Message from the Chair, Research Board

Welcome to the Academic Year 2007-08!

I am very excited to report on the upcoming activities of the Research Board. First, I would like to thank the past chairs(Joe Wetchler,2005-06; Rita Brusca-Vega, 2006-07) and the members who have served on the Research Board in the last two years. In Fall 2005 the Research Board was established working with the Office of Research and Professional Development(ORPD). Vice Chancellor Nabil Ibrahim asked the Research Board to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to promote research and scholarship initiatives to move our university to the next higher level. In the last two years, the Board worked closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor George Hong and the ORPD office and has made significant progress in that direction. The development of several initiatives, including establishment of the guidelines for research centers/institutes and their implementation clearly demonstrates the progress made by the Research Board. Some of the highlight are:

• Reviewing Faculty Summer Research Grant
• Reviewing Incentive Award for Principal Investigators
• Reviewing Outstanding Sponsored Research Award
• Co-sponsoring Faculty Research Forum
• Organizing Faculty Research Network
• Facilitation of Research Collaboration

The Research Board's Agenda for 2007-08 will be to oversee and support the past initiatives and also develop some new initiatives, such as:

• Co-sponsoring Research Center Abroad Program in Hong Kong
• Working with ORPD to provide oversight of theResearch Centers and Institutes
• Facilitation Faculty Scholarship Evaluation
• Co-sponsoring Research Week for Faculty and Students

The Board will continue to closely work with the Academic Leadership Team, the faculty, staff and the student community to find better ways to help and promote research at Purdue Calumet. We hope to generate more enthusiasm and interest in research for our existing and new faculty, as well as our students. I believe that the returns on ivestment from the work of the Research Board will be a significant component towards our university goal to move Purdue Calumet to the next level.

Sincerely,
Amlan Mitra
Chair, Research Board