Assigning Research Lab Space: Difference between revisions

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Policy No.: '''6071'''<br />
Policy No.: '''6071'''<br />
Effective Date: '''01/06/06'''<br />
Effective Date: '''01/06/06'''<br />
Revised Date: '''08/22/22 draft'''<br />
Revised Date: '''09/22/22'''<br />
Reviewed Date: ''' '''<br />
Reviewed Date: '''09/22/22 '''<br />


<big>'''Assigning and Managing Research Laboratory Space Policy'''</big>
<big>'''Assigning and Managing Research Laboratory Space Policy'''</big>
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*Effort should be made toward properly attributing expenditures with the appropriate faculty. For program project grants, multi-PI, and other large grants where individual projects and project budgets can be identified and assigned, research expenditures from those project budgets will be applied toward that faculty’s expenditures. For other grants, like Center grants, where there are grant cores or project leads, “child accounts” can be created so there is tracking of research expenditures to the faculty member. The VCR Office will not modify the values used for expenditures to calculate the research space metric (e.g., project expenditures were attributed in SAP to a center grant PI and not the project lead).
*Effort should be made toward properly attributing expenditures with the appropriate faculty. For program project grants, multi-PI, and other large grants where individual projects and project budgets can be identified and assigned, research expenditures from those project budgets will be applied toward that faculty’s expenditures. For other grants, like Center grants, where there are grant cores or project leads, “child accounts” can be created so there is tracking of research expenditures to the faculty member. The VCR Office will not modify the values used for expenditures to calculate the research space metric (e.g., project expenditures were attributed in SAP to a center grant PI and not the project lead).
*Training grant expenditures are not counted toward a research space metric but may warrant the assignment of administrative space specific to the needs defined by the grant.
*Training grant expenditures are not counted toward a research space metric but may warrant the assignment of administrative space specific to the needs defined by the grant.
*Unfunded new faculty may be assigned research space based on research expenditures from their start-up package. Alternatively, the space is assigned to the department chair or research mentor whose own space metric must accommodate that additional space. A separate space request should be made once the faculty achieves independent funding.  
*Unfunded new faculty may be assigned research space based on estimated research expenditures from their start-up package. Alternatively, the space is assigned to the department chair or research mentor whose own space metric must accommodate that additional space. A separate [https://www.unmc.edu/vcr/_documents/research_space_request_form.pdf UNMC Space Request] should be made once the faculty achieves independent funding.  
Assigned research space includes all office and lab spaces in all buildings assigned to the investigator.  
Assigned research space includes all office and lab spaces in all buildings assigned to the investigator.  
*Spaces include, but are not limited to, labs, common equipment rooms, tissue culture, animal facility procedure rooms exclusively for their use (not animal housing space) and any offices. Shared spaces, like equipment rooms, will be divided proportionally among those using those spaces.  
*Spaces include, but are not limited to, labs, common equipment rooms, tissue culture, animal facility procedure rooms exclusively for their use (not animal housing space) and any offices. Shared spaces, like equipment rooms, will be divided proportionally among those using those spaces.  
*Freezer rooms are not included in the space metric.  
*Freezer rooms are not included in the space metric.  
9Departmental administrative space will not be counted towards the chair’s research space assignment unless said space competes with laboratory-associated offices or is not aligned with institutional office space guidelines.
*Departmental administrative space will not be counted towards the chair’s research space assignment unless said space competes with laboratory-associated offices or is not aligned with institutional office space guidelines.
*Research faculty offices assigned or shared amongst unfunded faculty or trainees will be assigned to their faculty mentor or chair.  
*Research faculty offices assigned or shared amongst unfunded faculty or trainees will be assigned to their faculty mentor or chair.  
Additional considerations in space assignments are as follows:
Additional considerations in space assignments are as follows:
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Other principles of space assignment:
Other principles of space assignment:
*Investigators who have been most successful in attracting extramural federal funding will be given the highest priority for the UNMC Type A laboratory spaces.
*Investigators who have been most successful in attracting extramural federal funding will be given the highest priority for the UNMC Type A laboratory spaces.
*Funded faculty may be resized based on their metric but will not be moved solely to accommodate a new investigator without their approval of that proposed relocation, unless directed by their unit leader.  
*Funded faculty may be resized based on their metric but will not be moved solely to accommodate a new investigator without their approval of that proposed relocation unless directed by their unit leader.  
