Research Tracks

A publication of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Baylor University

September 27, 2013
by Baylor OVPR
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Funding opportunity: Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has released a request for applications for the 2013 Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program.  The program provides two-year grants of up to $100,000 for basic research at Texas universities. This year’s NHARP program targets … Continue reading

Baylor researchers discover secrets hidden in whale ear wax

September 24, 2013 by Baylor OVPR | 0 comments

Scientists have known for years that the layers of ear wax produced by whales can help determine an animal’s age. But now, research by two Baylor faculty members has shown that there is a lot more we can learn from these foot-long plugs of waxy buildup.

Dr. Sascha Usenko, assistant professor of environmental science, and Dr. Stephen Trumble, assistant professor of biology, discovered that blue whales’ ear wax plugs function as a sort of time capsule, storing traces of contaminants and hormones that can yield knowledge about the whale’s development and exposure to pollutants throughout its lifetime.

Whales produce a new layer of ear wax every six months, so the placement of chemicals in the wax plug allowed Usenko and Trumble to pinpoint chemical exposure to a particular time in a whale’s life.  This knowledge will greatly improve scientists’ ability to measure the timing and impact of pollution on whales and their ecosystems.

The groundbreaking study, published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, has received attention from news outlets around the world.  Click the links below to read more coverage of this exciting research.

September 17, 2013
by Baylor OVPR
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Selected funding opportunities in the arts, humanities, social sciences and education

National Science Foundation Discovery Research K-12 (DRK-12) Deadline: Dec. 6, 2013 Research on Education and Learning (REAL) Deadlines: Optional letter of intent due by Oct. 25, 2013; full proposal due Jan. 10, 2014. Conference and workshop proposals accepted at any … Continue reading

September 13, 2013
by Baylor OVPR
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Reminder: OVPR internal research funding opportunities

Last week, Research Tracks brought you an overview of COS Pivot, a database provided by the OVPR to help Baylor faculty seek external funding for their research.  In addition to helping faculty find external funding, we also provide financial support for … Continue reading

September 10, 2013
by Baylor OVPR
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Baylor professor gives keynote at major international symposium

Dr. Tim Sheng, a professor of mathematics in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, presented a keynote lecture on computational mathematics this week at the 12th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Applications to Business, Engineering and Science (DCABES 2013) … Continue reading

September 9, 2013
by Baylor OVPR
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Selected funding opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields

National Institutes of Health Health Promotion for Children With Physical Disabilities Through Physical Activity and Diet: Developing an Evidence Base (R21) Deadlines: AIDS and AIDS-related applications due Jan. 7, 2014 and May 7, 2014; New applications due Feb. 16, 2014 … Continue reading

COS Pivot helps faculty find funding opportunities and connect with potential collaborators

September 6, 2013 by Baylor OVPR | 0 comments

Are you interested in seeking external funding for your research or scholarly activity? The OVPR can help through our campus-wide subscription to Pivot, an online database of funding opportunities and faculty profiles.

Pivot indexes grant announcements and RFPs from a wide variety of sponsors including federal agencies, non-profit organizations, private foundations and corporate entities. You can search for current opportunities or sign up for weekly alert emails with new opportunities that match your search terms. Pivot can also connect you to other researchers in your discipline to help you locate potential collaborators or keep up with the latest developments in the field.

Watch the video above for a brief overview of Pivot’s functionality.  When you’re ready to get started, click here to visit the Pivot homepage and click “Sign Up.” After setting up your account, feel free to try out the advanced search tools.  If you have any problems using Pivot or you’d just like some tips for crafting better searches, contact Blake Thomas in the OVPR at 710-3153.