UWEB Graduation Planning

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UWEB Graduation Planning
Buddy D. Ratner, Ph.D. University of
Washington Seattle, Washington USA
An NSF Engineering Research Center
Ratner_at_UWEB.ENGR.WASHINGTON.EDU
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Discussion Points
Center Organization Center Specific
challenges- re post graduation Organization
changes Institutional Challenge Research
Funding Mission Changes re systems approach
or not? What is center's definition of
sustainability?
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UWEB ERC Organization
Director Deputy Director
Microscopy, Lab facilities
Admin
Thrust Leaders Research Director
E/O Director
Industry Director
meetings publications
SFS SET-UP
investigators
finance
marketing
teacher
YTH
Postdocs, students
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Center Specific Challenges Post-graduation
State-led initiatives for research support are
VERY rare The biomedical device industry is not
generous or visionary We are moving to a new
building -- how will this work? Support for core
(shared facilities)? Some staff people are
abandoning ship -- we must rebuild a team with
less certainty of future funding.
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Organizational Changes
Thinning down our administrative staff (fewer NSF
requirements) Hiring is now based on the ability
to assist with grant writing/fund
raising Faculty will re-assemble into new groups
and new collaborations
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Institutional Challenges
The UW
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Research Funding
DOE grant for glucose sensor healing The BEAT
grant (NIH) for heart tissue engineering An NIH
wound healing center A DARPA program on
prosthetic limbs Extension of the Singapore-UW
program? Anti-infective grants? New polymer
grants? Biosensor for homeland security? Regenerat
ive medicine institute in the State of Washington?
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Mission Changes re systems approach or not?
Not! Industry doesnt seem to know this
systems term -- its an academic word (check
the WEB) Industry projects are product or goal
focused, involve coordinated teams and require
project planning We will continue doing this (as
we always have) Thus, no change here for UWEB --
well just drop the systems word.
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What is our center's definition of sustainability?
UWEB will serve as a core to coordinate
research funding We will continue to have a
biomaterials student group We will continue to
have a large education/outreach group We will
continue to have an industry group Enhanced
emphasis on translational research and spinoff
companies