Calling all area high school students! Buffalo State University will hold the Buffalo State Expo, a community-outreach event geared toward high school students, on Saturday, October 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; sign-up opens at 9:30 a.m. in the Science and Mathematics Complex. Please spread the word.

Join us as we showcase the research, scholarship, and creative work being done at Buffalo State University. Be a disease detective with Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics; see a demonstration of fish-schooling behavior; learn about hominin fossils and evolution; visit the 2023 fall Art and Design Student Exhibition; learn about STEM education program highlights and see demo lessons; find out what T. rex might have tasted like...and much more.

In addition, the local coordinator for the Science Olympiad will be on hand to meet with any area teachers interested in starting a team.

This event is sponsored by the Buffalo State School and Arts and Sciences in association the Buffalo-Niagara Regional Science Olympiad. Free and open to all.

The 2023-2024 “Conversations in and out of the Disciplines” series kicks off tomorrow, October 20, as Gavin Leighton, assistant professor of biology, presents “The Evolution of Complex Communication and Visual Deception in Birds” at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. The talk will be followed by a brief Q&A and a short wine and cheese reception. Everyone is welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the second talk of the fall semester, when Naomi McKay, associate professor of psychology, will present “Stress Eating: It Can’t Be All Bad!” at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 17, in Ketchum Hall 320.

The “Conversations” series was started 16 years ago by Ann Colley, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emerita of English, to “celebrate and draw attention to the research being done in various departments at Buffalo State University.” Over this time, colleagues from Anthropology, Art Conservation, Art History, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Secondary Education, among others, have shared their work with the Buffalo State and Buffalo communities.

Internal applications are being accepted for the following position on campus. This is an internal job posting open to employees of Buffalo State University who are currently paid from any state-appropriated-funds payroll.

Title: Staff Associate/ACE Program Director
Department: Enrollment Management, VP Office
Salary: Competitive
Negotiating Unit: UUP

Brief Job Description
Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) is a SUNY-wide retention initiative that is a comprehensive program designed to help students complete their academic journey to the bachelor’s degree by providing participants with a clearly mapped program of study, comprehensive academic advisement, and career support services. A press release from SUNY describing the systemwide initiative can be found on the SUNY website.

To lead this effort, the ACE program director, reporting to the interim assistant vice president for student success and retention, will be part of a dedicated team who will work cooperatively to launch this initiative and then directly manage program operations and personnel thereafter.

Essential Responsibilities
30% Develops and monitors a comprehensive program of academic advisement, career counseling, and other support and financial aid services for a designated cohort of ACE students.

15% Develops and implements strategies to improve retention and performance of ACE students in collaboration with ACE advisors and career and employment specialists.

15% Implements academic interventions and other initiatives to improve students’ performance and retention.

5% Evaluates program services and develops interventions for probation and at-risk students; makes recommendations to improve program offerings.

5% Oversees program’s budget and daily administration, including scheduling and timely delivery of services.

5% Establishes and maintains relationships with academic departments, including scheduling of ACE classes.

5% Oversees recruitment of new students, including coordination with other college offices.

5% Prepares reports for immediate supervisor, the Provost’s Office, Enrollment Management, and the SUNY Office of Academic Affairs and University ASAP Director (SUNY Central).

5% Serves on applicable steering groups and committees as determined.

5% Attends monthly meetings at the SUNY Central, and other periodic program-wide events.

5% Supervises dedicated ACE advisors, career services, and instructional and/or clerical staff.

To view the required qualifications and to apply, please view the posting on the Buffalo State Job Opportunities website.

The posting is open for consideration of internal candidates through Tuesday, October 31.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “Plant Community Shifts in Lake Ontario Coastal Wetlands," presented by Aaron W. Heminway, biologist with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, on Monday, October 23, at 3:00 p.m. the Science and Mathematics Complex 151. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies before the seminar.

Abstract
Changes in land use, hydrology, and nutrient inputs over the past 100 years have led to shifts in community composition and loss of coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes. The largest, most notable changes are encroachment of invasive cattail species into sedge meadows. Heminway and colleagues studied coastal wetlands of Lake Ontario with varying hydrogeomorphic classifications, mapped land use in their watersheds, and performed growth experiments to help understand these changes.

