“Interdisciplinary.” “Collaborative.”

Buzzwords like these populate University of Rochester grant proposals, strategic plans, websites, brochures, and a host of other documents.

And it is true: The University of Rochester is a great place for interdisciplinary, collaborative research.

And yet, as I make my rounds as senior vice president for research, I can’t help but notice that researchers at the Med Center, for example, often know very little about what their River Campus counterparts are doing, and vice versa. And sometimes even less about the researchers the next floor up.

That’s why I wanted to launch this newsletter: to see if we could get to know each other better, share our know-how, foster collaboration, and build a stronger sense of community.

This newsletter is for all faculty, scientists, post docs and graduate students engaged in research at the University of Rochester. In all disciplines, in all places: at the Med Center and the River Campus, at LLE, Eastman, and the MAG.

It is intended to be YOUR newsletter, not mine.

I’ve been working with Bob Marcotte in University Communications to identify topics of interest: UR researchers in the news, award and grant recipients, points of pride, how to get help with a project, and grant writing tips. We’d even like to showcase neat photos or other images illustrating your research. You’ll get a sampling of these topics when the next newsletter arrives a week from now.

But we are not wedded to these topics. Let us know what you like, what you don’t like – and what you’d rather have included.

Above all, let us know about the interesting things you’re doing in your lab and in your life. If you’ve got questions, ask them. If you’ve got opinions, voice them. Get in touch. Help us make this yoUResearch newsletter!

Rob Clark
Senior vice president for research

Send suggestions, reactions, and other observations to Bob Marcotte, bmarcotte@ur.rochester.edu.