May 17, 2022 Voiland College This Week

Go Cougs!

A wireless, bioelectronic pacifier could eliminate the need for invasive, twice-daily blood draws to monitor babies’ electrolytes in newborn intensive care units, according to a study co-authored by Jong-Hoon Kim.

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Opportunities

“Why is Now a Good Time to Be a Student?” ACS Webinar June 1

The Eastern Washington section of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Washington State University, is hosting a student webinar, “Why is Now a Good Time to Be a Student?” This free 90-minute webinar, which includes five 15-minute presentations and a 15-minute round table discussion, will be presented on Wednesday June 1, at 11 a.m.

The goal is to provide students with an overview of opportunities available at various venues. Five presenters, including WSU’s John McCloy, will share their experience and discuss several comprehensive, career-building undergraduate and graduate internship opportunities, including numerous examples for different areas of research. As a bonus, The Eastern Washington section of ACerS will award 20 complimentary Global Graduate Researcher Network memberships to the first 20 graduate or doctoral students who register.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day May 19

The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities/impairments. Everyone is encouraged to take some time to increase their digital accessibility awareness by participating in an event or activity. Events can be found on the GAAD website.

Washington Resource Postdoctoral Fellowships – Apply by June 26

WRF supports 10 new postdoctoral scientists each year at research institutions in Washington state. Fellows conduct transformative research on projects that have the potential for real-world impact in natural sciences and engineering-related disciplines.

PNNL NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) identifies and develops the next generation of exceptional national security leaders to achieve the NNSA mission: Strengthening our nation through nuclear security. Positions are currently open to students actively pursuing their master’s or doctoral degree as well as students who have achieved their graduate degree within the past 18 months.

Nominate a Colleague for the Crimson Spirit Award

Do you know a WSU employee who is exceptionally creative in problem-solving or who consistently goes above and beyond? Nominate that WSU employee for the Crimson Spirit Award today!

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Be Safe Cougs

Commitment to Lab Safety

(5/10 memo from Dr. Christopher J. Keane, Vice President for Research, WSU Vice Chancellor for Research, WSU Pullman, Co-Chair, SHS Steering Committee and Stacy Pearson, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Co-Chair, SHS Steering Committee)

As WSU continues our mutual efforts toward the advancement of education, research, and outreach, we also renew our commitment to the safety of our students and researchers. As both an employer and educator, WSU has an obligation to ensure a safe and healthy workplace that is also a safe and healthy learning environment. All personnel who use laboratories must comply with health and safety requirements.

The Vice President for Research and Vice President for Finance and Administration request the support and commitment of Deans and their Associate Deans and Department Chairs with research, teaching and clinical laboratories to laboratory safety. Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), the Office of Research Assurances (ORA) and the Safety, Health, and Security Steering Committee continually review laboratory safety protocols, practices, and incidents. Based upon these reviews, we identified the two following safety focus areas for improving laboratory safety.

Update Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plans (CHPs)

WAC 296-828CHPs identify laboratory responsibilities, training requirements, hazard controls, decontamination, and emergency safety measures. They include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for work with hazardous substances such as corrosives, toxins, and carcinogens. CHPs must be reviewed annually.

Update Laboratory Signage

Laboratory signage helps identify laboratory hazards prior to entry. The signage system assists with classifying chemical, biological, and radiological hazards, with fire code compliance and chemical inventory management. CHP and Signageguidance documents are linked or available on the EH&S Website.

EH&S and ORA are available to provide assistance to departments, safety committees, principal investigators, lab managers, and other key personnel. Please contact Shawn Ringo or Mike Kluzik for immediate assistance.

We are also requesting that principal investigators (PIs), lab managers, teaching lab instructors, or other key personnel within each college:

• Sign and post the attached updated safety commitment in their laboratories, indicating they are also compliant with presidential oversight committees (e.g., IACUC, IBC, IRB, RSC); and,
• Update their CHPs and Signage and send a PDF copy of the CHP and a copy of the signage spreadsheet to EH&S at tom.ebeling@wsu.edu by August 31, 2022.