Applications are being accepted for the E. O. Smith Arts and Humanities Faculty Development Fund for the period of January 1–December 31, 2024. The deadline for submissions is Monday, December 4, 2023.

These competitive, peer-reviewed projects support opportunities for the professional development of full-time Buffalo State University faculty members in programs related to the arts and the humanities. Eligible candidates must be members of programs included in the arts (art, design, art conservation, theater, music, dance, film) or the humanities (history, art history, museum studies, philosophy, religious studies, literature, English, modern and classical languages) and teach discipline-specific courses in the arts and humanities.

Candidates are required to submit their proposals to the selection committee detailing how they would use the funding and include a curriculum vitae and detailed project budget. Funds may be used only for expenses directly related to professional development in their discipline, including research, supplies used in research or the publication of research, travel, or other similar professional activities. All pertinent COVID-19 restrictions will apply, and adherence to spending constraint rules and regulations will be followed. Funds may not be directed toward internal administration (including course release fees) or social functions or for personal use. Any proposed budgets that include personnel expenses (e.g., student assistants) must detail those expenses.

Projects consistent with the mission and goals of the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center will be given preference. Previously funded candidates may reapply (for a new phase of the funded project, or a new project), but previously unfunded candidates will be given preference. Applicants cannot serve on the selection committee.

The announcement of funded proposals will be made in late December, and expenses according to the approved budget must be incurred during the calendar year from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Recipients will be required to complete their projects during that time. A final report and participation in the 2024 Fall Forum is expected.

The fund's benefactor, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and historian Edward Owen "E. O." Smith Jr., became a member of the faculty of the Buffalo State History Department in 1963, serving as chair of the History and Social Studies Education Department for many years and as the first director of the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center. He also founded the college’s museum studies certificate program. He retired from the college in 2013.

During his 50-year tenure, he was known for his concern for students, his chairmanship of numerous college committees, and his efforts to improve the economic and cultural life of Buffalo’s West Side. He also held a deep interest in art and the visual image as a document, and was honored by the Burchfield Penney Art Center for his participation in and leadership of many collaborative center projects. Dr. Smith was named a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in 1999 and had previously received the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Dr. Smith died in March 2014, and his gift endowing this fund leaves a lasting legacy at Buffalo State.

Please join us for a special Fitness Data Panel, moderated by Joaquin Carbonara, professor of mathematics and data science and analytics, on Monday, October 23, from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. The presentation is part of the Data Science and Analytics Seminar Series.

Panelists will be Soda Kuczkowski, CEO and sleep health educator with Start with Sleep LLC; Bob Girardi, retired CEO of SofTrek Corporation; Mike Cichocki, digital forensic incident responder; and Saziye Bayram, associate professor of mathematics at SUNY Buffalo State University.

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ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Soda Kuczkowski, CEO and Sleep Health Educator, Start with Sleep LLC 
Soda Kuczkowski is a sleep industry expert with 18 years of experience in the fields of sleep medicine, as well as sleep health and coaching. She has consulted and coached thousands of clients over the years and has certified health professionals worldwide to share awareness about the importance of sleep health. She is an advocate, an educator, and an overall passionate sleep enthusiast dedicated to providing you with what you need to know to put the science of sleep into action. She is also the owner of Start with Sleep LLC, a multifaceted organization that champions sleep health. The organization offers specialized training for health-care providers, educational institutions, and corporate wellness programs and features a carefully curated retail boutique of sleep-enhancing tools.

Expertise: How data analytics is reshaping the sleep industry 

Highlights of the presentation:

• The importance of sleep: Why sleep matters 
• Understanding sleep staging and patterns 
• Using sleep metrics, from data to action 
• Pros and cons of wearables and sleep apps 
• The future of sleep analytics

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Bob Girardi, CEO (Retired), SofTrek Corporation
Bob Girardi has been in the technology industry for over four decades. He has worked in and managed a number of Western New York start-up companies throughout his career in addition to spending 10 years at IBM in various marketing strategy roles. Most recently he was the CEO and president of SofTrek Corporation before his retirement in 2017. With an undergraduate degree in computer science and graduate work in strategic planning and marketing management, Mr. Girardi possesses expertise in the areas of software development, marketing management, strategic business planning, and business development. In addition to spending as much time with his wife, three children, and two grandchildren as he possible can, he volunteers time to local businesses and community boards and councils. He also enjoys cycling, hiking, resistance training, and martial arts. He is an avid reader in the areas of physical fitness, technology, longevity, and current medical research.

