New Mexico State University
Research, Creativity and Economic Development

External Funding and Achieving R1 Status

By Luis Cifuentes, Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate School

This month I spoke with an assistant professor in a discipline with potential for external funding. The person had recently received a third-year review recommending ceasing grant applications and, instead, focusing on submitting more journal manuscripts so publication rate per year increased in time for tenure and promotion review. It was unfortunate that the faculty member had to hear from a senior faculty member who made note of the number of non-funded proposals and referred to them as “swings and misses.”

The vision of New Mexico State University (NMSU) as written in LEADS 2025 is that:

By 2025, the NMSU system will excel in student success and social mobility for our diverse student populations, achieve the highest Carnegie research status (R1), and maintain our Carnegie Community Engagement classification.

Externally funded research and scholarship, and the corresponding support of and completion by doctoral students, is fundamental to achieving R1 status. The majority of disciplines and graduate programs at NMSU require external funding to achieve success commensurate with R1 recognition. Furthermore, external funding enables research, scholarship and graduate student work that leads to journal publications. With the exception of disciplines and programs that have next to no access to external funding, tenure and promotion guidelines at NMSU must include the expectation that faculty seek and successfully procure external funding at rates commensurate with peer R1 institutions.

A key function in academic governance is the hiring and recommending tenure and promotion of faculty in the department. A key challenge in academic leadership is aligning hires and tenure and promotion with the mission and vision of the University. It is, beginning with the vice president for research, all of our responsibility to create and sustain a culture of excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity. Categorically, such a culture must encourage, facilitate, and reward those who seek external funding.

Thinking back to my conversation with the assistant professor, I was reminded of the Judgment of Solomon. Recall that King Solomon of Israel was asked to rule between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. He suggested cutting the baby in two, each woman receiving half.  According to lore, the true mother revealed herself by insisting the other woman be given the child.

In the case of the assistant professor, the P&T committee, perhaps not exercising the wisdom of King Solomon, ruled that the faculty member choose publishing over grant writing. When I asked, “what do you want to do,” the faculty member said “continue writing grants and work harder on my publications,” revealing this faculty member as truly worthy of consideration for tenure in a discipline reliant on external funding at an aspiring R1 university.

Faculty have to be part of a culture change that leads to proper recognition of and reward for contributions to teaching and learning, research, scholarship and creative activity, and extension and outreach. This culture must harmonize with the mission and vision of NMSU. Department heads, deans, faculty senate, and the VPR and Provost must work tirelessly to ensure we are all on the same page when it comes to requirements for promotion and tenure. This will surely take time. Success will be realized when faculty rarely mistrust recommendations in their third-year reviews.

Return to Research and Creativity

By JoAnne Dupre, Biosafety and Export Control Manager

In May, the office of the VPR began a process to coordinate plans for faculty researchers to resume an on-campus/on-site presence with graduate students, summer students and personnel. The informational website at https://research.nmsu.edu/ReturntoResearch.html was developed based on messages from Governor Lujan Grisham and the NM Department of Health, and with input from College and Extension representatives, Aggie Health and Wellness, EHS&RM, General Counsel and more.  

The response from faculty and researchers to the Return to Research and Creativity process has been inspiring. In the last two weeks, 352 plans were submitted by faculty detailing the steps they will take to ensure a controlled approach to allow people to access buildings and research locations. As of today, June 5, more than 1020 people have completed the supplemental safety training and affirmed their commitment to safeguarding themselves and others by following best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the NM Department of Health. The process shows what a vibrant community of caring individuals are involved in NMSU Research and Creative Activities. We want to thank everyone for their communications and patience while we are evaluating these plans.

For questions or comments, please contact by email to vpr@nmsu.edu, call JoAnne Dupre at 646-4463, or Dave Schoep at 646-1023.

