Partnerships for Innovation
Did you know?
In the days leading up to super storm Sandy, ORAU peer review project managers developed proactive plans to minimize the impact of the hurricane on peer reviews that were already planned for the metro D.C. and Philadelphia-areas. From the safety of attendees to the financial mitigation of protective contract clauses, ORAU and its subcontractors saved more than $35,000 for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Capabilities in Scientific Peer Review
ORAU emphasizes Process Integrity in Managing Highly Competitive Scientific Peer Reviews
Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to process integrity, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) realizes that a standardized peer review process can add confidence, as well as a measure of accountability, to program and procurement officials’ decisions. That is why we have developed a comprehensive review program to ensure the quality, value and objectivity of conducting peer reviews.
We have coordinated reviews for the physical sciences, medical and health research, and multiple disciplines related to homeland security. Our top scientific and technical experts offer independent and objective review of scientific information related to:
- research applications and proposals
- status reports of ongoing research projects or programs
- scientific or technical reports or assessments
To learn more about the capabilities behind our recent success, here is our signature six-step process for peer review management:
Plan the Review
ORAU provides customized solutions for designing and managing the peer review process.
Identify the Experts
We identify qualified reviewers in our established professional networks based on our customers’ requirements and preferences.
Conduct the Peer Review
You tell us what you need and we’ll manage the logistics of the peer review to meet those needs.
Manage the Information
In addition to PeerNet, we also provide access to the intellectual and managerial talent of multiple scientific peer review specialists.
Coordinate Workshops
ORAU manages and facilitates workshops and other meetings as an additional means for research discussions.
Implement Improvements
We take pride in finding ways to continuously improve our peer review process in order to make things better and easier for our customers.
Feature:
ORAU completes DOE Annual Merit Review for fourth consecutive year
Photo courtesy of DOE
Since 2009, ORAU’s Scientific and Technical Resource Integration group has provided peer review services in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Vehicles Technologies Programs Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting.
In FY12, ORAU’s support expanded to include new information management capabilities, such as a password-protected portal through which DOE program managers could access and approve presentations. The portal sent automatic reminders to the managers letting them know the presentations were uploaded and available.
Managing the logistics of this complex meeting involved the coordination of more than 380 reviewers and 450 projects representing hundreds of millions of dollars in funded research. Presentations were given in 30-minute intervals during 10 concurrent topical sessions and were spread across two separate hotels for four consecutive days.
In all, ORAU peer review experts analyzed more than 225,000 data points to ensure that reviewers were appropriately assigned in such a way that avoided potential conflicts of interest but also capitalized on reviewer subject matter expertise.