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Mike Cichocki, Digital Forensic Incident Responder 
Mike Cichocki has 30 years of information technology experience and an insatiable data fetish. His day job involves collecting, baselining, and analyzing large amounts of disparate computer and network telemetry. A half-marathoner who dislikes running might sound strange, but Mr. Cichocki runs countless miles with various sensors as a means of gathering N of 1 data that express the metabolic impact of endurance and resistance training as well as validate health improvements across time.

Expertise: Body telemetry: collection, analyzing, and biohacking 

Highlights of the presentation: 

• Discuss various digital sensors and real-world applications
• Provide an example of multi-year, aggregated telemetry
• Highlight several datapoints indicative of metabolic recomposition

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Saziye Bayram, Associate Professor of Mathematics, SUNY Buffalo State
Saziye Bayram employs delay partial differential equations as mathematical tools and Hopf bifurcation analysis together with numerical computations to analyze physiological phenomenon. In addition, Dr. Bayram has partnered in several interdisciplinary endeavors. She has worked on projects involving the modeling of plant ecology, population dynamics, the spread of an infectious disease, and risk management in a banking environment.

Internal applications are being accepted for the following position on campus. This is an internal job posting open to employees of Buffalo State University who are currently paid from any state-appropriated-funds payroll.

Title: Staff Assistant / Pre-Award Associate
Department: Financial Operations
Rank: SL-2
Negotiating Unit: UUP

Brief Job Description
The Research Foundation (RF) for SUNY at Buffalo State University is seeking a dynamic individual in the Pre-Award and Contract Services division. Under the leadership of the Director, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), and in a team oriented environment, the Pre-Award Associate acts as the primary point of contact working collaboratively with faculty and staff by providing information regarding policies and procedures, ensuring the proper review, process and approval of proposals.

The Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) is SUNY’s authorized representative for externally funded grants, contracts and other agreements. We provide leadership in grants and contracts administration from proposal development to closeout. We work closely with faculty to oversee the submission of grant proposals and ensure the responsible stewardship of research funding according to university, state, ederal and sponsor specific guidelines.

Provide direct support to the University community by identifying and disseminating funding sources and coordinating and facilitating the preparation and submission of grant proposals, ensuring appropriate University approvals and conformance with all regulations, policies and guidelines; serve as principal liaison between and among faculty, funding agencies and campus administrative offices.

Guide faculty in preparation of proposal budgets, ensuring that all requested items meet the criteria established by the sponsor, as well as conform to RF/SUNY Buffalo State policies. Prepare and review proposal budgets for grant submissions, assure conformance with sponsor guidelines and governmental regulations.

Serve as institutional administrator for GrantForward database system; includes control of campus access to the system for all modules, establishment of authorized users, and interaction with IT Department on troubleshooting problems. Communicate with faculty regarding funding interests and establishment of faculty profile within GrantForward.

Initiate preparation of New Award Input Form (NAIF) and cooperatively interact with Grants Management and Accounts Receivable on establishment of award, including any special conditions related to award set-up and administration. Attend Grants Management meetings on a monthly basis.

Assist PIs with completing the At Risk / Advance Account Request form.

Update the Agreements module in business tracking system.

Request Certificates of Insurance from RF Central Office Insurance.

Participate in various campus and RF meetings as needed.

Prepare quarterly and annual reports requested by Buffalo State administration and RF Central Office regarding proposals submitted and awarded to RF/SUNY Buffalo State.

Deliver presentations on a variety of grant and research administration topics to graduate student classes, groups of faculty, and community groups. May involve public speaking to large, diversified groups, as well as presentation of mini-courses.

Maintain up-to-date working knowledge of federal, state, Research Foundation, SUNY, and local policies and procedures pertinent to the job and title to ensure compliance in all work-related practices and transactions. Review relevant audit reports and responses in a confidential manner, ensuring that personal and office work practices adhere to agreed management actions.

To view the required qualifications and to apply, please view the posting on the Buffalo State Job Opportunities website.

This internal priority review date closes today, October 20.

Internal applications are being accepted for the following position on campus. This is an internal job posting open to employees of Buffalo State University who are currently paid from any state-appropriated-funds payroll.

