TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Council of
Principal Investigators

External Committees 2024-2025

List of external committees with CPI representative(s)

Table of Contents

Ancillary Reviews Associated with Human Subjects Research Working Group

  • CPI members serving: Gwendolyn Webb
  • Length of term: 1 year as needed

Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy Search Committee

  • CPI members serving: Rebecca Brooker 
  • Length of term: as needed

Committee on Honorary Degrees

  • CPI members serving: Jean-Luc Guermond

Defining Core Facilities Working Group

  • Charge: Within the VPR’s efforts to provide stewardship, visibility, and leadership for strategic planning efforts the commitee is charged with providing recommenda ons on the following topics:
    • Develop an operation definition of what a core facility is at TAMU that can be used to organize core facilities into effective and financially sustainable management and support structures;
    • How does the oeprational definition of a core facility impact existing core facilities?;
    • What are the different funding models available for the sustainable operation of core facilities based on the operational definition of what a core facilitiy is at TAMU?;
    • How do core facilities provide core services and remain on the cutting edge of their disciplines critical to innovation within the research enterprise?
  • CPI members serving: Jessica Fitzsimmons and Nathan Tichenor
  • Length of term: 1 year as needed

EPIK – Maestro Steering Committee

  • Charge: Assist in the development of EPIK-Maestro, an enterprise-wide system to support researchers and research administration across The Texas A&M University System
  • CPI members serving: Edith Arambula-Mercado and Katy Lane
  • Length of term: 2 years rotating

Export Control Designated Liaison Network (ECDLN)

  • This network group meets with other Export Control network teams to keep groups updated on what System or Government items could be of concern for Export & Foreign and Research Security Concerns for TAMU. This group meets quarterly typically for 1 hour via Zoom (August/Sept; Dec; Feb/March; and May)
  • CPI members serving: Jessica Bernard
  • Length of term: 2 years rotating

Facilities Review Team

  • Charge: The Vice President for Planning, Assessment and Strategy will form a team to assess the current structure and processes in place by the Division of Facilities and Energy Services to:
    • Provide project planning and support of the plan’s execution;
    • Successfully manage oversight of the SSC contract execution and performance for grounds and facilities maintenance;
    • Conduct campus master planning and oversight;
    • Successfully manage facilities and facilities data, including reporting;
    • Provide customer-oriented service to our university community.
  • CPI members serving: Jessica Fitzsimmons
  • Length of term: 1 year as needed

Federal Demonstration Partnership

  • Charge: An association of federal agencies, academic research institutions and administrative, faculty and technical representation, and research policy organizations that work to streamline the administration of federally sponsored research. Identify, test, and implement new, more effective ways of managing the more that $15 billion in federal research grants. FDP is a forum for individuals from universities and nonprofits to work collaboratively with federal agency officials to improve the national research enterprise. The CPI representative to FDP will attend 2 – 3 meetings per year as a representative of the university and provide a brief report to the VPR’s office.
  • CPI members serving: Bruce Herbert
  • Length of term: 3 years

Digital Accessibility (Working Group)

  • CPI members serving: Bruce Herbert
  • Length of term: 1 year

Graduate School & CPI Working Committee

  • Charge: CPI to work collaboratively with Graduate School on
    • 1) restrictions imposed for GREAT Program receipients;
    • 2) 99-hr Rule as it applies to PhD students;
    • 3) stipenend standard pay based on SEC & Graduate School survey data
  • CPI members serving: Jessica Fitzsimmons and Jessica Bernard

HR Working Committee on Research Personnel

  • Charge: collaborate to elevate the burdens of hiring research personnel on grants; creating the positions, pay, titles, etc.
  • CPI members serving: Robin Page and Jessica Bernard
  • Length of term: (temporary as needed)

ITxT Advisory Committee

  • Charge: Created to provide guidance throughout the implementation of TeamDynamix as Technology Services transforms the overall IT support experience, the advisory committee offers insight from IT professionals and fellow colleagues by:
    • Engaging in collaborative conversations and provide feedback while reviewing project deliverables;
    • Providing recommendations and input to support informed decision making by leadership; and
    • Removing roadblocks while mitigating risks and proactively serving as change management champions.
  • CPI members serving: Katy Lane
  • Length of term:

Research Data Focus Group – SRS

  • Charge: to discuss responsible stewardship of research data. The focus will be on data storage and retention of research data and processes therein. Topics for discussion will include the RSDS SAP, communication and notifications, data storage and tracking, guidance materials, the PI transfer process, and the new data catalog.
  • CPI members serving: Mary Campbell and Bruce Herbert
  • Length of term: as needed

Research Development Fund Advisory Committee

  • Charge: To facilitate the implementation of the RDF distribution process with the commitment and unified vision of elevating the Texas A&M research enterprise through strategic investment in research instrumentation, equipment, and shared research infrastructure.
  • CPI members serving: Helene Andrews-Polymenis and Laura Dague
  • Length of term: 2 years

Research Development Fund – Reocurring Funds Committee

  • CPI members serving: Debjoyti Banerjee and Aaron Tarrone

Research Identity Committee

  • CPI members serving: Robin Page and Rebecca Brooker, Alternate

Sesquicentennial Planning & Steering Committee

  • Texas A&M is turning 150 in 2026, and the university is planning the sesquicentennial celebration. And as a part of the planning process, several committees have been created to help provide ideas and pass along information related to the celebration. As a member of the Planning and Steering Committee, I’ve been asked to convene an Academic Subcommittee that will consist of the following representatives: (Faculty Senate; Council of Principal Investigators; Distinguished Faculty; Deans Council; Community of Faculty Retirees) We’d like this committee, and your designated rep, to provide ideas as well as feedback to other ideas generated from the campus community. And a request that information be shared by your rep with your membership and colleagues. Collaborative.
  • CPI members serving: Theresa Morris
  • Length of term: 2025-2026

SRS/Contracts Working Group

  • CPI members serving: Jessica Fitzsimmons and Jessica Bernard
  • Length of term: as needed

Transportation Services Advisory Committee (TSAC)

  • TSAC Charge: Provide advice and input to Transportation Services concerning policy, user fees, or other issues that affect the campus community; evaluate service levels and demands for new services in relation to their associated costs and the necessity of a self-supporting financial condition for Transportation Services; and develop a consultative process and communication plan to assure the campus community is kept informed about policy and price changes, in advance of implementation, to allow sufficient time for input from the campus community.
  • CPI members serving: James Kovar
  • Length of term: 1 year

Texas A&M University Research Compliance Committee

  • Charge: To establish a communications network between individuals with research compliance roles and responsibilities and stakeholders (including faculty and researchers), enhance services provided to researchers, ensure coordination of compliance efforts, assist each other on developing and implementing enhancements to existing processes, procedures, and to share training resources and best practices. The Committee reports to the Vice President for Research.
  • CPI members serving: Wenshe Liu

University Research Council (URC)

  • Charge: Provides advice and assistance to the Vice President for Research on the development of research, research planning, and research policy. It is an advisory body that may consider any matter of policy and procedures regarding University research. The Council may make recommendations on the manner by which research is initiated and conducted in support of the primary teaching function of the University. The URC reports to the VPR.
  • CPI members serving: Jorge Alvarado
  • Length of term: 1 year

Vice President for Faculty Affairs Search Advisory Committee

  • Charge: Search Advisory Committee
  • CPI members serving: Rodolfo Cardoso & Paul Hernandez
  • Length of term: as needed