MavWire 2016 Archive » MavWire — Thursday, May 26, 2016

Dr. Mark Pellegrino

Texas cancer research grant helps UTA recruit biology researcher

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has awarded UTA an $823,067 grant to recruit star cell biology researcher Mark Pellegrino from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

He will join the College of Science as an assistant biology professor in August. He is an internationally recognized biologist whose discovery that mitochondria are an important activator of innate immunity was published in Nature in 2014.

Read more about Dr. Pellegrino.

Dr. Sophia Passy

Biologist shows environment, stress drive freshwater disparity

Sophia Passy, associate professor of biology, recently published a paper in The American Naturalist that shows freshwater communities experienced significantly lower disparities between common and rare species in favorable, low-stress environments.

Specifically, watersheds with extensive wetlands were favorable for algae and watersheds with large proportions of deciduous forests were favorable for fish. Conversely, harsh and stressful environments led to a decline in sensitive species and a greater disparity between common and rare species. Urban development, even at low-intensity, was a harsh environment for fish.

Read more about Dr. Passy's research.

Dr. Eusebius Small

School of Social Work researcher earns Fulbright Scholar Award

Eusebius Small, assistant professor of social work, has been named a Fulbright Scholar for the Republic of Sierra Leone at the University of Sierra Leone, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences.

The recognition comes with a fellowship grant worth up to $100,000 over 10 months to research the social and environmental factors that contribute to HIV incidence, contraceptive use, and prenatal health and decision-making outcomes among women between 17 and 40 years of age in Sierra Leone.

The goal is to enhance the depth and access of professional and scientific knowledge on women’s health literacy and sexual behavior among unmarried women in the West African country.

Read more about Dr. Small's honor.

UTA prepares Titan supercomputer for Large Hadron Collider

UTA physicists are preparing the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in Tennessee to support the analysis of data generated from the quadrillions of proton collisions expected during this season’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle physics experiments.

The LHC is the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. Its collisions produce subatomic fireballs of energy, which morph into the fundamental building blocks of matter.

Kaushik De is director of UTA's High-Energy Physics Group that oversees UTA's participation with CERN projects.

Read more about the Titan supercomputer.

Dr. Michael Nelson

AHA grant received to study microvascular dysfunction in women

The American Heart Association has awarded Michael Nelson, assistant professor of kinesiology, a $308,000, four-year grant to study the root causes of a heart condition that damages tiny coronary arteries in women.

The study will focus on coronary microvascular dysfunction and continues the work of Dr. Nelson, whose research has focused on cardiac mechanics and ventricular function.

Read more about Nelson's microvascular research.

SBA grant establishes UTA Veterans Business Outreach Center

The College of Business has been awarded a two-year, $500,000 Small Business Administration grant to establish a Veterans Business Outreach Center that will offer educational, training, and consulting services to veterans who are starting or growing a business.

The center is the second in Texas. The first is at UT Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg.

Edmund Prater, associate professor of information systems and operations management, will serve as principal investigator of the research grant and executive director of the center. Programs will be built upon principles of entrepreneurship and franchising, areas that appeal to veterans.

Read more about the Veterans Business Outreach Center.

Julie Barfield

Julie Barfield named executive director of alumni and donor relations

UTA has appointed Julie Barfield as executive director of alumni and donor relations as it strengthens engagement through the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Barfield will work under the direction of Mark LaVelle, assistant vice president for alumni and donor engagement, and with recently appointed alumni relations coordinator Shaunda Poster. A 10-year veteran in the field of alumni relations, Barfield most recently served as director of donor engagement.

Read more about Barfield's appointment.

Cheer on Special Olympics torch run through campus Friday morning

Lend your voice to cheer on the the torch run for the Special Olympics summer games, hosted by UTA.

As an opening tradition, the run features law enforcement officers throughout North Texas carrying the “Flame of Hope” across Arlington and the UTA campus, delivering it to Maverick Stadium, home of the Special Olympics summer games Thursday-Sunday, May 26-29.

The run is expected on campus about 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 27, and will run through the west campus from Cooper Street along Nedderman Drive, then turn onto Greek Row Drive to Davis Drive. Runners will go from Davis Drive into Maverick Stadium.

