About USFRI

USF Research Council

The Research Council is a standing council of the USF Faculty Council and reports to the council and the Vice President for Research & Innovation. The Research Council is operated and managed by the Faculty Senate of USF on behalf of the USF Faculty Council, and the Research Council reports to that body. Read the Research Council Charge (PDF).

Meetings 

Members 

Responsibilities 

Eligibility 

Research Council Meetings

The Research Council meets at USF Research & Innovation (USFRI) in the Multi-Purpose Room, at 3702 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 165, Tampa, FL 33612, twice each month during the fall and spring semesters and on an ad hoc basis, as needed, during the summer. The meetings are scheduled for alternating Mondays from 10:45 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.

For any inquiries, please contact Tina Lucas, tlucas@usf.edu, Research Council Coordinator.

Research Council Meeting Minutes
Date Meeting Minutes

August 28, 2023

 View minutes (PDF)

September 11, 2023

 View minutes (PDF)

September 25, 2023

 Canceled
October 9, 2023 View minutes (PDF)
October 23, 2023 View minutes (PDF)
November 6, 2023 Canceled
November 20, 2023 View minutes (PDF)
December 4, 2023 View minutes (PDF)
January 22, 2024 View minutes (PDF)
February 5, 2024 View minutes (PDF)
February 19, 2024 View minutes (PDF)
March 4, 2024 View minutes (PDF)
March 18, 2024 View minutes (PDF)
April 1, 2024  
April 15, 2024  
April 29, 2024  

2023-24 Research Council members

Richard Heller

Richard Heller, PhD (Chair)
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Chemistry Department
Term: 2021-24

David Simmons


David Simmons, PhD (Vice Chair)
College of Engineering
Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering Department
Term: 2022-25

Ponrathi


Ponrathi Athilingam, PhD
College of Nursing
Term: 2021-24

Kelli Barr


Kelli Barr, PhD
College of Public Health
Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research
Term: 2022-25

Feng Cheng


Feng Cheng, PhD
Taneja College of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Science Department
Term: 2022-25

Elizabeth Hadley


Elizabeth Hadley, PhD
College of Education
Literary Studies Department
Term: 2022-25

Elizabeth Hadley


Ganesh Halede, PhD
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Health Department
Term: 2022-25

Matty Johnson


Matty Johnson
USF Libraries
Research & Instruction - Tampa Campus
Term: 2024-27

James Leahy


James W. Leahy, PhD
College of Arts & Sciences
Chemistry Department
Term: 2023-26

Mark Luther


Mark Luther, PhD
College of Marine Science
Physical Oceanography Department
Term: 2023-26

Kristian Lynch


Kristian Lynch, PhD
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Health Informatics Institute
Term: 2021-24

qin


Xizhen Qin, PhD
College of Arts & Sciences
World Languages Department
Term: 2023-26

Taryn Sabia


Taryn Sabia, M.Ed.
College of the Arts
School of Architecture & Community Design
Term: 2022-25

Kristina Schmidt


Kristina Schmidt, PhD (Member-at-Large)
College of Arts & Sciences
Molecular Biosciences Department
Term: 2023-26

Elizabeth Shaffer


Elizabeth Shaffer-Hudkins, PhD
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Pediatrics Department
Term: 2021-24

Simeon-jones


Kersuze Simeon-Jones, PhD
College of Arts & Sciences
School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies
Term: 2023-26

Marilyn Stern


Marilyn Stern, PhD, CRC
College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
Child and Family Studies Department
Term: 2023-26

Sylvia Thomas


Sylvia Wilson Thomas, PhD
USF Research & Innovation
Vice President
Ex Officio non-voting member

Keith Anderson


Keith Anderson, MS, CRA
USF Research & Innovation
Associate Vice President
Ex Officio non-voting member

Research Council Responsibilities

The Research Council is responsible for advising the President, Vice President for Research & Innovation, and other administration officials across USF on matters pertaining to policies and procedures intended to promote growth, excellence, and integrity in research and creative activity throughout the university community..

The Research Council is also responsible for:

  • USF Internal Awards grant program: develop policies & procedures and recommend awardees for the Sponsored Research Internal Awards Program.

  • University-wide grants and awards: review & recommend awardees for the Outstanding Research Achievement Awards.

  • Limited submission pre-proposal selection: review & rank pre-proposals for Vice President. Chair, or designee, attends one meeting of the USF Faculty Council each semester and makes a report to the council members. Meet with councils and standing committees to promote research and other creative activities at USF.

Research Council Eligibility

The Research Council membership consists of:

  • one representative from each college of USF
  • one additional representative from any college having more than 250 full-time faculty members
  • a third representative from any college having more than 400 full-time faculty members
  • one representative from the St. Petersburg campus
  • one representnative from the Sarasota-Manatee campus
  • two faculty members at large

To be eligible to serve on the Research Council, nominees must be full-time members of the general faculty holding the rank of Research, Clinical, Visiting, Assistant-In, Associate-In, Lecturer, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Librarian. Service on the RC is generally for three years commencing with the Fall Semester, although allowance may be made for nominees to request initial appointment for fewer than three years, but not less than one year.

Since Research Council members conduct the Internal Award selection process for USF Research & Innovation, they are eligible (with the exception of the current chair) to apply for an Internal Award, while serving on the Research Council, within the guidelines outlined in the Research Council Charge (PDF).

Faculty may nominate themselves to serve on the Research Council by filling out the:

Nomination form for Service on University-Wide and Faculty Senate Committees and Councils (MS Word)

Nomination forms are reviewed by the Faculty Senate Committee on Committees and potential appointees are reviewed and confirmed by the Senate Executive Committee before being sent to the Vice President for Research & Innovation for final review and appointment. If all positions from a particular college have been filled, nominees may be considered for one of the two “At Large” positions (if open) or may be invited to serve on another committee or council of the Faculty Senate.