Activities

It is anticipated that centers will engage in various types of research support activities. Recognition that biochemical analysis covers a very broad area of scientific inquiry is essential to productive operation of the facility. Therefore, it will be important for the Director to develop resource utilization policies that benefit the largest number of scientists, consistent with the overall mission of METACyt and the support of larger scale scientific proposals and initiatives. Accordingly, the Center Director will develop procedures to systematize target request and prioritization. Center activities are likely to be comprised of a variety of the activities described below. The crucial mix and emphasis on various activities will be determined by the needs of the campus, as assessed by the Director, the UEB and the METACyt Operations Committee.

Routine service activities: These will comprise analytical services such as routine separations and compound identification. The Director and UEB (as delineated above) will set use policies with respect to such activities, such that the Center can maintain long-term services.

Long term collaborative activities: These comprise long term projects likely to last for a number of months, or for which dedicated expertise is required. Such activities are highly desirable, but will quickly overwhelm the capacity of the Center to deliver services unless such collaborations are supported from external sources (i.e. a dedicated position from federal funding, or some other source). For this reason, such long term collaborations must be specifically supported by clearly identified funds. In no case, should a Center compete with established faculty for the delivery of such collaborative services. Instead, the center should focus on productive collaborations that fall outside the scope and/or interest of current faculty, or for which the Center is uniquely qualified.

Special Long Term Projects: These are activities relating to the long term goals of dedicated initiatives (such as those that will emerge from METACyt nodes) on this campus, or at the School of Medicine. Such activities should involve a clearly demarcated research initiative, such as a federal center proposal.

Student/faculty research training: It is most appropriate for the Center to train students in the use of standard research tools, and to serve (when possible) as an infrastructure resource. Such activities may optimize research productivity on the campus. The UEB and Director will determine fair and equitable use parameters for such activities, subject to approval of the Operating Committee.

Seed project support: Centers must be especially active in promoting projects that may lead to new funding, particularly if such funding enhances the METACyt mission. Support in terms of expedited project prioritization should be made when the Director is satisfied that a strong cost-benefit ratio exists. Such decisions should be made in close consultation with the Center Advisor.