*Space assigned to a core managed by a specific unit for that unit only will be attributed to that department, college or institute. Cores that provide and invoice for services using the core facility management system to faculty beyond their department can request that space be removed from their unit’s space metric. Evaluation of core spaces will be conducted annually.
*Space assigned to a core managed by a specific unit for that unit only will be attributed to that department, college or institute. Cores that provide and invoice for services using the core facility management system to faculty beyond their department can request that space be removed from their unit’s space metric. Evaluation of core spaces will be conducted annually.
*The space metric for research faculty who have an assigned office, but have no assigned lab, will be calculated. That metric will not be included in the overall department laboratory space metric if the faculty exclusively conducts non-laboratory based research. However, that funding may justify maintaining an office in the research building.  
*The space metric for research faculty who have an assigned office, but have no assigned lab, will be calculated. That metric will not be included in the overall department laboratory space metric if the faculty exclusively conducts non-laboratory based research. However, that funding may justify maintaining an office in the research building.  
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*Deans, directors and chairs are considered stewards of the space their faculty occupy and can adjust space among their faculty within their department without a specific request if those research space assignments are in alignment with this policy and if they notify the VCR Office within thirty (30) days of the change to update the campus database. The VCR Office is available to the faculty member to hear any appeals regarding this process.
*Deans, directors and chairs are considered stewards of the space their faculty occupy and can adjust space among their faculty within their department without a specific request if those research space assignments are in alignment with this policy and if they notify the VCR Office within thirty (30) days of the change to update the campus database. The VCR Office is available to the faculty member to hear any appeals regarding this process.
*Research space vacated when a researcher leaves UNMC reverts to unassigned status under the control of the appropriate UNMC Research Space Committee.  
*Research space vacated when a researcher leaves UNMC reverts to unassigned status under the control of the appropriate UNMC Research Space Committee.  
*Space requests for new faculty should be discussed with the VCR Office prior to discussing a specific laboratory with a faculty candidate and are not finalized until a signed letter of offer is received. Specific space locations are discouraged from inclusion in the employment contract.
*[https://www.unmc.edu/vcr/_documents/research_space_request_form.pdf Space Requests] for new faculty should be discussed with the VCR Office prior to discussing a specific laboratory with a faculty candidate and are not finalized until a signed letter of offer is received. Specific space locations are discouraged from inclusion in the employment contract.
*Faculty requests for research space in any UNMC building with research space will require an assessment of any other spaces assigned to that faculty and alternative spaces that meet the requirements of the research. Funded cancer-related research (as defined by NIH/NCI independent funding) will preferentially be placed in Buffett Cancer Center with the lab space assignments for all cancer related faculty in BCC to be made in collaboration with the BCC Director.<br />
*Faculty requests for research space in any UNMC building with research space will require an assessment of any other spaces assigned to that faculty and alternative spaces that meet the requirements of the research. Funded cancer-related research (as defined by NIH/NCI independent funding) will preferentially be placed in Buffett Cancer Center with the lab space assignments for all cancer-related faculty in BCC to be made in collaboration with the BCC Director.<br />


Written requests are considered and finalized by the UNMC Unit-specific Research Space committee once received by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. For College of Medicine (COM), this includes VCR and Facilities Management Program (FMP) leadership along with the dean and associate dean for research. For all other colleges and institutes, this includes the VCR and FMP leadership, as needed, and the dean or unit director, or designate. <br />
Written requests are considered and finalized by the UNMC Unit-specific Research Space committee once received by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. For College of Medicine (COM), this includes VCR and Facilities Management Program (FMP) leadership along with the dean and associate dean for research. For all other colleges and institutes, this includes the VCR and FMP leadership, as needed, and the dean or unit director, or designate. <br />
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Wet lab bench space. Investigators awarded grants for research that does not require wet lab bench space would be ideally assigned non-laboratory space, and clinical activities and support personnel may not be assigned nearby for those that conduct both clinical and basic science research.<br />
Wet lab bench space. Investigators awarded grants for research that does not require wet lab bench space would be ideally assigned non-laboratory space, and clinical activities and support personnel may not be assigned nearby for those that conduct both clinical and basic science research.<br />
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Each UNMC research laboratory is given a hierarchical designation based upon its quality:  
Each UNMC research laboratory is given a hierarchical designation based on its quality:  
====Type A====
====Type A====
Considered state-of-the-art laboratories: Durham Research Centers (DRC) 1 and 2, Scott Cancer Research Tower (BCC), Lozier Center for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Drug Discovery (PDD) or renovated Eppley Cancer Institute (ECI)
Considered state-of-the-art laboratories: Durham Research Centers (DRC) 1 and 2, Scott Cancer Research Tower (BCC), Lozier Center for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Drug Discovery (PDD) or renovated Eppley Cancer Institute (ECI)
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Most often located outside of labs but may be located within a lab.
