The Faculty of Science has created a fund to help early-career faculty members cover the costs of getting published in high-profile scientific journals.

The New Faculty Publication Support Fund supplements publication costs of high-impact journal articles, such as open access fees or costs associated with journal cover publication. It provides a maximum of $1,000 to new faculty to support publication costs of one peer-reviewed journal article in the first four years of their tenure-track appointment.

Tricia Carmichael is a chemistry and biochemistry professor and was interim associate dean of graduate studies and research in the Faculty of Science when she helped design the fund. She says she knows how difficult it can be getting published initially, with substantial publication costs for open access or for fees associated with having original artwork published on journal covers — all running into the thousands of dollars.

“This high cost is challenging for most new faculty to support with start-up or initial grant funds,” says Dr. Carmichael. “However, with these high costs comes a potentially high value in raising the profile of both the research and the researcher.”

She says open access articles are highly accessible, increasing the reach of an article and potentially the number of citations. Journal covers attract great attention from journal readers and can be used to promote the research and researchers on social media.

Marcus Drover, hired in 2019, is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He was very excited when his research group was selected as the fund’s inaugural recipient. His article, Octaboraneyl Complexes of Nickel: Monomers for Redox‐Active Coordination Polymers, was published online in Chemistry – A European Journal in April 2020 and features the work of three UWindsor undergraduate researchers.

“I vividly recall my first journal cover as a graduate student. I was very excited. I printed no less than 25 copies and gave one to everyone,” says Dr. Drover. “These initiatives are particularly important for starting groups who are endeavouring to obtain international recognition.”

Drover says this initiative highlights the Faculty of Science’s commitment to young researchers and provides them and their research with an artistic outlet to gain international exposure. For his cover article he used original artwork created by biochemistry major Chelsea Ymana, a member of the  Science Meets Art (SMArt) program in the USCi Network.

“I am very grateful to this program and its talented students," says Drover.

Peer-reviewed journal articles supported by the fund will be promoted by the Faculty of Science on social media, DailyNews, and other media opportunities. For more information, go to the New Faculty Publication Support Fund website.

—Sara Elliott

This fall, UWindsor law professor Pascale Chapdelaine is assuming the role of research fellow at the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, located in Berlin, Germany.

Named for the German-American computer science pioneer Joseph Weizenbaum, the institute conducts interdisciplinary and fundamental research into the change in society due to digitization and develops design options for politics, business, and civil society. According to its website, the institute combines interdisciplinary problem-oriented basic research with the exploration of concrete solutions and the dialogue with society.

Dr. Chapdelaine​ joins its working group “Frameworks for Data Markets.” The group’s research focuses on the functioning of digital markets as well as the opportunities and risks of data trading from a legal, psychological and economic perspective. This includes questions of private autonomy in the area of ​​tension between data protection and contract law, data rights, and cognitive and emotional-motivational dynamic processes that underlie the disclosure of personal data.

Chapdelaine says she is “thrilled” to be working with scholars who are experts from various disciplines about personal data governance and regulation.

“The pandemic brings the reality of the networked society to unprecedented levels — allowing us to weather the storm in times of confinement also means an intensification of collection of personal data in all spheres of our lives,” she says. “Such concentration of personal data is an extremely powerful resource that requires proper handling and care.”

She hopes to use her time at the institute to build longer-term cross-Atlantic relationships for future research projects: “Sharing knowledge and various perspectives about personal data regulation will hopefully lead to its improvement.”

Here in Windsor, Chapdelaine’s research looks at the interaction between intellectual property, property and contracts, and consumer and privacy law, as they relate to emerging technologies, business processes, media, and platforms.

Her book Copyright User Rights, Contracts and the Erosion of Property, published by Oxford University Press in 2017, explores the rights users have to works protected by copyright (e.g. books, software, music, films) in an ever-changing technological environment.

During her time at the institute, Chapdelaine will pursue her research on the regulation of algorithms and big data in e-commerce from a privacy and consumer protection perspective, considering various regulatory frameworks and how they may be applied in Canada. More particularly, she will continue her work on the legality of algorithmic personalized pricing and on defining personal data subject rights.

—Rachelle Prince

myUWinfo.uwindsor.ca is the University of Windsor’s employee gateway to human resource information.

Watch Information Technology Services team member Eva Bernachi as she walks through updating your own contact information as well as that of your emergency contact in this 97-second Tech Talk video.

If you want more information about myUWinfo, click on the link in the Comments section below the video.

Tech Talk is a presentation of IT Services. More Tech Talks are available at www.uwindsor.ca/its/tech-talk.

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility invites nominations for its annual OHREA awards, recognizing the contributions of individuals and groups to advance human rights, social justice, diversity, inclusivity, employment equity, mental health, and accessibility at the University of Windsor.

The awards will be presented on Friday, Feb. 26, in acknowledgement of the United Nations World Day of Social Justice. Nominations from staff, faculty, students, alumni, and retirees of the University of Windsor open Oct. 22 and close Nov. 13.

The awards committee is looking for demonstrated evidence and specific examples in five categories:

• Accessibility Award for contributions to accessible education, training and awareness, accessible employment, accessible customer service, accessible built environments, or accessible information and communication within the University of Windsor;
• Employment Equity Award for contributions to the advancement of employment equity at the University;
• Human Rights and Social Justice Award for contributions to embedding a culture of respect for human rights at the University or have worked towards the advancement of social justice at the local and global levels;
• Mental Health Champion for work towards removing stigmas associated with mental illness and towards promoting mental health and well-being;
• OHREA Award for contributions to the advancement of culture, diversity, and inclusivity at the University of Windsor.

Nominate an individual or group using the form here.

With the change of seasons comes a renewed focus on influenza and ways to protect against infection.

The October 2020 edition of Workplace Wellness E-Digest, published by the Department of Human Resources’ Office of Employee Engagement and Development, provides tips to stave off the contagious viral infection, which can be life-threatening.

The newsletter also offers information on why, how, and where to get vaccinated against the flu and the benefits of a nutritious diet. Read the Workplace Wellness E-Digest.