Conference: NSF GRANTED: A workshop series to establish the Middle-Tennessee Research Administration and Innovation Network (M-TRAIN)

该项目将通过一系列会议来实施，将田纳西州中部（TN）的研究机构聚集在一起，共同探讨提高该地区研究企业的最佳方式，该地区是新兴研究机构的所在地，包括历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）、农村服务机构、公共和私人实体以及基于信仰的机构。如果没有支持研究生态系统的战略性规划的劳动力和资源增长，国家在该地区的研究投资就无法充分发挥其潜力。虽然新兴的研究机构在中坦州已经展示了卓越的研究成果，但仍有进一步的机会来提高他们提交研究资金提案的能力，积极与邻近机构合作以获得大型多机构机会，或者与企业和政府组织建立重要的伙伴关系。该地区从事研究的机构的绝对多样性强调了加强沟通、有意包容和仔细考虑的必要性，这将导致建立持久的伙伴关系。为了满足这一需求，项目团队将创建中部泰米尔纳研究管理和创新网络（M-TRAIN），该网络的多样化组成有望成为研究企业合作的全国模式。计划召开的会议将通过连接不同的研究参与者，同时解决各个机构的独特需求和优势，促进区域研究事业的发展。由于联邦研究机会需要机构合作，而且经常是区域合作，正变得越来越普遍，这种模式对于确保国家在科学和工程研究参与方面的竞争力至关重要。M-TRAIN的核心合作伙伴反映了田纳西州中部的机构多样性，包括范德比尔特大学（研究密集型私立机构）、田纳西州立大学（公立HBCU）和菲斯克大学（私立HBCU）。田纳西州中部有35所学院和大学，有公共和私人组织，包括五所农村服务机构和四所hbcu。这种机构多样性将为M-TRAIN会议的讨论提供信息，以确定区域机构的研究开发基础设施的优势和需求，进一步建立信任和关系，并在参与者寻求科学和经济创新机会时确定协同和协作方法的最佳实践。研讨会主题将广泛包括：研究发展、研究管理、研究合规和研究翻译。目标是建立和扩大整个区域的研究行政基础设施，加强机构间的凝聚力和集体准备，以应对寻求区域对策的越来越多的资助机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will be implemented as a series of conferences to bring together research-performing institutions in Middle Tennessee (TN) to collaboratively address the best ways to enhance the research enterprise of the region, which is home to emerging research institutions, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), rural-serving institutions, public and private entities, and faith-based institutions. National investment in research in this region cannot reach its full potential without strategically planned growth of the workforce and resources that support the research ecosystem. Although emerging research institutions in Middle TN have demonstrated research excellence, there remain further opportunities to enhance their ability to submit proposals for research funding, proactively collaborate with neighboring institutions for large multi-institutional opportunities, or develop important partnerships with corporate and government organizations. The sheer diversity of the research-performing institutions in the area underscores a need for intensive communication, intentional inclusion, and careful deliberations that will result in the creation of enduring partnerships. To meet this need, the project team will create the Middle TN Research Administration and Innovation Network (M-TRAIN), a network whose diverse composition promises to be a national model for research enterprise collaboration. The planned convenings will catalyze growth in the regional research enterprise by connecting disparate research performers while addressing the unique needs and strengths of the individual institutions. As federal research opportunities requiring institutional, and often regional, collaborations are becoming more common, such a model is critical to ensure national competitiveness in science and engineering research participation.The Core Partners of M-TRAIN reflect the institutional diversity of Middle TN, including Vanderbilt University (research-intensive private Institution), Tennessee State University (public HBCU), and Fisk University (private HBCU). Middle TN is home to 35 colleges and universities, with a mix of public and private organizations, including five rural-serving institutions and four HBCUs. This institutional diversity will inform M-TRAIN conference discussions to identify the strengths and needs of the research development infrastructure at regional institutions, further building trust and relationships, and determining best practices for synergistic and collaborative approaches as participants pursue opportunities for scientific and economic innovation. Workshop topics will include broadly: research development, research administration, research compliance, and research translation. Objectives are to build and expand research administration infrastructure across the region and enhance inter-institutional cohesiveness and collective readiness to respond to the increasing number of funding opportunities seeking a regional response.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.