Workshops are designed to provide faculty, principal investigators, and staff with information and resources to assist with developing/submitting proposals and managing grant awards.

We are pleased to announce our Fall 2025 Workshop Series. Please register here for a Fall 2025 Workshop to receive calendar invitations and Zoom links. If you are interested but unable to attend, please contact Melanie Patton at melanie.patton@sdsu.edu.

Recordings and materials from previous workshops are available on demand.

SDSURF Workshops

MyRF FOR COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORS

TUESDAY, September 16, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Presenter: Janet Harry (Enterprise Systems Manager, Information Systems)

MyRF provides principal investigators, staff, and all levels of administration direct access to individualized, detailed financial data, processes, and workflows associated with SDSU Research Foundation funds.

This MyRF workshop is intended for college and departmental administrators who wish to generate reports and review data for their colleges and departments. It is helpful to have a MyRF account created before attending this workshop.

If you need a MyRF account, please email Janet Harry jharry@sdsu.edu and include your Red ID and which college or department you need access to. Requests will be routed to your dean/department chair for approval.

MyRF BASICS FOR PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

WEDNESDAY, September 17, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Presenter: Janet Harry (Enterprise Systems Manager, Information Systems)

MyRF provides principal investigators, staff, and all levels of administration direct access to individualized, detailed financial data, processes, and workflows associated with SDSU Research Foundation funds.

This MyRF workshop is intended for PIs and project administrative staff who wish to generate reports and review budget, expense, and transaction data for their individual projects.

It is helpful to have a MyRF account prior to attending this workshop. If you need an account, your PI or other project staff can set up an account in MyRF under Fund Management – User Security.

FACULTY INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH TRANSLATION FOR IMPACT

THURSDAY, September 25, 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.

Presenters: Tommy Martindale (Director, Technology Transfer Office), Tolu Perrin-Stowe (Business Development and Licensing Associate), and Brendan Daly (Senior Innovation and Licensing Manager)

If you're curious about applying an innovation or discovery from your research to solve an important problem or positively impact society, this workshop will be of interest to you! This session will cover how faculty can move their research-based innovations out of the lab and into the public market where they can better serve the community. Technology Transfer Office (TTO) director Tommy Martindale will provide a description of the various forms of intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets), how each type of intellectual property (IP) impacts faculty and research, and how best to work with the TTO to manage and protect IP that results from research. Tommy will provide information about various resources available to support commercialization of faculty innovations, creative works, and research products. Additionally, this session will cover the dos and don’ts of communicating ideas with potential industry partners. If you have specific questions for our TTO, please email melanie.patton@sdsu.edu. Tommy will also answer questions regarding the SDSU Pilot Innovation Fund, which invests in advancing SDSU's research-based innovations toward commercial readiness.

INTRO TO EXPORT CONTROLS

WEDNESDAY, October 1, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presenter: Zena Hovda (Director of Export Control, SDSU)

Are you an exporter? If you travel internationally, participate in international collaborations, or work with foreign nationals in the U.S., then the answer might be ‘yes,’ and it’s important to be aware of how export controls might impact your work. This workshop provides an essential introduction to U.S. export control regulations, explaining how they impact university research, travel, and international collaborations. We'll explain key terms like ITAR and EAR, OFAC, the Fundamental Research Exclusion, and how they apply to your work. The session will cover practical guidance on international collaborations, travel, foreign visitors, restricted party screening, and the serious consequences of non-compliance.

Join us to learn how to navigate the export control regulations with confidence!

INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCED COMPUTING RESOURCES FOR THE SDSU RESEARCH COMMUNITY

TUESDAY, October 28, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Presenter: Mike Farley (Chief Technology Research Officer), Kyle Krick (Research Software Engineer), Henry Li (Research Software Engineer), Shawn Strande (Director of Research Initiatives, Engineering and Physical Sciences), and Dr. Jose E. Castillo (Director, Computational Science Research Center)

Join our experts for an introduction to the advanced computing resources available to SDSU researchers. Whether you're exploring SDSU's own high-performance computing resources - part of the National Research Platform - or tapping into national resources through NSF-funded projects like ACCESS, National Artificial Intelligence Resource, or CloudBank, we’ve got you covered! Discover how to request allocations, gain access to these powerful tools, and see how SDSU can help streamline your research through these resources. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting out, this workshop is a must-attend for anyone looking for computational resources in their research or classroom and ready to take their computing to the next level.

THE BASICS OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND EMBURSE

TUESDAY, November 4, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Presenters: Femi De Ala (Accounts Payable Manager) and Janet Harry (Enterprise Systems Manager, Information Systems)

This workshop will introduce you to the Research Foundation’s Accounts Payable department. We will walk you through vendor onboarding and payment processes in Emburse, including fellowship/scholarship requests, payments, advances, general and travel reimbursement requests, and more. If you have specific questions for our experts, please email melanie.patton@sdsu.edu.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN RESEARH DEVELOPMENT: FROM TOOL TO TEAMMATE

THURSDAY, October 30, 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.

Presenter: Avesta Baraki (Research Advancement Analyst)

This session will provide an overview of AI tools available to SDSU researchers and the broader community, and demonstrate how they can be applied across different stages of the research process. Participants will explore practical ways to leverage AI, with real-world examples and best practices highlighted, along with strategies for using AI effectively and responsibly.

SDSU Division of Research and Innovation Workshops

Space is limited to about 10 participants per workshop each semester. We will also offer workshops during the fall semester.

If you have any questions, please contact Research Advancement at researchadvancement@sdsu.edu.

GRANTS RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE WRITING (GREW) FOR POSTDOCS

The application portal is now open for the Fall 2025 GREW for Postdocs Workshop. You can find more information and apply here, by Tuesday, August 26. This 4-session workshop will be held on September 5, 12, 19, and October 3 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. on campus and in-person.

GRANTS RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE WRITING (GREW) FOR FACULTY

The application portal for the Fall 2025 GREW for Faculty Workshop will be available on September 9 in InfoReady and the SDSU Engagement Hub. The application deadline will be October 21. This Fall, the dates of the GREW for Faculty Workshop will be November 7, 14, 21, and December 5.