Committees made up of faculty members and administrators, and in some cases community members, oversee research activities at The University of Texas at Austin.
Look up addresses and phone numbers for committee members in the university's directory.
Advisory Committees
- Advisory Committee on Classified Research
- Advisory Committee on Human Subjects Research
- Research Safety Advisory Committee
Research Committees
Committees on Objectivity
Safety Committees
Advisory Committee on Classified Research
Committee Charge
The Advisory Committee on Classified Research is appointed by the Vice President for Research under the provisions of the Handbook of Operating Procedures, Section 5.09. The committee is charged with (1) reviewing the classified research program for conformance with university policy and advising the President accordingly; (2) considering issues relative to the university’s policy regarding classified research and recommending changes in policy as necessary; and (3) reviewing procedures relative to classified research programs and considering infrastructure needs and administrative issues. The committee meets at least annually and is required to submit a report to the President annually on its findings relative to university policies on classified research and any recommendations for changes in those policies.
Clark S. Penrod, Ph.D., Chair, Director, Applied Research Laboratories
- David A. Brant, Ph.D., Center for Agile Technology
- John Ekerdt, Ph.D., Assoc. Dean for Research, Cockrell School of Engineering
- Austin Gleeson, Ph.D., Department of Physics
- Robert Hebner, Ph.D., Director, Center for Electromechanics
- Ian McNab, Acting Director, Institute for Advanced Technology
- Patricia C. Ohlendorf, J.D., Vice President for Administration and Legal Affairs
- Peter Riley, Ph.D., Assoc. Dean for Research and Facilities, College of Natural Sciences
- Susan Sedwick, Ph.D., Assoc. Vice President and Director, Office of Sponsored Projects
- Juan M. Sanchez, Ph.D., ex-officio, Vice President for Research
Committee on Objectivity in Research
Committee Charge
The Committee on Objectivity in Research will take such actions as are necessary to insure that reported Significant Financial Interests will be managed, reduced, or eliminated. The Committee on Objectivity in Research is responsible to the Vice President for Research. The Committee is chaired by the Associate Vice President for Research. Other committee members are to include the Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects, the Chair of the General Faculty Standing Committee on Research, the Associate Deans for Research in the Cockrell School of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences, and the Associate Vice President for Administration and Legal Affairs.
At a minimum, the Committee will determine whether a Significant Financial Interest could affect the design, conduct, or reporting of the research activities funded or proposed for such funding, and determine what conditions or restrictions, if any, should be imposed to manage such interests. Any conditions or restrictions to resolve or manage conflicts of interest must be determined and implemented before the expenditure of any funds awarded under a grant or contract. Examples of conditions or restrictions that may be imposed to manage actual or potential conflicts of interest include:
- public disclosures of Significant Financial Interests,
- monitoring of the research by independent reviewers,
- modification of the research plan,
- disqualification from participation in all or a portion of the research project in question.
Robert A. Peterson, Chair, Associate Vice President for Research
- John G. Eckerdt, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, Cockrell School of Engineering
- Benny D. Freeman, Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering
- Rueben Gonzales, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy
- Mary Kameen, E.D.D., Senior Associate Dean, College of Education
- Wayne R. Patterson, Ph.D., Associate VP & Director, Office of Research Support
- Paula M. Poindexter, Ph.D., College of Communication
- Peter J. Riley, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, College of Natural Sciences
- William M. Sage, J.D., M.D., Vice Provost for Health Affairs
- Susan Sedwick, Ph.D. Associate VP & Director, Office of Sponsored Projects
- Lee S. Smith, J.D., Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs
Radiation Safety Committee
Committee Charge
The Radiation Safety Committee reports to the President and has the broad responsibility for policies and practices regarding the license, purchase, shipment, use, monitoring, disposal and transfer of radioisotopes or source of ionizing radiation at The University of Texas at Austin. The Committee will meet at least once each regular semester on a called basis, or as required, to formally approve applications to use radioactive material. Four members shall constitute a quorum.
The Committee shall be consulted by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety concerning any unusual or exceptional action that affects the administration of the Radiation Safety Program.
Gerald W. Hoffmann, Ph.D., Chair,Department of Physics
Juan M. Sanchez, Ph.D., Vice Chair,Vice President for Research
- Neal Armstrong, Ph.D., Vice Provost
- Kevin Dalby, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy
- W. Scott Pennington, ex-officio, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
- Jon D. Robertus, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Bob G. Sanders, Ph.D., School of Biological Sciences
- Peter Schneider, Director, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
- Tracy Tipping, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory
Research Safety Steering Committee
Committee Charge
The Research Safety Steering Committee is charged with providing oversight for all safety programs affecting university research. The Steering Committee ensures coordination between Offices of the Vice President of Operations and the Vice President of Research and among other safety committees including the Institutional Biosafety Committee, the Radiation Safety Committee, the Laser Safety Committee and the Research Safety Advisory Committee. The Steering Committee provides strategic direction to ensure regulatory compliance, promote a strong safety culture and encourage best safety practices consistent with the President’s EHS Statement of Commitment.
Patricia Clubb, Vice President for University Operations, and Juan Sanchez, Vice President for Research, Co-chairs
- Gerald Hoffmann, Ph.D., Radiation Safety Committee Chair
- Alan Lloyd, Ph.D., Institutional Biosafety Committee Chair
- Todd Ditmire, Ph.D., Laser Safety Committee Chair
- Rudy Green, Director University Compliance
- Desmond F. Lawler, Ph.D., Laboratory Safety Advisory Committee Chair
- Glen Otto, Ph.D., Director of the Animal Resource Center
- Neal Armstrong, Ph.D., Vice Provost
- Wayne Patterson, Ph.D., Office of Research Support
- Peter Schneider, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
- Bob Harkins, Ed.D., Associate VP for Campus Safety and Security
- Dennis Nolan, Biosafety Officer
Laboratory Safety Advisory Committee
Committee Charge
The Committee is charged to act in an advisory and consultative capacity regarding the administration, implementation and coordination of policies and procedures for safety and environmental health in University research activities. The functions of this committee complement but do not overlap the responsibilities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee and the Radiation Safety Committee. Areas of consideration include regulatory compliance, training, inspections, hazardous materials management, waste minimization, emergency response, signage, and biological safety.
Desmond F. Lawler, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
- Jennifer S. Brodbelt, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Kevin Dalby, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy
- Jackie Dudley, Ph.D., Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
- Rudy Green, ex-officio, University Compliance Services
- Alejandro De Lozanne, Ph.D., Department of Physics
- Jennifer Maynard, Ph.D., Department of Chemical Engineering
- Dean P. Neikirk, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Wayne Patterson, Ph.D., Office of Research Support
- Peter Schneider, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
- Jim Smitherman, Staff, Department of Engineering