Goal B: Empowering the Engines of Discovery and Application

Chair: Gary Thompson
Members: Gary Felton, Fred Gildow, Paul Heinemann, Mary Kennett, Bob Roberts, Ann Tickamyer

Objective 1

Maintain a robust portfolio of fundamental science to generate new knowledge

Encourage and invest in faculty co-hiring opportunities with other colleges and institutes
Expand the research portfolio beyond traditional funding sources
Become more interactive with the Penn State institutes to encourage the alignment with CAS priorities

Be proactive and responsive to co-hire opportunities (nimble) and identify co-hire partners outside of the college
Increase faculty participation in research sponsored by non-federal funding sources such as foundations
Facilitate visits and workshops by program directors from federal funding agencies
Participate in university-wide "Big Data" initiatives through the Cyberscience Initiative

Translate knowledge into real world applications through innovation and technology development

Promote commercialization of the research portfolio through IP development
Establish long-term relationships with major industry partners that will provide mutual benefits and achieve compatible goals
Develop innovative research programs and products that have significant societal impacts

Provide opportunities for faculty to learn about the commercialization process and explore new approaches to support IP development
Establish a self-sustaining IP development and industry sponsored research officer within the college
Recognize research commercialization as a valued component of faculty scholarship
Actively engage industry by aligning faculty research expertise with industry interests to support research activities
Increase the number of technology disclosures and subsequent patents that are licensed

Develop research programs that result in scalable, local-to-global impacts

Approach agricultural and environmental challenges as complex integrated systems that require scalable solutions
Develop a robust portfolio of sustained, purposeful international research activities
Maintain a global perspective through international research collaborations and graduate programs

Improve efficiencies in institutional processes to encourage and facilitate international collaborations
Increase participation in INTAD as a dual degree graduate program that is resourced for success
Increase the number of international students and researchers
Establish a new Global Faculty Fellows program to support the development of international research

Strengthen institutional capacity to address complex societal issues

Invest in advanced infrastructure and enabling technologies
Facilitate team-based research activities that focus on strategic granting opportunities
Invest strategically in research faculty and staff
Provide professional development and leadership training opportunities for faculty
Coordinate efforts to establish new endowed professorships and chaired positions
Invest in sabbatical leaves to enable faculty to re-energize their research activities

Create a task force to examine the current state of college research facilities and develop a plan to prioritize strategic investments for the future
Develop faculty succession planning and strategic hiring processes

Train the next generation of scientists and educators to be competitive and successful in the new economy

Provide professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral associates
Develop recruiting strategies that attract the highest caliber students to our programs
Improve facilities required for graduate student training
Ensure ethics training to promote research and scientific integrity
Encourage participation in research commercialization activities

Increase industry, interdisciplinary and international graduate student experiences
Review current college graduate program structures with the goals of attracting high quality applicants and improving student participation and retention
Provide interactive workshops to inform graduate students and postdoctoral associates about topics such as industry careers, fellowship applications, grant writing, and research commercialization
Proactively invest in graduate recruitment activities, and coordinate these efforts among the interdisciplinary and departmental programs