Title: Staff Assistant / Pre-Award Associate
Department: Financial Operations
Rank: SL-2
Negotiating Unit: UUP

Brief Job Description
The Research Foundation (RF) for SUNY at Buffalo State University is seeking a dynamic individual in the Pre-Award and Contract Services division. Under the leadership of the Director, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), and in a team oriented environment, the Pre-Award Associate acts as the primary point of contact working collaboratively with faculty and staff by providing information regarding policies and procedures, ensuring the proper review, process and approval of proposals.

The Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) is SUNY’s authorized representative for externally funded grants, contracts and other agreements. We provide leadership in grants and contracts administration from proposal development to closeout. We work closely with faculty to oversee the submission of grant proposals and ensure the responsible stewardship of research funding according to University, State, Federal and sponsor specific guidelines.

Provide direct support to the University community by identifying & disseminating funding sources and coordinating and facilitating the preparation and submission of grant proposals, ensuring appropriate University approvals and conformance with all regulations, policies and guidelines; serve as principal liaison between and among faculty, funding agencies and campus administrative offices.

Guide faculty in preparation of proposal budgets, ensuring that all requested items meet the criteria established by the sponsor, as well as conform to RF/SUNY Buffalo State policies. Prepare and review proposal budgets for grant submissions, assure conformance with sponsor guidelines and governmental regulations.

Serve as institutional administrator for GrantForward database system; includes control of campus access to the system for all modules, establishment of authorized users, and interaction with IT Department on troubleshooting problems. Communicate with faculty regarding funding interests and establishment of faculty profile within GrantForward.

Initiate preparation of New Award Input Form (NAIF) and cooperatively interact with Grants Management and Accounts Receivable on establishment of award, including any special conditions related to award set-up and administration. Attend Grants Management meetings on a monthly basis.

Assist PIs with completing the At Risk / Advance Account Request form.

Update the Agreements module in business tracking system.

Request Certificates of Insurance from RF Central Office Insurance.

Participate in various campus and RF meetings as needed.

Prepare quarterly and annual reports requested by Buffalo State administration and RF Central Office regarding proposals submitted and awarded to RF/SUNY Buffalo State.

Deliver presentations on a variety of grant and research administration topics to: graduate student classes, groups of faculty, and community groups. May involve public speaking to large, diversified groups, as well as presentations of mini-courses.

Maintain up-to-date working knowledge of Federal, State, Research Foundation, SUNY, and local policies and procedures pertinent to the job and title to ensure compliance in all work-related practices and transactions. Review relevant audit reports and responses in a confidential manner, ensuring that personal and office work practices adhere to agreed management actions.

To view the required qualifications and to apply, please view the posting on the Buffalo State Job Opportunities website.

This internal priority review date closes Friday, October 20, 2023.

The Buffalo State University community is saddened by the death of James A. “Jim” Gold, professor emeritus of educational foundations, who died October 10, 2023. Dr. Gold joined the campus in 1977 as the vice president for student affairs, serving in the role until 1990, when he joined the Educational Foundations faculty (now Higher Education Administration). He retired from Buffalo State in 2000, continuing as a lecturer until 2022. He is survived by his wife, Molly; four children; two step-children; and nine grandchildren. His family will be present for a celebration of his life on Saturday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m. in the Buffalo State Campbell Student Union Social Hall. More information is available online.

The Beyond Boundaries Film and Discussion Series is pleased to present the Emmy Award–winning documentary film The Last Out—featuring special guest director Sami Khan—on Thursday, October 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center Tower Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a discussion.

The Last Out, directed by Michael Gassert and Oscar nominee Sami Khan (St. Louis Superman), follows three talented Cuban athletes as they leave their families and homes behind in pursuit of their ultimate dream—a contract with Major League Baseball. In Costa Rica, the ball players train under a seedy sports agent who dangles promises while exploiting their talent. At the shadowy nexus of the migrant trail and pro sports, The Last Out chronicles their harrowing journey, from immigration obstacles to the broken promises of dubious agents. Against all odds, these young athletes try to hold onto their hope while fighting for a better life for their families. This film was an Official Selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival.

Watch the trailer.

Beyond Boundaries is sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the Communication Department, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The series is curated by Ruth Goldman and Meg Knowles, associate professors of media production in the Communication Department.