Meet Dr. Leslie Edgar, the New Associate Dean for Research at College of ACES

By Hamid M. Rad, Sr. Proposal Development Specialist, RAS

The NMSU research community is pleased to welcome Dr. Leslie D. Edgar, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Science (ACES)’s new Associate Dean for Research. Dr. Edgar joined NMSU in May from the University of Georgia (UG), where she was a Professor and the Head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, managing a $2.4 million budget and 15 faculty at UG’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Edgar has led numerous externally funded research projects and authored more than 70 articles in refereed journals. She joins us at an exciting time when NMSU is determined to become an R1 university in the near future. "Dr. Edgar brings the knowledge base, culture and energy of a land-grant, R1 institution to New Mexico State University," states Dr. Luis Cifuentes, Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate School. "My office will work with Dr. Edgar and the College of ACES and build on its historic legacy of agricultural research."

Question: Welcome to NMSU. Please tell us about yourself and your areas of research interests.

I was blessed to born and raised in production agriculture, and from an early age I knew I would support this critical industry. I am a staunch supporter of the Land-grant University. I believe the tripartite mission of academics, research, and extension. A key component of the land-grant system is the agricultural experiment station, a program that I now oversee.

In my research program, I have a unique way of approaching the social dimensions that impact decision-making associated with agriculture and natural resource issues. My research agenda is focused on agricultural and science communication models for effective communication management strategies, specifically on understanding how educational practice impacts the decision-making process and the ultimate adoption of new scientific technologies.

Question: What are your visions for research at ACES?

Our future research in the College of ACES will focus on transformative and strategic opportunities, including:

• Discovering our research roadblocks and creating strategies to overcome them;
• Creating a culture shift to ensure a commitment to research success (as well as diversity, inclusiveness, and excellence);
• Aligning and integrating our on-campus departments and research units with our off-campus agricultural science centers (ASC), including strategic plan development/enhancement and success metrics aligned with operational budget allocation;
• Leveraging partnerships, knowledge transfers, and spillovers to enhance and expand economic and community development; and
• Using data, relationships, and increased strategic communication channels to enhance our prominence and prestige.

I am committed to extending LEADS 2025 and supporting our researchers as we expand and enhance our transdisciplinary teams. We will leverage resources, opportunities, and people across the state, nation, and globe. We will continue to develop new forms of collaboration and partnership that will enhance our unique opportunities and areas for growth. We will engage in increased promotional strategies to tell our story and further highlight our unique resources and engagement in expanding and enhancing economic and community development across New Mexico. I am committed to communicating continuously, and our goal to do business differently as we to deliver our mission.

Question: What are your priorities to grow research at ACES?

NMSU ACES will leverage our existing areas of strength to solve the most pressing challenges faced by our state, nation, and the world. To become R1 status, our primary focus will be on research productivity, but the plan will also incorporate strategies to strengthen and enhance the outreach components of our Land-grant mission. To achieve a world-renowned recognition in research, we must focus on: 1) a compelling industry need or problem to solve, 2) skilled researchers, 3) state of the art equipment, and 4) world-class facilities. I am also committed to enhancing our investments in people, equipment, and facilities to drive research and innovation within this critical economic sector of New Mexico. Our priority will be to enhance New Mexico’s economy and elevate ACES and NMSU in the rankings via four specific areas: 1) increased grantsmanship efforts as well as diversified funding portfolios, 2) increased number of innovations entering the marketplace, 3) increased research publications, and 4) an enhanced reputation among our peer institutions.

Question: What are your plans to enhance grant-readiness of early career faculty at ACES?

Over the past two years, ACES has integrated start-up packages to support incoming faculty at a higher level. These packages are critical to ensuring our early career faculty have a jump start to research success. Although my enhancement and support plans are in the early stages, I am committed to identifying effective strategies to enhance the support of our early career faculty. I look forward to collaborating fully with the Office of the Vice President for Research, and I am committed to ensuring grant proposal training and award support for our early career faulty. When possible, ACES will support early career faculty to visit program leaders at NSF, NIH, DoD, NIFA/AFRI as well as others. Mentoring was critical to my research success, and I committed to ensuring that our early career faculty have mentors. We will also provide support for holistic research agenda development and messaging.

Question: Do you think there are specific areas of research that the college should focus on?

