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Science and Engineering Catalyst Center

Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Student and a professor in a labThe University of Dayton Science and Engineering Catalyst Center (SECC) is designed to foster interdisciplinary research, scholarship, curriculum development and entrepreneurial activities to address emerging challenges on regional, national and global levels.


Our Goals

  1. Expanding the curricular components and pedagogy for integrating training in the
    College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.
  2. Fostering interdisciplinary faculty research and student learning.
  3. Enhancing entrepreneurship and innovation in support of economic development.
SECC initiatives

Goals for UD's Science and Engineering Catalyst Center will be met through the pursuit of three strategic initiatives.

1: Create Structures and Mechanisms

Create structures and mechanisms that will encourage and support student participation in interdisciplinary learning, practice and professional development opportunities in science and engineering.

Tactics
  • Develop and offer interdisciplinary workshops that focus on the skills required to work effectively in teams: team building, conflict resolution, managing workload, grants, partnerships and workforce development.
  • Offer continuing education courses and certificates in modular thematic areas (e.g. A.I.).
  • Facilitate the development of interdisciplinary Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) opportunities in existing and/or new courses.
  • Serve as a catalyst for the timely development and prototype offering of undergraduate and graduate courses/minicourses for emergent themes that cross boundaries between the sciences and engineering.
  • Provide quality mentorship for students pursuing high-impact experiential learning at the intersection of integrated science and engineering.
Assessment metrics
  • Number of integrated science and engineering courses developed.
  • Number of students enrolled in SECC supported courses.
  • Assessment of student outcomes (e.g. external scholarships, fellowships, job placement, graduate school placement).
  • Number of new learning opportunities offered.
  • Continuing education opportunities.
  • The generation of dynamically evolving thematic clusters.
  • Projects/courses/experiences promoting global citizenship.

2: Facilitate Interdisciplinary Projects

Facilitate the initiation and pursuit of interdisciplinary projects that enhance science and engineering faculty and student research productivity and enhance scholarship.

Tactics
  • Collaborate with the Office of Academic Research and UD Research Institute (UDRI) to catalog and communicate existing assets and shared infrastructure resources through the development of databases of faculty interests and shareable equipment.
  • Collaborate with the Office of Academic Research and UDRI to explore opportunities to highlight the Center's achievements and identify research opportunities.
  • Host seminars/mixers with structured scheduling, deliverables and expected outcomes.
  • Organize thematic retreats and writing cohorts to build collaborative communities.
  • Produce PR/dissemination/display/outreach/video/vlog to advertise the SECC.
  • Coordinate structures for connecting faculty with students.
  • Hire a proposal manager to support the development, submission and management of large interdisciplinary grants.
  • Host and provide grant/contract writing workshops, grant editing support and proposal preparation assistance to enhance successful bids for awards through a diversity of funding streams.
Assessment metrics
  • Number of interdisciplinary grants, projects initiated, presentations, publications, quantified participation of students and faculty members in projects.
  • Number of donors and gifts and amounts of gifts to support the SECC.
  • Research expenditures funded through sponsored programs, indirect returns and fees generated and indirect returns to the SECC received.

3: Catalyze Entrepreneurial Activities

Catalyze entrepreneurial activities leading to novel products, patents and commercial ventures.

Tactics
  • Build communication and engagement with UDRI, WPAFB, AFRL, local industry and venture capitalists to support the transition of SECC intellectual property.
  • Offer entrepreneurial mentorship and training for students and faculty interested in tech transfer, licensing, patents, start-ups and venture capital.
  • Foster collaboration between science and engineering faculty with existing entrepreneurial structures in the School of Business, e.g., the Hub and OnMain.
  • Encourage student participation in the innovation and entrepreneurship minor hosted in the School of Engineering.
  • Work with units and departments to coordinate student internships and co-ops with local companies, industry, start-ups and NGOs.
Assessment metrics
  • Technology transition: Number of patents filed, granted, licensed.
  • Number of successful Flyer pitches supported by SECC.
  • New faculty business starts: Propel program, entrepreneurs in residence.
  • Student post-graduation outcomes.
  • Workforce development.
  • Number of skills-building courses presented.
  • Participation in state-funded economic development programs.
Aspirational Program Model: A Convergence Research Approach

The center's activities will be directed under an annual Grand Research Challenge in fundamental science and engineering. This challenge will be addressed over a three-year period through a mixture of curricular, scholarly, and entrepreneurial activities and initiatives developed in three phases.

Phase 1: Ideation

The first phase of each center initiative involves determining and solidifying grand research themes. The theme must be:

  1. Interdisciplinary: Cutting edge, across two or more disciplines; priority will be given to those projects encompassing both engineering and science.
  2. Intellectually driven: Expanding knowledge around a complex and current topic.
  3. Socially impactful: Contributing to knowledge around current national and global issues.

Phase 2: Project Development

The second phase will involve solicitations for proposals from faculty and staff for projects within the scope of the identified theme. Proposals will be considered for the following types of synergistic activities:

  1. Catalyst Grant–seed funding for new research projects related to the theme.
  2. Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE): Course experience in which an entire class of students works on the same research project.
  3. SECC Innovation Grant: Competitive grant funding opportunities for research and development tied to prototype development and industry needs.
  4. Summer CoRPs (Collaborative Research Projects) provide a 360-degree experience in training professional scientists and engineers while conducting full-time summer research.

Phase 3: Project Execution

The center will work with the Office of Sponsored Research and the faculty project cohort to transition work performed under the current center theme to large-scale grants for submission to federal, private or commercial funding offices. In this space, the center serves as a network connection between currently existing resources on campus.