Posts Tagged: February 2020

CalNat seeks Lead Scientist

The UC California Naturalist (CalNat) Program is seeking nominations from across the University of California System for a Lead Scientist. The program is looking for a UC academic who is widely recognized in environmental science, conservation biology, ecology, global change, natural history, or related fields. The Lead Scientist will work with the CalNat program director to enhance the academic profile and connections of the program.

The primary purpose of this advisory role is to ensure continued high-level academic involvement and rigor for UC California Naturalist including the forthcoming Climate Stewards course. This new role opens an opportunity for a UC academic to connect directly with a growing public of amateur naturalists, community scientists, and environmental stewards (>4,000 statewide). The Lead Scientist will chair the Program Advisory Committee, which is made up of UC academics and external partners who meet online quarterly to help ensure that CalNat courses and community events reflect the latest state of knowledge in environmental science and informal science education. This role would benefit academics interested in research and extension focused on natural history, environmental education, climate communication, natural resource management, and diverse public participation in scientific research in California's ecosystems.

The Lead Scientist should have some service experience in their field such as with scientific societies and editorial boards. The program is asking for a three-year commitment with the opportunity to renew once. This is a university service opportunity and there is no salary or stipend attached to this role, but reimbursements for approved travel and expenses will be provided according to available unit funds. The program encourages self-nominations or the nomination of candidates who have acknowledged they would be interested.

For more information and the nomination form, please visit http://calnat.ucanr.edu/leadscientist. The deadline for nominations is April 24, 2020.

California Naturalist is a statewide program of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), a statewide organization that brings UC research in agriculture, the environment, youth development and nutrition out to local communities to improve the lives of all Californians.

Comments invited for UC travel regulations

The University of California invites employee comments on a proposed revision to Presidential Policy Business and Finance Bulletin G-28: Travel Regulations.  The proposed policy revision includes the following key issues: 

• Incorporate Internal Audit Recommendation to include requirement for documentation to support business or first class travel.
• Incorporate Internal Audit Recommendation to include the need to document the business purpose of each day of travel.
• Addition of a new section within policy that addresses sustainable travel recommendations.
• Gender-neutral language

The proposed policy is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Business_Operations/Controller/Administrative_Policies_-_Business_Contracts/Policy_and_administrative_handbooks/ANR_Administrative_Handbook/Recent_Updates.

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than May 16, 2020. Please indicate “G-28 Travel Regulations” in the subject line.

Desert REC calls for proposals

The Desert Research & Extension Center is soliciting proposals for new research and extension projects for the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. The center provides research projects with skilled farming equipment operators, irrigators, laboratory research facilities, and technical and management support.

Among Desert REC's major contributions to desert agriculture are the development of several crop varieties including Calmar, Imperial and Calicel lettuce; Moapa, UC Cibola, CUF 101 and Sonora alfalfa; UC 157 asparagus; Imperial artichoke; and UC Signal barley. Many current irrigation practices, including sprinkler irrigation and the use of plastic tile for field drainage, resulted from research conducted at the Center. The Center has developed key requirements for the livestock feedlot industry, and, because of its winter climate, it is a major germplasm testing point for various agronomic and vegetable crops.

Crops of importance in the area and at the center are alfalfa, wheat, barley, cotton, melons, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, onions and sugarbeets. In an area where annual rainfall is less than three inches, research stresses the development of optimal irrigation-fertilization strategies that take advantage of desert conditions. The Imperial Valley has an important cattle-feeding industry, and researchers use Desert REC facilities to study beef and sheep feeding practices under low-desert valley conditions, where summertime temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Projects led by UC academics receive funding directly from UC ANR and Desert REC to reduce the actual cost of research and extension at the center. Proposals from non-UC organizations will be considered if resources (space and labor) are available, but the full cost rate is charged plus the non-university differential (NUD currently is set at 33.7%).

Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the Desert REC website (http://drec.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal/) beginning March 1, 2020, and are due no later than April 10, 2020.

For questions about the research proposal process or research opportunities at Desert REC, contact Jairo Diaz, Desert RED director, at jdiazr@ucanr.edu, or Gilberto Magallon, superintendent, at gmagallon@ucanr.edu.

South Coast REC calls for proposals

The South Coast Research & Extension Center is soliciting proposals for new research and extension projects, as well as prompting researchers with continuing projects to submit an updated Land, Labor, and Facilities form and 3-year report, if required, for project year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Located on 200 acres in Orange County, South Coast REC research and extension projects and programs focus on a variety of agriculture and natural resource topics including: variety development, crop and landscape pest management, irrigation management, plant disease, rootstock development, and alternative weed control methods in managed systems. As reclaimed water is the main irrigation source provided to the center by the local water district, researchers can assist in the development of reclaimed water management strategies, an increasingly important resource for the long-term sustainability of agriculture and urban environments.

The center also continues to welcome the submission of research and extension projects addressing broader topics, such as the impacts of climate change on urban and agricultural ecosystems.

South Coast REC provides research projects with skilled farming equipment operators, irrigators, some limited indoor research facilities (for example, plant sample processing lab), and technical and management support. Projects led by UC academics receive funding directly from UC ANR and South Coast REC to reduce the actual cost of research and extension at the Center. Proposals from non-UC organizations will be considered if resources (space and labor) are available, but the full cost rate is charged plus the non-university differential (NUD currently is set at 33.7%).

Full cost recharge rates and UC ANR funding levels for UC-led research projects for South Coast REC for the 2020-21 year will be published after approval on the South Coast REC website (http://screc.ucanr.edu/Research/) this spring.

Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the South Coast REC website (http://screc.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal/) beginning March 1, 2020, and are due no later than April 15, 2020.

For questions about the research proposal process or research opportunities at South Coast REC, contact Darren Haver, center director, at dlhaver@ucanr.edu, or Chris Martinez, superintendent, at cpmartinez@ucanr.edu.

Refresher training on staff hiring process March 5

Training on the staff hiring process is being offered by Human Resources for anyone who is involved in employee recruiting and hiring, including supervisors and office staff who assist in recruitments.

The new HR systems for hiring have been in place for a few months now. Do you have any questions or need a refresher now that you've had a chance to navigate it a bit?

Please join HR on Thursday, March 5, at 10 a.m. to review some staff recruiting process slides and get your questions answered. Please register at  http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=29644.

For more information about the training, contact Patricia Glass, HR business systems analyst, at (530) 750-1324 or pglass@ucanr.edu.

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