The realities of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic hit home for UNE researchers in mid-March as on-campus research operations were systematically scaled back in response to the emerging pandemic. In alignment with the evolving directives from the Governor’s office, on-campus research operations moved to minimal staffing for essential business operations and essential research activities (e.g. relating to COVID-19).
Associate Provost Houseknecht partnered with the Research Council to develop best practice guidelines to assist in transition to emergency operations. The UNE Research Council is comprised of representatives from each unit and research center at UNE and is charged with providing input on research strategic planning. In the case of the pandemic, this group was charged with helping to create best practices for scaling back research operations quickly.
Once the guidelines were finalized, Dr. Houseknecht collaborated with UNE Facilities leadership to review Departmental Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) for research. In parallel, Dr. Houseknecht worked with individual research active faculty and their students to adapt research projects to either be paused for the immediate term, adapted to “virtual” research activities, or in a few cases, adapted so that the students could rapidly complete their final thesis work, safely. As a result, although most on-site research activities were paused during the shelter in place period of the pandemic, scholarly operations were able to continue under alternative protocols, with a focus on public safety and physical distancing.
In late April, Governor Mills announced a timeline for re-opening operations in Maine. Once again, Associate Provost Houseknecht called on the Research Council to partner on “back to work” plans for research operations. Dr. Houseknecht invited EHS Director Ronnie Souza to join in the working groups who developed guidelines for phased reopening.
The working groups provided guidelines to address the following research and scholarship areas:
- Vertebrate Animal Research:
- Human Subjects Research:
- Laboratory Operations/Safety
- Field Research Operations (including boats):
- Undergraduate Research Experience:
- Graduate/Professional Student Research Experience:
- Extramural Funding (national and international):
- Travel/Funding relating to scholarship:
The working groups met weekly and Dr. Houseknecht shared feedback with senior leadership teams. Following final reivew, the resumption of research operations plan was approved on May 28th. The process of approval (individual and research teams) of requests for restarting research began immediately in coordination with the Office of Research and Scholarship, Environmental Health and Safety and Human Resources. As of July 2020, approximately 30 PIs and their research teams are approved for onsite research operations with social distancing and following PPE guidelines.
The Associate PRovost and Research cCouncil continue to work on planning to support resumption of onsite human subjects research and continue to evaluate and modify onsite research operations as the status of COVID-19 pandemic evolves in Maine and regionally.
Dr. Houseknecht would like to recognize and offer a special thank you to the Research Council members for their hard work and dedication during very challenging circumstances.
The 2020 Research Council Membership Roster Includes:
