Research Connections :: 蘑菇传媒

Title page and incipit of a manuscript of Moses Zacuto’s Tofteh ‘Arukh in a 17th-18th century manuscript. (Biblioteca Teresiana, Mantua. MS 84, f. 61r)

Milestone of Hebrew literature to be translated into English

Written at the height of the Italian Counter Reformation, Tofteh 鈥楢rukh (Hell Arrayed) by 17th century rabbi and scholar Moses Zacuto, is a 925-line dramatic poem in Hebrew graphically depicting the hereafter of sinners according to Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism.

Despite its popularity among Jewish readership of the pre-modern era and being generally considered a milestone in the history of Hebrew literary culture, it has never been translated into English, nor has it been the subject of thorough scholarly investigation in English.

Michela Andreatta, assistant professor of Hebrew language and literature, has to rectify that.

“Sitting at the intersection of textual studies and historical and literary criticism, the project intends to make Tofteh 鈥楢rukh accessible to the English reader by offering the first-ever complete annotated English translation of the original Hebrew text,” Andreatta says. “The translation will be supplemented by introductory essays framing Zacuto鈥檚 work against the cultural ambience of early modern Jewish Italy in which it was produced, read, and circulated.”

Andreatta, who joined the Department of Religion and Classics in 2011, teaches courses in modern and biblical Hebrew, besides classes in Hebrew literature and Jewish history.听 She completed her PhD in Judaic studies at the Department of Oriental Studies of the University of Turin in Italy.

Sevin Yeltekin named dean of Simon School

Sevin Yeltekin, the Rohet Tolani Distinguished Professor of Economics and senior associate dean of education at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, .

Yeltekin is the Simon School鈥檚听eighth dean and its first woman leader. Her five-year term will begin July 1.

A highly respected macroeconomics scholar, Yeltekin is well-known for her research in the design of sustainable monetary and fiscal policies in environments where policymakers and the public have informational asymmetry.

Her research spans fiscal policy design, social insurance design, computational economics and asset pricing implications of macro policy. She co-founded and leads the Blockchain Initiative at Tepper, which brought together all of the school鈥檚 research, teaching and thought leadership on blockchain and cryptocurrencies under one umbrella.

Sarah Peyre named dean of Warner School

Sarah Peyre, associate dean for innovative education at the Medical Center and executive director of its Institute for Innovative Education, .

Peyre succeeds Brian Brent, the Earl B. Taylor Professor and senior associate dean for graduate studies, who has served as acting dean since October. Her appointment will begin on July 1 with a five-year term.

Peyre joined the University in 2011 and also holds faculty appointments as professor of surgery, nursing, medical humanities, and bioethics.

She is a national expert in the field of simulation and the development of educational innovations that support collaborative health-care models. Her work in interprofessional education includes curriculum development on disparities in health care, leadership, and technology. Her educational research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Josiah Macy Foundation, Burroughs Welcome Foundation, and others.

Social security passed along as bequests by wealthy

When it was established in 1935, Social Security was intended as insurance against destitution in old age. The program has been widely credited with the sharp reduction in poverty among the elderly, starting in the 1940s. Eighty-five years later, it remains a critical source of income, or the only source of income, that many older Americans can rely on to meet basic needs.

But what about affluent retirees? If the income from Social Security payments isn鈥檛 necessary for basic needs, what is it used for?

According to research by 蘑菇传媒 economist Kegon Tan, 鈥�Wealthy retirees largely pass on their benefits in the form of bequests to their children and others.鈥�

鈥淔ederal policymakers trying to reduce the costs of the Social Security system need to understand how cutting in benefits affect wealthy and non-wealthy retirees,鈥� says Tan, lead author of the working paper 鈥�,鈥� coauthored with Siha Lee, an economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read more here.

Congratulations to . . .