Come early to receive spirit items and flags for the festivities, and wear your Maverick colors.

Dr. Anne Bavier

Vote for Bavier as influential in health care

Cast your vote got Anne Bavier, dean for the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, as one of the 100 most influential people in health care.

Modern Healthcare magazine has placed a list of 300 people, including Dr. Bavier, on an online ballot.

Voting takes only a few seconds. Go to the Modern Healthcare site, scroll down to Anne Bavier (names are listed alphabetically by last name), and vote. Then continue scrolling to the bottom, click Next, and scroll to the bottom of the second page and click Next. On the last page, click Done.

Anyone can vote through Friday, June 24, so encourage your family and friends to participate.

UTA closed Monday for Memorial Day

UTA offices, libraries, classes, and services will be closed Monday, May 30, for Memorial Day.

The Maverick Activities Center will be open noon-10 p.m. Monday. Pools will be closed.

New 'Inquiry' magazine explores composite materials, water safety

Found in everything from space shuttles to dental fillings, composite materials have thoroughly infiltrated modern society. But their potential is still greatly untapped, offering UTA researchers ample opportunity for discovery.

Get all the details in the latest issue of Inquiry, UTA’s research magazine.

You also can read about how engineers at the University are confronting issues of water safety and access from South Korea to Kennedale, Texas, and how the College of Nursing and Health Innovation is making a name for itself as a leader in health care innovation.

The spring 2016 issue includes stories about a new study assessing the potential for underground freight transportation in Texas, technology that can store solar power even in darkness, and how one professor is using a $1 million NASA grant to search for signs of life in the universe.

Use UTShare for FY 17 blanket purchase order, service agreements

Requisitions for fiscal year 2017 on the Blanket Purchase Orders and Service Contract template may now be entered into UTShare.

Only the blanket purchase orders and services listed on the template with a value of $15,000 or more may be submitted. Fully approved requisitions must be received in Procurement by 5 p.m. Friday, June 3. Late requisitions will be processed on or after Sept. 1.

Other requisitions for fiscal year 2017, either with a value of less than $15,000 or not submitted via the template, cannot be entered into UTShare until Sept. 1.

The budget date on these requisitions must be changed to 09/01/2016 using the line defaults page or on the distribution line. For problems or questions on this step, contact your department's buyer in Procurement.

Balancing act An end of the semester party was full of fun and games for faculty and staff. President Vistasp Karbhari and his wife, Lisa, hosted the employee appreciation event Wednesday at College Park Center. See more photos.

Get in shape with SAC's Slimdown

The Staff Advisory Council encourages all UTA staff members to live a healthier lifestyle by participating in the annual SAC Summer Slimdown campaign Monday, June 6-Friday, July 29.

Teams of three to six members can register through Wednesday, June 1. If you don't have a team, you can still participate by emailing slimdown@uta.edu.

Initial weigh-ins are Wednesday-Thursday, June 1-2, at the Health Services Center. Closing weigh-ins are Monday-Friday, Aug. 1-5. There are giveaways for all participants, and awards will be presented at the end-of-the-program reception Friday, Aug. 19.

This year’s campaign includes Wellness Points education sessions and free temporary passes to the MAC for participants only. Sessions will cover topics such as weight management, eating patterns, exercises, and more.

For details, email slimdown@uta.edu.

Beware of crypto malware attacks; get CrashPlan

Ransomware can maliciously encrypt files on your hard drive and make them permanently inaccessible. Successful attacks also can affect files your network (K: and J:) drives.

To prevent being infected, make sure you do not click on any suspicious attachments or emails, and be careful about which websites you browse. Read more about crypto malware attacks on the Information Security blog.

Be prepared by having CrashPlan installed backups on UTA-owned computers. To install CrashPlan, please contact the Help Desk at 2-2208 or helpdesk@uta.edu.

IT maintenance scheduled next month

In June, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will perform maintenance to ensure continued stability and reliability of Internet, network, telephone, and IT services for the campus community. Planned maintenance will be:

• Midnight-6 a.m. Saturday, June 4, equipment critical to all data connectivity both on campus and off campus; will affect Internet, VPN, and inside networks.
• Midnight-4 a.m. Saturday, June 11, equipment required for outside local and long-distance telephone service; may affect outside telephone service.

