Bulls iResearch

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

I am thrilled to share with you the forthcoming arrival of Bulls iResearch, a cutting-edge addition to our research administration toolkit powered by the Huron Research Suite. Scheduled for release in May 2024, Bulls iResearch represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our research management processes here at the University of South Florida.

With Bulls iResearch, we are not simply introducing another software solution; rather, we are ushering in a new era of research administration excellence. This comprehensive suite is meticulously designed to address the unique challenges and complexities of the research administration landscape, offering a wide range of features and functionalities aimed at streamlining workflows, promoting transparency, and optimizing grant management processes.

I am particularly excited about the system’s ability to empower our faculty, staff, and administrators to work more efficiently and collaboratively than ever before. By providing a unified workspace and intuitive user interface, Bulls iResearch promises to simplify the research administration experience, enabling us to devote more time and energy to the pursuit of groundbreaking research endeavors.

As we eagerly anticipate the launch of Bulls iResearch, I encourage you to stay tuned for further updates and announcements in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I invite you to visit our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch to learn more about this transformative platform and its impact on our research enterprise.

Thank you for your continued dedication and advocacy to advancing knowledge and driving innovation here at USF. Together, let us embrace the opportunities that Bulls iResearch brings and embark on this exciting journey together!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As we draw closer to the eagerly awaited launch of Bulls iResearch in May 2024, I am thrilled to provide you with a closer look at some of the innovative features and benefits that this transformative platform has to offer. With Bulls iResearch, our goal is to revolutionize the way we approach research administration, making it more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly than ever before.

One of the key features of Bulls iResearch is its transparent workflows, which provide unparalleled visibility into the various processes and procedures involved in research administration. Whether you're submitting a proposal, managing a grant, or tracking project progress, Bulls iResearch makes it easy to stay informed and in control every step of the way.

1. Process begins with Draft.
2. Then go to Department Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Clarification Requested and back to Department Review.
3. Go to Specialist Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Clarification Requested and back to Specialist Review.
4. Go to Sponsor Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Changes Required and back to Sponsor Review.
5. Go to Complete.

In addition to its transparent workflows, Bulls iResearch also offers a range of tools and functionalities designed to streamline the proposal submission process and optimize grant management procedures. From simplified application forms to automated approval workflows, Bulls iResearch is designed to save you time and effort, allowing you to focus more of your energy on what matters most: your research. 

But perhaps the most exciting aspect of Bulls iResearch is its potential to foster collaboration throughout the research lifecycle. By providing a unified workspace and intuitive user interface, Bulls iResearch makes it easier than ever for faculty, staff, and administrators to work together towards common goals in pursuit of research excellence.

As we prepare for the launch of Bulls iResearch, I encourage you to visit our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch to learn more about the platform and its potential impact on our research community, to find resources, and to sign up for training opportunities. 

Together, let us embrace the opportunities that Bulls iResearch brings and work together to unlock new possibilities in research administration at USF!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As the launch of Bulls iResearch draws near, I am pleased to announce the availability of a series of training opportunities designed to help you prepare for this exciting new chapter in our research administration journey. Scheduled to take place throughout the month of April 2024, these training sessions are specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs of our faculty, staff, and administrators, providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to hit the ground running with Bulls iResearch.

Whether you're a seasoned researcher looking to familiarize yourself with the platform's advanced features or a newcomer eager to learn the basics of research administration, there's a training session for you. Led by experienced trainers and experts in the field, these sessions will cover everything from basic navigation to advanced functionalities, ensuring that you have the tools and resources you need to succeed with Bulls iResearch.

In addition to its practical benefits, these training sessions also offer a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues, share best practices, and collaborate on strategies for maximizing the impact of Bulls iResearch within our research community. By working together and supporting one another, we can ensure that Bulls iResearch becomes an indispensable resource for our research endeavors here at USF.

To sign up for training and view the full schedule of sessions, simply visit our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch. Let's come together as a community to prepare for the arrival of Bulls iResearch and usher in a new era of research excellence at USF!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As the launch of Bulls iResearch approaches, I wanted to send one final reminder about the upcoming training opportunities available to you. With just a few days left until the first sessions begin, now is the perfect time to secure your spot and ensure that you're fully prepared to make the most of this exciting new platform when it goes live in May 2024.

Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a newcomer to the world of research administration, these training sessions offer a valuable opportunity to familiarize yourself with Bulls iResearch and learn how to leverage its powerful features to enhance your work. Led by experienced trainers and experts in the field, these sessions will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed with Bulls iResearch from day one.