Left to right: Patrick Hopkins, Llerena Searl, Brianna Theobald, and Michael Scott

Patrick Hopkins 鈥�99N (MS) 鈥�10N (DNP), co-director of the Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses at the School of Nursing, awarded the Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Llerena Searle, an assistant professor of anthropology, and Brianna Theobald, an assistant professor of history and affiliate faculty in the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women鈥檚 Studies, recipients of the G. Graydon Curtis 鈥�58 and Jane W. Curtis Award for Nontenured Faculty Teaching Excellence
Michael Scott, the Arthur Gould Yates Professor of Engineering, recipient of the William H. Riker University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching

Open-access Protocols.io now available

Researchers across the University may now access protocols.io, an open-access method of sharing and protocols.

Submitted protocols receive a unique DOI, can be linked directly to publications and record comments/suggestions from the research community.

Protocols.io can also be used as a private virtual notebook for laboratory and procedures.

Access to Protocols.io, which is provided by Miner Library脗听in collaboration with the Scientific Advisory Committee,脗听will help enhance rigor, reproducibility and scientific integrity.

To create or access your premium account, follow the directions .

Summit on preventing sexual harrassment in higher education

The National Academies鈥櫶齣s inviting abstract submissions for presentations and posters on promising and innovative practices to address and prevent sexual harassment in higher education.

Presentations and poster sessions will take place during a 听on听October 19-20, 2020 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Participation is open to faculty, students, researchers, practitioners, and other key stakeholders actively working on this topic. Please note that space is limited, and听the deadline to submit a presentation or poster abstract is July 1, 2020.

Due to the evolving situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summit may be held virtually to ensure the safety and health of participants and the campus community. A final decision on whether the meeting will be held in-person will be made in July 2020.

Keeping abreast of the University's response to COVID-19

Organ transplant program continues despite pandemic: Though most elective surgeries were suspended at Strong Memorial Hospital nine weeks ago because of the pandemic, 鈥�17 liver, 8 kidney, and 3 heart鈥攄uring that time. The numbers included a milestone 1,800th liver transplant since the hospital began doing the procedure in 1992. 鈥淧atients who are on waiting lists for organ donations don鈥檛 have the luxury of time,鈥� says Sunil Prasad, chief of cardiac surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital. 鈥淭hey have only a certain amount of time before their organs fail to the point of no return.鈥�

Research reboot: To learn more about the Medical Center’s plan to gradually reboot research visit our and webpages and view videos of Research Reboot Town Halls held recently and .

Medical Center shared resource labs policies: The COVID-related access policies for the shared resource labs have been published and . They听will be updated as needed.

COVID-19 Collaboration Platform
The , created by teams at Harvard and Johns Hopkins, can help UR and URMC researchers join forces with other research teams across the country to create core clinical trial protocols, admit new sites under the existing PI and IRB, and share anonymized data with other sites that choose to independently operate a trial under a similar protocol. 听or contact Research Help to learn more.

NIH OITE is offering a virtual bystander training program to empower trainees and other members of the research community to speak up and intervene when we witness bullying, incivility, microaggressions, and hate speech. The program will address issues experienced in research groups and specifically address the rise of microaggressions and hate speech related to the coronavirus pandemic. A webinar on Moving from Bystander to Upstander: Take Action to Combat Harassment and Aggression will be offered 2-4 p.m. May 26. Register .

Funding Opportunities

American Diabetes Association is requesting applications for research focused on the impact of diabetes on COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes and its complications.听.
罢丑别听DOD Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program听is offering several funding opportunities for research on emerging viral diseases and/or respiratory health with a focus on COVID-19.
- :听Pre-applications are due May 28.
- :听Pre-applications are due May 28.
The International Fact-Checking Network听is听seeking proposals听from researchers that will utilize the CoronaVirusFacts Alliance database to better understand the COVID-19 鈥渋nfodemic鈥� and to further elevate the fight against mis/disinformation.听
罢丑别听听has听two COVID-19-related funding opportunities currently available.听

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