Service disruption is not anticipated, but if it does happen, go to system status page for updates. For questions, contact the Help Desk at 2-2208 or helpdesk@uta.edu.

Dallas Wings offer exclusive season tickets deal

UTA faculty and staff can see WNBA Dallas Wings action all season with the Breakaway Pass.

The deal gives faculty and staff members two season passes for the Dallas Wings season—18 games—for $99. Buy the Breakaway Pass at utatickets.com through Sunday, May 29. Use promo code WINGSUTA.

Upcoming games at College Park Center are against the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 27; and the Chicago Sky at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29.

Campus police, UTA Libraries want your feedback

The UTA Police Department seeks your opinion regarding its performance in serving the community. Take the survey to give your input to enhance UTA PD's professionalism and the services provided to faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

Share your opinions with UTA Libraries in a simple, anonymous, and confidential survey. Complete the survey. Questions or comments? Email utalibqual@listserv.uta.edu.

Benefits Value Adviser for scan waiver

Call the UT System Benefits Value Advisor at 866-882-2034 prior to service to waive a $100 copay per MRI and CT scan. Read about how the Benefits Value Adviser can help you save money by calling prior to scheduling health procedures.

Use UT FLEX funds

Be sure to use your remaining UT FLEX money for the 2015-2016 benefit year. The current benefit year will end Aug. 31. Check your UT FLEX account balance online at utflex.com or call Payflex at 866-887-3539. For questions, call the Office of Human Resources at 2-5558.

Flexible Summer Hours Program begins June 6

UTA again will offer the Flexible Summer Hours Program June 6-Aug 12.

Participating employees work a compressed week of four 10-hour days with one day off during the work week. Employees who wish to participate must have their manager's written approval of their flexible schedules before beginning the program. Schedules for non-exempt employees also must include a minimum 30-minute lunch break.

Departments or employees who choose not to participate in the program will continue to work their regular schedules.

Questions? Contact Eunice Currie at currie@uta.edu or 2-7091.

Employment information

Check out employment opportunities at uta.edu/jobs. Have questions? Call Human Resources/Employment Services at 2-3461 or TDD 2-8139, or email employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Wednesday, June 1

Arlington Technology Association Civil Engineering Professor Mohammad Najafi examines the feasibility of employing a variety of underground freight mobility technologies to counteract the expected 263 percent increase in trucked international freight shipments in Texas by 2030. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association

Thursday, June 2

Maverick Service Excellence: Building Customer Rapport and Goodwill Register online. 2-4 p.m., Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Also, 10 a.m.-noon Friday, June 3, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center; 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, Room 549, Pickard Hall; and 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, Room 200, Wetsel Service Center. Upcoming sessions for the Maverick Service Excellence include How to Communicate With Your Customers, Handling Problems and Complaints, Dealing Effectively With Difficult People, and Projecting a Positive, Professional Image. Human Resources.

(For an expanded list of events, see the Events Calendar.)

Planetarium summer schedule begins Tuesday Summer's line-up at the Planetarium at UTA includes something for every member of the family. The schedule, which runs May 31-Aug. 28, features Dynamic Earth; One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure; Pink Floyd; Secret of the Cardboard Rocket; Spacepark 360: Infinity; Texas Stargazing; and We Are Astronomers. Check the Planetarium schedule for current and summer show days and times.

Ongoing

Gallery 76102: 'Tree House Divided' Works by artist Jessica Fuentes. Through May 31. Free. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

UTA Libraries: 'Academic Evolution: The University of Texas at Arlington' An exhibition of UTA's academic history. Through Aug. 31. Sixth floor, Central Library. UTA Libraries.

CAPPA Gallery: 'End of Year Show' A selection of student works from the architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design programs. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Second floor gallery. Through Aug. 31. Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.

UTA Libraries: 'Building a Barrier-Free Campus' Explore how UTA began to become a model accessible campus for students with disabilities. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Through Sept. 16. UTA Libraries, History, College of Liberal Arts’ Festival of Global Ideas, Office for Students with Disabilities.

(For an expanded list of events, see the Events Calendar.)