Most often located outside of labs but may be located within a lab.
====Administrative Offices====
====Administrative Offices====
Located near laboratory spaces for laboratory-focused departments AND are generally not included in the research space metric of the department. Administrative offices may be required to be shared with other units who have funded large grant programs or training grants that require administrative support space.  
Located near laboratory spaces for laboratory-focused departments AND are generally not included in the research space metric of the department. Administrative offices may be required to be shared with other units that have funded large grant programs or training grants that require administrative support space.  
====Kitchen Facilities====
====Kitchen Facilities====
May be available in office areas and vary with the floor. Are not included in the metric.
May be available in office areas and vary with the floor. Are not included in the metric.
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Housing researchers from more than one college or institute
Housing researchers from more than one college or institute
====Comparative Medicine Lab Space====
====Comparative Medicine Lab Space====
Requests for dedicated laboratory space in the comparative medicine area of any research building should be made directly to comparative medicine, who has established a separate space review and approval process as well as potential charges for assignment of that space. The space metric for laboratory space may however include assigned comparative medicine space when considering requests for space assignment in non-comparative medicine space areas.
Requests for dedicated laboratory space in the comparative medicine area of any research building should be made directly to comparative medicine, who has established a separate space review and approval process as well as potential charges for assignment of that space. The space metric for laboratory space may however include assigned comparative medicine space when considering [https://www.unmc.edu/vcr/_documents/research_space_request_form.pdf requests] for space assignment in non-comparative medicine space areas.
====Dry Lab or Program Support Space====
====Dry Lab or Program Support Space====
Some investigators direct programs of research that do not require a bench but do require office space for staff completing the work or directing the program. These include but are not limited to faculty or staff conducting biomedical informatics or biostatistics, administrators, clinical research coordinators, educators, and others. The space metric established for laboratory-focused investigators does not apply to this type of space. Laboratories will not be converted to dry lab spaces except with the evaluation of the relative need and location and approval of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. All such personnel may be required to share offices, or be provided access to flexible docking space, as available, particularly if they are doing remote work part of the time.  
Some investigators direct programs of research that do not require a bench but do require office space for staff completing the work or directing the program. These include but are not limited to faculty or staff conducting biomedical informatics or biostatistics, administrators, clinical research coordinators, educators, and others. The space metric established for laboratory-focused investigators does not apply to this type of space. Laboratories will not be converted to dry lab spaces except with the evaluation of the relative need and location and approval of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. All such personnel may be required to share offices, or be provided access to flexible docking space, as available, particularly if they are doing remote work part of the time.  
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Many investigators develop intellectual property that is then developed into a company. Those companies, generally now under the direction of a new CEO, may desire to work with the original investigator or others to develop the product with a federal SBIR or STTR grant. If said faculty has applied for federal funding, that company may request to lease part of the principal investigator’s assigned laboratory space for that grant (e.g., SBIR), with the specific space need evaluated by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. The final lease of space is executed by Business & Finance, based on established rates to meet costs of maintenance of said space, with copy to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. Leases may be re-negotiated annually. All personnel assigned to work in that space must understand and meet all institutional policies as per separate SBIR/STTR policy, including that they are kept separate from university equipment and cannot purchase goods or services using university rates.  
Many investigators develop intellectual property that is then developed into a company. Those companies, generally now under the direction of a new CEO, may desire to work with the original investigator or others to develop the product with a federal SBIR or STTR grant. If said faculty has applied for federal funding, that company may request to lease part of the principal investigator’s assigned laboratory space for that grant (e.g., SBIR), with the specific space need evaluated by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. The final lease of space is executed by Business & Finance, based on established rates to meet costs of maintenance of said space, with copy to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources. Leases may be re-negotiated annually. All personnel assigned to work in that space must understand and meet all institutional policies as per separate SBIR/STTR policy, including that they are kept separate from university equipment and cannot purchase goods or services using university rates.  
