww
w.vpresearch.iastate.edu/centers_inst.html How
do I build a research group? Graduate
students Graduate recruiting duties First
year students looking to join research groups
this semester Undergraduates Undergraduate
research for credit Hourly workers, post jobs
on AccessPlus, students are looking for jobs
now! (https//accessplus.iastate.edu/frontdoor/log
in.jsp) Postdocs Ask professors in your field
if they know of someone looking for a postdoc
position (senior colleagues probably get 10
inquires a week) Post announcements in
journal/web sites associated with your
field Hire someone very knowledgeable in your
sub-field Technicians
2

• Research..Youre going to need help
• I suggest you introduce yourself to the
  person/people in your department with the
• following roles (Departmental directory and/or
  web site)
• Mentor and/or Department Chair
• Department Secretary/Assistant/Clerk
• Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager,
  Account Specialist
• Salary/payroll/start-up funding/account
  numbers/account balances/submitting
• paperwork for purchases
• Graduate Student Coordinator/Graduate Recruiting
  Coordinator/Graduate
• Admissions
• Academic Advisor/Lab Coordinator/Course Work
  Secretary
• Library Contact Person
• www.lib.iastate.edu/subjlibr-main/2004/3019

3
Research Setting up your lab/research
facilityyoure going to need to buy stuff Make
a list of all equipment/supplies you will need
for your research, and decide when you will
purchase each item Purchasing
Department www.public.iastate.edu/purchasing/hom
epage.html Low (suggest you get an ISU purchasing
card Purchasing Card provides quicker
turn-around time on your orders, widespread
acceptance by vendors, and reduced paperwork
processing. www.public.iastate.edu/purchas
ing/purchasing_card.htm High Must go
through University and/or Department Purchasing
Office www.public.iastate.edu/purchasing/policy
_procedure_bid.htm required purchasing agent decides 10,000 per item
Requires 3 formal bids Get to know the sales
personnel for the major equipment suppliers in
your field
4
Research Setting up your lab/research
facilitycontinued Common lab
supplies Central Stores www.public.iastate.ed
u/centrals/ Online catalog through Access
Plus Belva Weers at bweers_at_iastate.edu
Chemistry Stores www.chem.iastate.edu/servi
ces/stores/ Melissa Gruhn, manager Office
Supplies Central Stores of Office Max, through
Central Stores E-mail Belva bweers_at_iastate.edu
with your name, phone, fax and ship to address
Computer/software Tech CYte, through
bookstore www.isubookstore.com/SiteText.aspx?id
2925 I suggest you keep track of what you are
spending, I use a spreadsheet with the following
columns personnel/tuition, equipment, supplies,
Misc. Dont spend much time getting everything
to the exact dollar amount