To respond to the second of Diane's queries:
The business of running projects is a management task, and it would be
super to provide the training you suggest is necessary.  I'm looking
forward to reading other responses and finding out if there are
institutions where this training is provided.
Betty

> ----------
> From:         Diane Austin[SMTP:xxxxxx@DGABBY.MFLDCLIN.EDU]
> Reply To:     Research Administration Discussion Group
> Sent:         Monday, February 09, 1998 12:35 PM
> To:   Multiple recipients of list RESADM-L
> Subject:      Two Questions
>
> I have two issues I would like to query the group about.
>
> The first is a question about your policy for the disposition of
> equipment
>  acquired under extramural grants.  An investigator at our institution
> is
>  suggesting and has drafted an Investigator's Bill of Rights.  One of
> the points
>  read "Investigators may not have equipment and supplies which are
> purchased
>  through external grants or contracts taken away from them as long as
> they
>  remain employed by the Foundation. In general, investigators may take
> these
>  equipment and supply items with them if they transfer to another
> non-profit
>  research institution."  Of course, I see real problems with this as a
> policy.
>  No matter what rights an institution may decide to waive in regard to
> retention
>  of equipment, there are instances where the institution may not have
> a choice
>  (e.g., the government agency requests the equipment back).  I would,
> however,
>  be interested to hear about your policy on the disposition of
> equipment.  Are
>  there any instances where you would assign the investigator the ri!
>  ghts to a piece of equipment?  Do you allow investigators to keep the
> equipment
>  in their laboratory if it could serve a better purpose elsewhere?
> Would you
>  ever consider allowing an investigator to take a piece of equipment
> with them
>  (unless, of course, the granting agency transfers the grant and
> requires it) if
>  they leave your institution?  If you have a written policy you are
> willing to
>  share, I have included my fax number below.
>
> The second issue has to do with management structures in basic science
>  laboratories.  As we are currently structured, each laboratory has a
> senior
>  scientist who is expected to not only be a full-time researcher but
> handle the
>  administrative/management tasks (hiring, conducting performance
> appraisals,
>  dealing with space issues, etc.) as well.  Few if any of these senior
> scientist
>  have any management training.  Is this situation similar to yours?
> I'd be
>  interested in hearing from both university as well as non-university
> based
>  organizations. Thanks in advance for your time in responding.
>
> Diane Austin, CRA
> Marshfield Clinic
> Division of Research
> 1000 N. Oak Avenue
> Marshfield, WI 54449
> Phone:  715-387-9134
> Fax:  715-389-3131
> Email:  xxxxxx@mfldclin.edu
>