==Procedure To Request Research Space==
==Procedure To Request Research Space==
Research space may be requested by completing the Space Request form. Research space requests will be considered by the appropriate chair, dean and/or director and/or the UNMC Research Space Committee based on the location of the proposed space. For assignment in multi-college/institute research buildings, the Research Space Committee will discuss the request at their bi-monthly meeting, to include the VCR and FMP leadership along with the relevant college dean/institute director and department chair or any other representatives designated. A response from a UNMC Research Space Committee request should be expected within one (1) month.  
Research space may be requested by completing the [https://www.unmc.edu/vcr/_documents/research_space_request_form.pdf UNMC Space Request] form. Research space requests will be considered by the appropriate chair, dean and/or director and/or the UNMC Research Space Committee based on the location of the proposed space. For an assignment in multi-college/institute research buildings, the Research Space Committee will discuss the request at their bi-monthly meeting, to include the VCR and FMP leadership along with the relevant college dean/institute director and department chair or any other representatives designated. A response from a UNMC Research Space Committee request should be expected within one (1) month.  
===Procedure When Research Space Assignment is Reduced or Changed===
===Procedure When Research Space Assignment is Reduced or Changed===
===Requesting Additional Space===
===Requesting Additional Space===
Faculty may request additional space once notice of grant award has been received that designates the final funding received. The space metric of the faculty with and without the award will be compared to those around their current laboratory and the specific space committee evaluates options that may be presented. These could include a decision to not increase space, assignment in another area that can accommodate the request or an increase in space assigned to that faculty member and reduction in the space assigned to other faculty immediately adjacent to their current space assignment.   
Faculty may request additional space once notice of grant award has been received that designates the final funding received. The space metric of the faculty with and without the award will be compared to those around their current laboratory and the specific space committee evaluates options that may be presented. These could include a decision to not increase space, assignment in another area that can accommodate the request or an increase in space assigned to that faculty member and a reduction in the space assigned to other faculty immediately adjacent to their current space assignment.   
===Relocation of Space===
===Relocation of Space===
This process requires a discussion with the faculty’s dean/director and department/division chair/chief. Whenever possible, choices are provided. When a faculty with a lower research metric is asked to relocate, the faculty should be given at least thirty (30) days to move. It often takes approximately thirty (30) days for the space committee to evaluate a request. For this reason, it is optimal that the department, college or unit discuss potential space assignments and recruitments early with the VCR Office so as not to delay placement of a newly hired faculty member.
This process requires a discussion with the faculty’s dean/director and department/division chair/chief. Whenever possible, choices are provided. When a faculty with a lower research metric is asked to relocate, the faculty should be given at least thirty (30) days to move. It often takes approximately thirty (30) days for the space committee to evaluate a request. For this reason, it is optimal that the department, college or unit discuss potential space assignments and recruitments early with the VCR Office so as not to delay placement of a newly hired faculty member.
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==Additional Information ==
==Additional Information ==
*For more information, contact the [mailto:tess.kuenstling@unmc.edu Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources].
*For more information, contact the [mailto:tess.kuenstling@unmc.edu Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources].
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/2/2b/CAHPCampusSpaceRequestForm.pdf College of Allied Health Space Request]<br />
*[https://www.unmc.edu/vcr/_documents/research_space_request_form.pdf UNMC Space Request]
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/9/96/CampusSpaceReqCOD.pdf College of Dentistry Space Request]<br />
 
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/0/00/CampusSpaceReqCOM.pdf College of Medicine Space Request]<br />
 
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/8/85/CampusSpaceReqCON.pdf College of Nursing Space Request]<br />
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/a/a0/COP_Lab_Space_Request_Procedure_2015.pdf College of Pharmacy Space Request]<br />
*[https://wiki.unmc.edu/images/d/d3/CoPH_Research_Space_Request.docx College of Public Health Space Request]<br />
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/1/1d/CampusSpaceReqEpp.pdf Eppley Space Request]<br />
*[http://wiki.unmc.edu/images/3/30/SpaceRequestMMI.pdf MMI Space Request]<br />
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This page maintained by [mailto:dpanowic@unmc.edu dkp].