MEIF - Process for Requesting Positions - UMaine Research

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

MEIF – Process for Requesting Positions

Process to Request Maine Economic Improvement Funds (MEIF) to Support New or Replacement Positions

I. Purpose of MEIF

The Maine Economic Improvement Fund was established by the Maine State Legislature in 1998 to encourage university-based research and development in seven targeted sectors: aquaculture and marine sciences, biotechnology, forestry and agriculture, composites/advanced materials, information technology, precision manufacturing, and environmental technology. The funds were designated to provide match to secure federal and private sector research and development investment, and to attract and retain world-class researchers and provide support to them in establishing modern laboratories and acquiring state-of-the-art equipment.

II. Success of MEIF

Analysis of resulting data on return on investment (ROI) since 1998 suggests that success occurs when four essential elements are present:

1) Established leadership within the hiring unit;

2) Demonstrated history and future potential for multidisciplinary collaboration;

3) Critical mass of supporting human infrastructure to enhance collaborative
opportunities; and

4) Sufficient capital infrastructure to support focused investment in additional human resources.

III. Requesting MEIF personnel funding*

MEIF personnel funding requests must include:

1) A statement addressing the relevance of the hire to the:

a. Research Unit and/or College;

b. Enhancement of University infrastructure for research such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships;

c. Potential impact on Maine’s economy;

d. Potential to satisfy legislatively-defined criteria for return on investment, (i.e., amount of grants and contracts leveraged in the seven targeted sectors, scholarly publications, development of intellectual property [patents, trade secrets], number of spin-out companies resulting from research, and number of jobs created);

e. Strategic Implementation Form for Enhancement of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

f. Stated goals of the Maine Science and Technology Plan.

2) A schedule of milestones and accompanying timetable.

3) A statement responding to the following specific criteria:

a. Requested position is within one of the seven targeted sectors;

b. Potential exists for multidisciplinary collaborations as evidenced by past collaborations on external grants; presentations at workshops, national, or international meetings; publications; spin-off companies; intellectual property, etc.; as well as examples of possible future multidisciplinary collaborations;

c. Critical mass of human infrastructure is present to enable collaborative efforts with evidence of support from the relevant Peer Review Committee(s), Chair(s), and Dean(s) or Director(s);

d. An established leader within the hiring unit has been identified and is supportive of the hire;

e. Minimum level of capital infrastructure exists, i.e., building, laboratories, and equipment, necessary to support a focused investment in human resources; and opportunities to create synergies among labs, offices, equipment, and technical personnel have been negotiated and clearly stated.

* For 100% MEIF-funded position, percentage effort will be 75% research and 25% teaching (equivalent to a 1/1 teaching load)