<p>To chart the direction of the <a href="http://www.wid.wisc.edu">Wisconsin Institute for Discovery</a> (<abbr>WID</abbr>), the committee and campus leaders charged with formulating the vision for the new interdisciplinary institute have issued a <a href="http://www.wid.wisc.edu/research/themes-competition.html">call for research theme proposals</a> from <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison faculty.</p> <p>The call for proposals was distributed to all faculty today (<abbr title="August">Aug.</abbr> 27) by e-mail.</p> <p>“The research themes competition will generate new ideas that bring together biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology in ways that will have important implications for human health and welfare,” explains <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> Interim Director Marsha Mailick Seltzer. “<abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> can provide the context and resources to support these new ideas and the discoveries they will generate.”</p> <p><abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> is the public half of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, which will also include the private <a href="http://www.morgridgeinstitute.org/">Morgridge Institute for Research</a> (<abbr>MIR</abbr>). Both institutes will occupy the $150 million building now under construction in the 1300 block of University Avenue.</p> <p>The competition, says Seltzer, will culminate in the selection of five research themes, each of which embodies research that will bring together at least two of <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr>’s three “thrust” areas: nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology. Each theme will ultimately involve a group of four faculty, one a currently tenured <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison faculty member who is the successful author of a theme proposal, and three who will be newly recruited to the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison campus.</p> <p>“Of course, we are hoping for an enthusiastic response and, based on the response to our previous programs, we are optimistic,” says Seltzer who, with the help of a broad-based program committee composed of <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison faculty and staff, has been shaping the mission and scientific scope of the institute first proposed by Wisconsin <abbr title="Governor">Gov.</abbr> Jim Doyle in 2004.</p> <p>“<abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> will offer new opportunities and resources for intellectual and scientific growth for the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison,” says Seltzer, who also directs the Waisman Center.</p> <p>Chancellor John <abbr>D.</abbr> Wiley, who will assume the <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> interim director’s role <abbr title="November">Nov.</abbr> 1, says the theme competition gives faculty a rare opportunity to build an integrated, interdisciplinary research program from the ground up: “We’re not just putting up a building. This competition represents a chance to help set the intellectual tone for the university for decades to come. We think this will be a model program and we’re very excited by what might emerge through the creative powers of our faculty.”</p> <p>Like many other <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison interdisciplinary centers and institutes, <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> will exist under the auspices of the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison Graduate School and will have programs that engage faculty, staff and students from across campus. “Our goal is for <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> to exceed the walls of the building by engaging students and faculty from throughout the campus. Other research centers and institutes on the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison campus have members and affiliates who are located in diverse departments and centers. There is every reason for <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> to cast a broad net. This is in the tradition of interdisciplinary programs of the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison,” says Seltzer.</p> <p>Seltzer’s comments were echoed by Graduate School Dean Martin Cadwallader: “Just as existing centers and institutes reach beyond their individual programs, <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr>’s influence is going to be felt in nearly every corner of the campus. We’re excited because the programs developed by our faculty are going to be influential beyond the scope of the <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> building itself.”</p> <p>The <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> theme competition, according to Seltzer, begins with a call for pre-proposals, due Monday, <abbr title="November">Nov.</abbr> 3, and will culminate with the selection of the five successful full theme proposals by September 2009. Full proposals, due Wednesday, April 1, will be reviewed by a faculty committee and as many as 10 proposals will be recommended to the <abbr class="initialism" title="University of Wisconsin">UW</abbr>–Madison chancellor, provost, Graduate School dean and <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> director, who will collectively select the final five <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> themes.</p> <p>The five faculty members who are successful in their theme <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> proposals will be expected to move to the new <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> facility when it is completed in 2010. Each will be asked to chair a search committee for the three new faculty members who will comprise their respective research themes.</p> <p>Faculty interested in proposing for the <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> theme competition are encouraged to attend one of three informational sessions where questions can be answered and more details provided. The sessions are scheduled for Monday, <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 8, from 1–2 p.m. at the Memorial Union (check TITU); Wednesday, <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 10, from 1–2 p.m. in 1610 Engineering Hall; and Friday, <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 12, from noon–1 p.m. in the John <abbr>D.</abbr> Wiley Conference Center (Room T216) at the Waisman Center.</p> <h2><abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> theme competition timeline</h2> <ul> <li><abbr title="August">Aug.</abbr> 27: Announcement of <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> theme competition</li> <li><abbr title="November">Nov.</abbr> 3: Pre-proposals due</li> <li><abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> 2: Themes selected for full proposals announced</li> <li>April 1: <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> theme full proposals due</li> <li>April 15–June 1: Faculty committee review of full proposals</li> <li>September 2009: Five <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> themes selected</li> <li>October 2009: Five faculty search committees appointed</li> <li>End of 2010: Faculty move into the <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> building</li> </ul> <h2>Information sessions</h2> <ul> <li> <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 8, 1–2 p.m., Memorial Union (check Today in the Union)</li> <li><abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 10, 1–2 p.m., 1610 Engineering Hall</li> <li><abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 12, noon–1 p.m. John <abbr>D.</abbr> Wiley Conference Center (T216), Waisman Center</li> </ul> To chart the direction of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (<abbr>WID</abbr>), the committee and campus leaders charged with formulating the vision for the new interdisciplinary institute have issued a call for research theme proposals from <abbr title="University of Wisconsin" class="initialism">UW</abbr>–Madison faculty. Great ideas sought for <abbr title="Wisconsin Institute for Discovery">WID</abbr> competition 15521 2008-09-11T00:00:00-05:00

<div id="whatsnew"> <h2>WID research competition details<br /></h2> <p>Visit the <a href="http://www.wid.wisc.edu/research/themes-competition.html">Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Web site</a> for details about the competition.</p> </div>

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