Christmas newsletter 69 December 2016
Dear All Please find latest news:
Economy
We have now approved the budget for 2017 in such a way that there is balance. It is due to a large fund the Faculty received to cover costs related to construction processes.
The building processes
As I have told at house meetings the construction of the Skou-building has been delayed for various reasons (such as bad weather). Updated plan:
We can start by using Skou-building: October 2017
Renovation of the research wing of the Anatomy complex: February 2018 - April 2019
Renovation of the Bartholin building: February 2018 - November 2019
Status of plans for the Skou Building
We have held all the meetings for each wing in the Skou-building. Find the plans here.
Please note that the plan is still preliminary - there will probably be changes (due to departures and recruitments) before the move to be made during the period October 2017 - February 2018. And it is still possible to suggest changes.
Space for TNU
We have from the Department of Clinical Medicine been asked whether we in an approximately 3-year period (from 2018) can house animals and related activities from TNU in Risskov before they be located in Skejby. It seems that there may be room for the animals in the Skou-building, and we are now negotiating on economy.
Can we give up some space?
The Dean has asked the department to investigate whether we need all the planned space - after all construction projects is over (that is from 2020 and onwards). And what consequences it would have if we would restrict. The reason is that the faculty and the department can expect a large rent increase. A committee has now been formed to examine the possibilities, consisting of: Inger Rønde, Tine Jørgensen and Kenneth Brodersen from Economy, Conor Leerhøy from the Building Service, Steen Harrit Jakobsen from the Administration Center and Morten Pless and the undersigned from Biomedicine.
Grant applications
Please remember that all applications exceeding 100.000 kr has to be registered in ReAp, and applications exceeding 1 mio kr should pass me – at least 1 week before deadline.
New contact in the Graduate School for PhD students at Biomedicine
Henriette Louise Lausten is employed in the Graduate School to manage PhD students from Biomedicine. Henriette can help answer administrative questions, for example on rules, waivers and submission of thesis. She can be contacted via email hlml@au.dk or graduateschoolhealth@au.dk or tel. 8715 2574. You are also welcome to drop in Katrinebjergvej 89F, Bldg. 5132, 8200 Aarhus N – she will offer coffee.
Please consider whether you can spend some more of your grants
As also rector pointed out the last time he was here, there are often problems spending grants as it has been budgeted. This causes problems for the entire university and for the Department. At the department we are a few million behind what is budgeted, and it creates problems with lack of overhead that first transferred to the department when the grants are used. It is fully understandable and reasonable to save some of the funds in the research groups, but grants are of course meant to be used. We have from the economy department received an overview of the accounts where consumption does not follow the budget, and it is quite extensive – actually funds in most research groups at biomedicine. In many cases, there are good reasons why the consumption is slower than budgeted, but my wish here at the end of the year, therefore, is similar to the rector's statement: Please consider if there are some grants that you can use for reasonable purposes – that would be good both for the department and for the AU.
Anders Jahres prices
You are welcome to suggest candidates for the Anders Jahres awards distributed by Oslo University: The Anders Jahres main prize, which is 2 million Norwegian kroner, and the Anders Jahres Prize for younger researchers (under 40 per. June 15 2017), where the price is of 500,000 Norwegian kroner. The awards are given for: "Outstanding quality in basic and clinical medicine in Norden." If you have suggestions please send them to the undersigned not later than 28 December 2016.
News from the Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Challenge program has deadline 15. February. There are two themes: Big Data in biomedicine and Design and engineering of biological molecules and systems.
News from the Lundbeck Foundation
The fund has thematic calls with application deadline 1. March: Improved understanding of disease development / mechanisms and enhanced opportunities for prevention: Inflammation and development of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
The next meeting in the LSU (Local collaboration committee) will be held on 19. December
The Agenda can be viewed on the webpage for the department and includes recruitment procedures and alcohol policy.
Next meeting in the Department forum is held on 21. December
Agenda include recruitment procedures and how the process best can take place regarding a new strategy for the department.
Meeting in the Academic Council held 1. December
Minutes are on the way
The last meeting of the Faculty SU (FSU) was held on 2. December
Minutes are on the way. We discussed among other things how the HR policy for the entire university are implemented locally.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Thomas G. Jensen