The UT Core Facilities Program (UTCFP) has released a call for funding requests to established UT Core Facilities (UTCFs). This call is intended to provide support to facilities with critical needs prior to the end of FY18. Awards may be used for the purchase or repair of equipment, assistance with the addition of services, or to offset the operational costs of the facility.

The UT Core Facilities Program (UTCFP) recently announced a call for organizers to submit proposals for the establishment of new UT Core Facilities (UTCFs).

From that initial call, seven groups have elected to explore the benefits of becoming recognized UTCFs and will receive a small amount of financial support from the Office of Research and Engagement to assist with the completion of the application process.

Jon Phipps has been named director of Core Facilities at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Phipps has been part of the university research community for more than a decade: as a student, as a post-doc, and most recently as a Biological Safety Specialist in the Office of Research and Engagement.

“I am excited to have been selected to take part in this endeavor, and look forward to helping build the Core Facilities Program,” said Phipps. “Given the current funding environment, the continued growth and development of this program will be critical to the mission of the university by ensuring that our faculty have access to cutting-edge technologies and remain competitive among their peers.”

Core facilities are shared resources available to faculty, staff and students at UT as well as academic and non-academic clients for non-commercial research purposes.

In many cases, core facilities contain large pieces of equipment that, while vital to the mission of the university, may be cost prohibitive if purchased and operated by individual faculty members or departments.