HistoricalFacultyNumbers in Biology: 36 T-TT Facultyin ...

Historical Faculty Numbers in Biology: 36 T-TT Faculty in 1990 and in 2019

(retirements,one per year)

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ions

of D

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rs

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

NSFNIH USDA/DoDDoE/DARPA

Other

(2017-18)

TAMU VPR- Biology

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of D

olla

rs

Year

Direct Research ExpendituresTotal Grant Funds

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

US News & World Reports’ Rankings of Biological Sciences Programs

Keep the momentum going forward with the Biological Sciences Strategic Plan

Biological Sciences Strategic Planning Team Charge“…use a SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results) strategic planning framework in creating a set of recommended initiatives.”

January 11th, 2019 (31 faculty out of 36 eligible)

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES STRATEGIC PLAN (2020-2029)

We have developed a 10-year strategic plan founded upon six committee recommendations.

5-StarResearch

Plan

RECOMMENDATION 1: Develop a specific research plan focusedon 5 select areas of cutting-edge biological science researchidentified during the SOAR, where strength exists andpreeminence can be achieved.

BiologyResearch

Mechanisms of SyntheticBiology

Mechanisms of Regeneration

& Repair

Mechanisms ofBiologicalResilience

Mechanisms of Biological

Timing

Mechanisms of BiologicalEvolution

5-Star Research Plan AreasBiological resilience is an emerging area of biology that spans the sustainability of ecosystems, plant resistance, microbiome responses, immunity, aging and cancer. 19 faculty

Synthetic biology is a rapidly developing, multidisciplinary, field that enables the engineering of biological systems and use of biological materials to build translational products. 5 faculty

Biological evolution involves genetic changes in populations and the analyses of these changes as they relate to understanding life and how it evolves. 5 faculty

Regeneration and repair of cells and tissues is critical to recovery of function following injury and draws from mechanisms of development and inflammation. 12 faculty

Biological timing mechanisms exist in all organisms to regulate their life and relate it to periodic external and internal changes.11 faculty

Current Strengths: Faculty in this area (19) study signaling and development, plant physiology and adaptation, microbial development, gene silencing, pathology, and immunology.

Opportunities: Need to understand the mechanisms of resilience to stress, from single-celled organisms to plants and animals. This has the potential to open up numerous collaborative research and funding opportunities, as well as provide the basis for translational approaches to develop novel, targeted interventions to prevent disease. Understanding resiliency provides unique opportunities to meet grand challenges, like global food need and prevention of infectious disease. No other biology department has a focus on resilience research.

Aspirations: To become a world leader in this area, we require several new junior faculty and star hires to build and expand this group, including in the areas of plant/microbe interactions, immunology, aging, and cancer, that would integrate with the other 4 focus areas in Biology, and with needs of other departments, such as improved tolerance of plants to environmental stress (Ag, Vet Schools), genomics and bioinformatics (Math, Statistics, Computer Science, TIGSS), injury, disease prevention, cancer and aging (Med and Vet Schools).


Resilience

5-Star Research Plan

Benefits of 5-Star Research Plan: Achieves preeminence in research focus areas

Provides the raw material for translational research

Increased collaborative research, funding, and publications to enrich interdisciplinary life sciences

Cutting-edge teaching/training, core facilities

Increased retention

Enhanced graduate student and postdoc recruiting and funding

Enhanced perception & rankings

Establishes Biology as the hub of biosciences research at TAMU and beyond

BiologyResearch



& Repair



Timing


5-StarFaculty Hiring

RECOMMENDATION 2: Undertake significant hiring of biological scienceresearch faculty at both the junior and senior levels, including 5 star hires*in Biology and 5 star hires in participating TAMU life science units, alongwith multiple joint faculty placements in each of the 5 research focus areas.

* The strategic plan defines stars broadly as mid-career rising stars with established reputations and steep trajectories, destined for highest recognitions.

5-Star Hiring Plan

Impact of Hiring Plan: The resulting increase in research funding and productivity will more than return the initial TAMU investment, and will sustain the momentum and preeminence achieved beyond the 10 year plan.

