The University of Toledo encourages researchers to enter their projects and grants into two databases to promote interdisciplinary collaborations and provide access to more grant-funding opportunities.
The University uses the funding opportunity database InfoEd SPINPlus Global Suite and is in the process of developing UTED, which stands for University of Toledo Expertise Database, focused only on UT research.
In order for the databases to be productive and efficient, it is important that faculty members use these resources to enter their information, said Dr. Debra Gmerek, UT associate dean of research for the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and director of the Jacobson Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
“These databases can help our faculty find other researchers who share their interests and collaborators who have a needed expertise. Its usefulness, however, relies on the data it contains,” Gmerek said. “We therefore encourage faculty to input their research interests and expertise.”
InfoEd SPINPlus Global Suite is a top-notch funding opportunities database with more than 40,000 opportunities from more than 10,000 global sponsors. It also lists the expertise of many different researchers throughout the world.
“We were interested in having a robust database of funding opportunities available for faculty and contacted InfoEd International,” said Dr. Elsa Nadler, UT director of grants development, who helped get this service for UT. “The service this company offers is comprehensive and reasonably priced. We think the UT community will benefit greatly from this new service.”
The InfoEd database is comprised of three separate and cooperative parts: SPIN, a funding database that allows for grant searches; GENIUS, an expertise database; and SMARTS, which is a system that delivers highly relevant, targeted and perfectly matched new sponsored programs to users.
To access the InfoEd system, which is open to all faculty, staff and students, visit www.infoed.org/genius_live/create_new.asp. The website also has directions for faculty members to create their individual profiles.
The instructions are designed for ease of use, but if academic departments would prefer to schedule group training, contact the UT Research and Sponsored Programs Office at 419.530.2844 or 419.383.4252.
The UT Expertise Database currently includes information for faculty in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and College of Engineering.
Faculty from these three colleges automatically should have their name and contact information in the system. The individuals then need to log in and update their profiles, which typically takes less than 15 minutes, Gmerek said.
All faculty, staff and students with a UTAD username and password can access the database at uted.utoledo.edu.
This database was created two years ago with support from Information Technology and Research and Sponsored Programs, and is an easy-to-use search engine that allows the user to find faculty members from these three colleges based on their interests or expertise. It also allows the user to see what grants a faculty member has received and provides contact information.
This database is small and fairly new, but UT hopes to include more of the colleges in the future, Gmerek said.