The College of ACES is focused on four pillars of economic and community development. Those areas include: 1) food and fiber production and marketing, 2) water use and conservation, 3) family development and health of New Mexicans, and 4) environmental stewardship. These pillars are built on the foundation of education and training. We support and enhance NMSU research and creativity through research designed to:

• Enhance agricultural profitability.
• Stimulate economic development using natural resources.
• Improve the quality, safety, and reliability of food and fiber products.
• Sustain and protect the environment with ecologically sound practices.
• Manage and protect natural resources.
• Improve the quality of life for the people of New Mexico.
• I am excited to join our Dean, Rolando Flores, and the ACES and NMSU leadership team to enhance and expand research and creativity in these four pillars.

Leslie Edgar, College of ACES Associate Dean for Research

Research Administration Spotlight: Michelle “Mickey” Duttle, B.A.

By Hamid M. Rad, Sr. Proposal Development Specialist, RAS

NMSU researchers submit hundreds of proposals to federal agencies every year. Each of these proposals is closely examined by Grants and Contracts Administrators (GCA) in Research Administration Services (RAS) for compliance and accuracy of budget before they are submitted.

Michelle Duttle,“Mickey”, is one of the RAS GCAs, who, since joining the office in 2010, has supported multiple units including the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering. “Working with the people in RAS has been the most rewarding job I have ever had.  The talent in the office along with the leadership has been instrumental in our success,” she states. “I try to remind myself that each challenge that comes up is really an opportunity. These days there are multitudes of ‘opportunities’ every day." 

Mickey’s hobbies include hiking, camping, photography, sewing and various other crafts.

Reflecting on her “amazing 20 years” at NMSU, Mickey states that she is grateful for this experience and looks forward to see the future NMSU has in store. Mickey can be reached at mduttle@nmsu.edu. 

Mickey Duttle, Grants and Contracts Administrator, Research Administration Services

Webinar on Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts Federal Funding Opportunities

Lewis-Burke Associates LLC will host a webinar on June 17, from  12:00 noon to 1:00pm (MDT), discussing federal funding opportunities to support in social sciences, humanities, and the arts.  The presentation will include an overview of federal funding trends and priorities, as well as best practices for engaging with program managers.  Time for questions and discussion will follow the presentation. To register for this webinar send email to hamid@nmsu.edu. 

Webinar on How to Do Business with AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will hold a webinar on June 19, 2020 from 8:45 am to 12:00 noon (EDT) on how to do business with AFRL for basic and applied research.  The webinar provides an opportunity for university researchers and administrators to learn how to navigate AFRL’s research ecosystem, apply for funding opportunities, and build relationships with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).  The webinar will include speakers from both public and private sector organizations, including representatives from BRICC, AFOSR, Basic Research Office at OSD, APEX, Doolittle Institute, and Adranos, Inc.

Please visit the following link for more information https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USAFOSR/bulletins/28c6c0a

Keck Foundation Research Funding Available

By Hamid M. Rad, Sr. Proposal Development Specialist, RAS

Keck Foundation’s Research Program accepts concept papers in high-risk/high-impact areas of research that

• Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies
• Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary
• Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm
• Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible, or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem
• Does not focus on clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development
• Does not focus on an environmental outcome
• Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies (i.e. you need a rejection from a public funding agency)
• Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W. M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project’s success

Available funding per project ranges from $250,000 to $1 million. Those interested should contact Dr. Allison Layfield, NMSU Corporate and Foundation Relations Development Officer at layfield@nmsu.edu.

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium Announces NMSU Scholars and Fellows

By Cristina Esquivel, Program Specialist, New Mexico Space Grant Consortium

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) awarded 25 Space Grant Scholarships and Fellowships to students across higher education institutions in New Mexico for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. Among the scholars are 13 NMSU graduate and undergraduate students. The Space Grant (SG) scholarships and fellowships are highly competitive and based on proposed research projects, their alignment to NASA, faculty letter of recommendation, and GPA. Space Grant Scholars must report their academic activity, publications and conferences attended. They are also required to present their research findings at the annual SG student colloquium and to complete community service such as mentoring peers, volunteering at STEM events, participating in K-12 opportunities to share their knowledge.