To sign up for training and view the full schedule of sessions, simply visit our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch. Let's work together to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to embrace the opportunities that Bulls iResearch brings and make the most of this exciting new chapter in our research administration journey at USF!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As we put the finishing touches on Bulls iResearch, we are preparing for the conversion and transfer of legacy data into the system. To ensure the integrity of the data transfer, a data-freeze is needed while our teams and partners at Huron import this information into Bulls iResearch. This one-time pause will ensure a finalized data set is imported into Bulls iResearch, and enable the smoothest transition to the new system.

Please be advised that a temporary pause on all research-related proposal, award, and budget data entry into FAST will take place from April 27, 2024 through May 5, 2024. This will cause a temporary delay in the processing of proposals, awards, and award setups in FAST. 

I want to reassure you that research activities on active projects and awards can continue as normal. There will be no disruption to purchasing, payroll, invoicing, reporting, or other related functions in Research and Innovation, including Research Integrity and Compliance, Technology Transfer, or IREA – again, this data-entry pause relates to proposal, award, and budget data entry into the FAST financial system only.

It is also important to note that other Sponsored Research activities related to proposals, awards, and budgets that occur outside of the FAST financial system, such as the submission of proposals to sponsoring agencies, award negotiation and acceptance, review by stakeholders including General Counsel and Export Control, and research expenditure processing, will continue as normal during this time. Any delayed data entry resulting from these functions that occurred during the data-entry pause will be prioritized when the temporary pause is lifted.

Please finalize any urgently needed items requiring FAST data entry prior to close of business on Friday, April 26, 2024 so these items may be included in the data conversion process. New requests will be processed through Bulls iResearch beginning May 6, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation during this transition period. Our goal is to minimize the disruption and inconvenience and ensure a seamless transition to Bulls iResearch. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Sponsored Research Administrator. 

Thank you for your continued support as we work to enhance our research administration infrastructure.

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As we continue to prepare for this new era of research administration excellence, I want to remind you that there are still training opportunities available to help you make the most of this powerful platform.

Organized by user role, each training focuses specifically on what you need to know to work in the new Bulls iResearch environment. Led by experienced trainers and experts in the field, these sessions are designed to provide you with the hands-on experience and practical insights you need to succeed with Bulls iResearch.

If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to visit our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch to sign up for training today. Spaces are still available, but Bulls iResearch is going live very soon! Be sure you’ve taken part in our comprehensive training program so you’re ready to embrace this exciting new system!

Remember, if you're unable to attend a live training session, all sessions are recorded and available for on-demand viewing on our website. Plus, our dedicated support team is always here to answer your questions, provide assistance, and offer guidance as needed.

Thank you once again for your continued enthusiasm and support as we embark on this exciting journey with Bulls iResearch. 

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

To ensure the integrity of the data transfer into Bulls iResearch a temporary pause on all research-related proposal, award, and budget data entry into FAST will take place from April 27, 2024 through May 5, 2024. 

During this period, there will be a temporary delay in the processing of proposals, awards, and award setups in FAST. However, active projects and research activities can continue as normal. There will be no disruption to purchasing, payroll, invoicing, reporting, or other related functions in Research and Innovation, including Research Integrity and Compliance, Technology Transfer, or IREA.

Other Sponsored Research activities, such as the submission of proposals to sponsoring agencies, award negotiation and acceptance, review by stakeholders including General Counsel and Export Control, and research expenditure processing, will continue as normal during this time. Delayed data entry resulting from these functions that occurred during the data-entry pause will be prioritized when the temporary pause is lifted.

Please finalize any urgently needed items requiring FAST data entry prior to close of business on Friday, April 26, 2024 so these items may be included in the data conversion process. New requests will be processed through Bulls iResearch beginning May 6, 2024.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Sponsored Research Administrator. 

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

As we approach the launch of Bulls iResearch, I wanted to remind you about the resources available to help you prepare for this exciting new platform.

If you were unable to attend our recent training sessions, don't worry! Training materials, including recorded sessions, are still available on our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch. Whether you're looking to familiarize yourself with the basics or dive into more advanced features, these resources are here to support your learning journey.

Additionally, if you prefer a more personalized training experience or have specific questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us to arrange a private or group training opportunity. Our team is committed to ensuring that you have the knowledge and skills you need to succeed with Bulls iResearch.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support as we prepare for the launch of Bulls iResearch. Together, let's embrace this exciting new chapter in our research administration journey at USF!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

Today is an exciting and transformative day in USF Research and Innovation; I am pleased to announce that Bulls iResearch is officially live and ready to revolutionize research administration at the University of South Florida! You can now access Bulls iResearch in the Business Systems tab of your MyUSF portal.

Should you have questions, or need help once you are working in the system, our dedicated support team is standing by to provide further assistance and guidance – you can connect with the Bulls iResearch team quickly and easily by visiting our website www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch and clicking “Support.”