5-Star Hiring Plan

Funding Opportunities in 5-Star Research Areas

Current Agency RFAs: 108

5-Star Hiring Plan

‘Year of’Approach

RECOMMENDATION 3: Conduct 5 yearlong-efforts in Biology andparticipating TAMU life science units to enhance and market each of thefocal research areas in a targeted ‘Year of’ approach to activities that willincrease local, national and international exposure, collaboration andinvestment.

‘Year of’ Star Research Area and Preparation for Hiring

Mini-SOAR with key stakeholders to define area goals and identify stars

Two-day symposium (year prior to start of each Star hire)

Dedicated seminar slots (year prior to start of each Star hire)

Chalk talks/Journal Clubs with local collaborators

Workshops on modern tools in 5-Star area

Workshops/activities in targeted grant submissions

Marketing, Development, Recruiting (graduate students & postdocs)

‘Year of’ Approach

Builds significant momentum at TAMU for the 5-Star area of biological research

Establishes a local and national awareness of the commitment of Biology and TAMU to the growth and preeminence of research area

Benefits of the ‘Year Of’ Approach:

Need for new research building and space

Need for core facilities in 5-Star areas

Need for increased administrative and research support staff

Obstacles to 5-Star research and hiring plan:

BiologyResearch



& Repair



Timing


‘Year of’ Approach

BiologyResearch Building

RECOMMENDATION 4: Identify resources and construct a newBiological Sciences Research Building housing all Biology researchers,theme-linked joint collaborators, and associated facilities critical for thesuccess of the 5-Star Biology Research Plan.

Current research space for much of Biology East, West and Butleris antiquated, needing significant renovation

-estimated $5M/y over 5 years ($25M renovation cost)

-hundreds of work orders per year (including failed elevators and ADA issues)

-regular building floods (some with sewage)

-building power outages (without adequate backup)

Recommended Biological Sciences Research Building (BSRB)

Critical research space and facility needs in Biology:New building near ILSB, with advanced core facilities in focus areas

BiologyResearch Partners

RECOMMENDATION 5: Build strong research partnerships betweenTAMU biological science researchers, academic and industry experts, andgranting foundations and agencies, with a focus on funding throughexisting RFAs and targeted hires experienced with large center andtraining grants in the focal research areas.

Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Biology

Biology Research Partners

Engage, promote, and impact the TAMU life sciences research

community

Biology Research Partners Strengthening Immunology at TAMU

Enhance immunology while linking to other focus areas and TAMU immunologists

AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES

(Biochemisty; Nutrition)

VETERINARY (Pathobiology)

MEDICINE(Microbial

Pathogensis)

BiomedicalImmunology

BiologyAdvisory

Board

RECOMMENDATION 6: Assemble a Biological Science Advisory Boardconsisting of eminent scholars, industry leaders and local TAMUstakeholders, and charge the board with periodic (5-year) review of planprogress and commitments, which should involve a range of metricsindicative of research impact in the 5 focal areas of biological research.

RECOMMENDED METRICS OF SUCCESS: As part of the annual review of progressin the biological sciences, the committee recommends the following metrics for theassessment of research profile elevation include, but not be limited to, thefollowing.

Over the first 5 years of the strategic plan:• Significant increase (3-fold) in grant funding (>15 current federal RFA’s in each area)• Increase in research productivity (high impact publications) and analytic scholarly indices (+2.5)• Increased rankings in Biology, and other life science departments• Enhanced graduate student and postdoctoral fellow recruiting• Increased research partnerships within TAMU and with industry

By the end of the 10-year strategic plan:• Submission of 5 large area center grants and 5 training grants (with 4 out of 10 submissions

funded)• Establishment of several national centers, like an NIH-funded Center for Biological Timing• Significant increase in national rankings in the biological sciences, especially Biology

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2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

Timing Regeneration Evolution Synthetic Resilience

Grant Funds Generated By Area Per Year

0

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Years 1-5 Years 6-10TAMU Partners

Biology Faculty

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Estimated Total Extramural Funds

Estimated Extramural Grant Dollars Generated (~$630M in 10 Years)

Predicted US News & World Reports’ Rankings

Thank you. Discussion/questions?

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