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K-State Today

March 16, 2017

Learn about Industry/University Cooperative Research Center opportunities at upcoming information session

Submitted by Sarah Hancock

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Wheat Genetics Resource Center I/UCRC are co-sponsoring an information session on the National Science Foundation's Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, or I/UCRC, program from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, in the lecture room on the third floor of the K-State Alumni Center.

An I/UCRC enables industrially relevant, pre-competitive research via multimember, sustained partnerships among industry, academe and government. NSF supports the development and evolution of IUCRCs, providing a financial and procedural framework for membership and operations in addition to best practices learned through decades of fostering public/private partnerships that provide significant value to the nation and industry as well as university faculty members and students.

At this information session, Will Zorrilla, managing director of K-State's only I/UCRC, will discuss developing this center and submitting a proposal to NSF. Given K-State's many research strengths, our institution should have more than one I/UCRC. Register to attend and learn how to develop one of these centers.

The Wheat Genetics Resource Center I/UCRC is a joint venture of the K-State plant pathology department, the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, and Colorado State University. Its mission is to mobilize genetic diversity to enhance wheat yields and meet food security needs. Improving wheat requires new genetic diversity; without it, varieties will lack the "genetic grit" required to fight devastating disease, destructive pests, and severe climates, and breeders will be unable to make the progress necessary to feed future generations. The Wheat Genetics Resource Center I/UCRC mines and harnesses the defenses and valuable attributes of wheat's ancient ancestors to help breeders, and then farmers, produce high quantities of high-quality bread wheat.

The center offers integrated application of cytogenetics and modern molecular genetics to support industry members, including growers, seed, milling and food manufacturing companies.

Find information about this and other opportunities on the Office of the Vice President for Research workshops and training calendar.