PARC Unit Established in ORGS

             The Office of Research and Graduate Studies is pleased to announce the establishment of a new consolidated unit, the Research Program Application and Review Center (PARC).  The PARC is charged with managing the proposal solicitation and peer review of competitive research opportunities funded through the UC Office of the President totaling approximately $100 million/year.  The establishment of this new unit is part of the ongoing restructuring efforts at UCOP, and is intended to gain efficiencies and streamline practices for proposal solicitation and peer review across a broad range of programs that fund research at the campuses, at the UC-managed national laboratories, and across the State.

              As the first step in transitioning to this new unit, the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr. Steven Beckwith, has appointed Kathleen Erwin, PhD as the founding PARC Director, effective December 1, 2008.  Dr. Erwin brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to this leadership position, drawn from her background in both academia and research administration.  She has had a long-term affiliation with the University of California, having received her masters and doctoral degrees from Berkeley, and postdoctoral training at UCSF.  She has also worked in research ethics and compliance at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute.  Most recently, Dr. Erwin has served as the Program Manager for Community Research and Dissemination at the California HIV/AIDS Research Program in the ORGS, where she has overseen the proposal solicitation, review, and award administration of extramurally-sponsored and community-collaborative research.  The first priorities of the new PARC Director will be filling approved positions to staff the unit, and planning for the full implementation of PARC operations.