Congratulations go out to the following Aggies:

• Jarod Johnson, Undergraduate Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Adam Takeshita, Undergraduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Robert Clay, Graduate Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• David DeColibus, Graduate Student, Astronomy
• Anne Hedlund, Graduate Student, Astronomy
• Mikaela Hoellrich, Graduate Student, Plant and Environmental Science
• Nathan Lindsay, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Carolyn Mullins, Graduate Student, Geology
• Kelly Sanderson, Graduate Student, Astronomy
• Robert Selje, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Manuel Serrano, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Luis Varela, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Ryan Zowada, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering

For more information contact Dr. Paulo Oemig, Director, NMSGC at poemig@ad.nmsu.edu or NMSGC Program Specialist, Cristina Esquivel at cmesquiv@ad.nmsu.edu. 

Pivot Funding Opportunity Database

By Hamid M. Rad, Sr. Proposal Development Specialist, RAS

This is a reminder that in order to assist NMSU faculty and staff in locating external funding opportunities, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate School has purchased a subscription to ProQuest’s Pivot software. 

Use of Pivot is restricted to NMSU domain. To access Pivot using off campus computers, you need to install NMSU’s VPN software available at https://vpn.nmsu.edu and log in using your NMSU credentials. Once on NMSU domain, simply point your browser to https://pivot.proquest.com/funding_main. To create an account with Pivot for the first time

1. Click on the Sign up link.
2. On the next page, click on Use email address/create password.
3. Enter your name.
4. Enter your NMSU email address.
5. Create a password.
6. Choose New Mexico State University from the Affiliated Member Institution drop down menu.
7. Check the consent checkbox.
8. Check the reCaptcha check box.
9. Press the Create my account button.

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities

The Office of Research Administration Services lists limited submission funding opportunities at https://limitedsubmission.nmsu.edu. We encourage NMSU faculty and staff to periodically visit the site and if they are interested in any of the opportunities to please inform us by sending email to ls-ras@nmsu.edu. As a reminder, the site is only accessible on campus. Accessing the site using off-campus computers require first downloading and logging in through NMSU's VPN at https://vpn.nmsu.edu.

Graduate School

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

By Luis A. Vazquez, Regents Professor and Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, and Denise Esquibel, Associate Dean of the Graduate School 

We at the Graduate School hope that all of you are safe and taking care of yourselves and those around you.  Each week the Graduate Staff and Administration review which areas or questions that are most often asked through our phone calls, emails and video chats.  The following 4 questions where the most often asked over the last 2 weeks.  We wanted to share where to get the answers to your questions at your figure tips.

Question: Where do I find exam forms? 

Answer: https://gradschool.nmsu.edu/graduate-forms/

Question: Where do I find due dates/deadline?

Answer: https://gradschool.nmsu.edu/graduate_calendar/

Question: Does the Graduate School accept digitally completed forms?

Answer: Graduate School will be accepting digitally completed forms from official NMSU email addresses. The forms need to be signed off on and complete, but the signatures can be digital. They also can be scanned and emailed, if signed in paper format. Please route the exam forms (scheduling exams to take place) to grad-degrees@nmsu.edu. Please route Exam Results, Programs of Study, Transfer Credit Request forms, Master’s Accelerated Forms, Degree Audit Exception forms, and Change of Admission Semester Forms to graddocs@nmsu.edu

Question: Is NMSU providing direction to relief package resources for people affected financially by COVID?

Answer: Yes, the CARES Act provides aid to Title IV qualifying students who experienced unexpected costs resulting from on-campus disruption caused by COVID-19. Due to limited funding, the application can be found and submitted for process here:  https://fa.nmsu.edu/cares-emergency-request/

The Graduate School also would like to thank the many faculty, staff and students that have worked patiently with us, while working together to serve many of our students’ needs at NMSU.  These are truly times to reflect on many things that are impacting all of us, especially our students in academia and what’s happening around the country.  How we work together to resolve these issues and support each other will shape our narrative for the future.  Summer sessions have begun and we continue preparing for the academic year.  The Graduate School looks forward to working with all of you.

Questions and comments regarding NMSU’s Research and Graduate School Digest should be directed to Hamid M. Rad at hamid@nmsu.edu, (575) 646-6429.