I would like to extend my gratitude for your unwavering support and enthusiastic participation throughout the journey leading up to this momentous occasion. Your advocacy and dedication have been instrumental in bringing Bulls iResearch to life, and we could not be more excited to see how this transformative platform will empower us to achieve new heights of excellence in research administration at the University of South Florida.

I would also like to take a moment to personally thank our colleagues on the Project Management Team, the Core Project team, members of the Project Champions and Advisors group, Sponsored Research Leadership and Staff, USF Executive Leadership, and our partners at Huron whose dedication to this project ensured this exciting moment: because of your commitment to this project we delivered a state-of-the-art research administration platform on-budget and on-schedule! Your efforts are truly appreciated, and this celebration is yours! Congratulations on a job well done!

To those who attended our training sessions, thank you for your active engagement and enthusiasm. Your willingness to embrace new technologies and learn new skills is truly commendable, and I have no doubt that your efforts will pay off handsomely as we begin to harness the full potential of Bulls iResearch in our daily work.

If you missed our training opportunities, please note that resources, quick guides, and video recordings of training session are available on our website at www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch. 

Finally, I want to invite you to share your feedback on both the platform and the implementation process. You can report bugs, pose questions, offer suggestions, and share your experiences by visiting our website www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch and clicking “Contact”. Your input is invaluable as we continue to refine and improve the platform and our business operations, so please don't hesitate to reach let us know how everything is working for you, and how we can make it better.

Once again, thank you for your incredible support and enthusiasm. With Bulls iResearch the possibilities are endless, and I can't wait to see what amazing things we will achieve together!

Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone, and welcome to this exciting frontier in research administration! Go Bulls!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001

Dear USF Faculty and Staff,

It's been a couple of weeks since Bulls iResearch went live, and what a fantastic start it has been! In just the first two weeks, we have managed over ___ proposals, set up ____ awards and projects, and handled _____ modifications, including budget transfers, subaccount establishments, and award demographic changes.

The feedback on Bulls iResearch has matched your incredible excitement and enthusiasm leading up to the platform’s launch. Bulls across OneUSF have embraced our first-ever comprehensive grants management platform with open arms! Thank you for your willingness to embrace this change that brings research administration into the twenty-first century!

As with any comprehensive implementation, some opportunities for improvement emerged. As you began using the system, some of you identified areas for enhancement. You spoke, and we listened! Your valuable feedback on specific budget management steps, such as the new initial budget release processes replacing the Grant Budget Release (GBR), budget transfers, subaccount establishment, and adding sponsor budget or cost share, helped us understand the need for additional clarity. In response, we collaborated with our partners at Huron to make improvements. We are updating field names and text descriptions, adding an opportunity to identify chartfield strings, enhancing the way data is displayed for end users, and making project numbers more prominent.

We appreciate the research community bringing these concerns to our attention and your patience as we work out the kinks in this brand new system. Our partners at Huron have been exceptional in implementing these updates quickly; many of these updates are already live in the system, and we are putting the final touches on a few others. We are confident that these updates will make budget and post-award steps easier to follow and more intuitive. Once they’re in place, we will add help-text, quick guides, and update training materials to ensure you know how to make the most of Bulls iResearch.

In the days ahead we will be reviewing notification settings, and will work to limit excessive e-mail notifications received from Bulls iResearch. Until then, individuals who wish to limit the notifications can create Outlook Rules to manage these e-mails. We have produced guidance on which notifications are received by user type, as well as a quick guide on how to create Outlook Rules to manage such notifications. You can find these guides in the “Resources” section of our website www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch. 

Please note: it is our recommendation that Outlook Rules be limited to filter specific subject lines (rather than all e-mails from bullsiresearch@usf.edu), so you’re sure to continue receiving e-mails sent to you through the system, and notifications for actions required, such as certification or approval. 

If you notice bugs or issues, have other feedback or opportunities for improvement, or need assistance with processes in Bulls iResearch, please visit www.usf.edu/bullsiresearch and click “Support.” While you’re there, take advantage of our comprehensive trainings and resources, which include live chat, office hours, recorded training sessions, and our recently updated quick help guides, with even more coming soon!

We hope that you have found Bulls iResearch to be a helpful tool in your research administration tasks, and that as Bulls iResearch continues to evolve and improve, it enables us to achieve new levels of excellence in research administration at the University of South Florida.

As we settle into the rhythm of this new system, we’ll be easing up on the emails for now, but rest assured we're still very much here to support you every step of the way. We will reach out when there is important information to relay, in addition to any new upgrades, features, or integrations to the system.

Until then, congratulations once again on reaching this exciting frontier in research administration! Go Bulls!

Eric M. Kern, MBA
Senior Director
Research Strategic Initiatives
USF Research & Innovation
University of South Florida
813-974-6001