July 21, 2017
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Creation and organization of technology and service units (UTechS)
- Creation of technology and service units (UTechS)
Following the favorable opinion issued by the Scientific Council in October 2016:
- the Cytometry and Biomarkers (Cytométrie et biomarqueurs) technology and service unit (UTechS CB) was set up on July 1, 2017.
For administrative and operational matters, the UTechS CB is affiliated with the Center for Innovation and Technological Research, directed by Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, and the Center for Translational Science, directed by Stanislas Pol, and for scientific purposes it is affiliated with the Department of Immunology, directed by Gérard Eberl.
This UTechS is directed by Milena Hasan, an Expert Research Engineer at the Institut Pasteur.
Sophie Novault has been appointed as Head of Activities for the UTechS CB.
The first five-year term of the UTechS will run through to June 30, 2022, subject to a positive assessment of its work in June 2019.
More information in decision memo 717
- the Mass Spectrometry for Biology (Spectrométrie de masse pour la biologie) technology and service unit (UTechS MSBio) was set up on July 1, 2017.
For administrative and operational matters, the UTechS MSBio is affiliated with the Center for Innovation and Technological Research, directed by Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, and for scientific purposes it is affiliated with the Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, directed by Michael Nilges.
This UTechS is directed by Julia Chamot-Rooke, a CNRS Research Director.
Mariette Matondo-Bouzanda has been appointed as Head of Activities for the UTechS MSBio.
The first five-year term of the UTechS will run through to June 30, 2022, subject to a positive assessment of its work in June 2019.
More information in decision memo 718
- the Photonic BioImaging (Bioimagerie photonique) technology and service unit (UTechS PBI) was set up on July 1, 2017.
For administrative and operational matters, the UTechS PBI is affiliated with the Center for Innovation and Technological Research, directed by Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, and for scientific purposes it is affiliated with the Department of Cell Biology and Infection, directed by Chiara Zurzolo.
This UTechS is directed by Spencer Shorte, a Research Engineering Executive Officer at the Institut Pasteur.
Nathalie Aulner has been appointed as Head of Activities for the UTechS PBI.
The first five-year term of the UTechS will run through to June 30, 2022, subject to a positive assessment of its work in June 2019.
More information in decision memo 719
- the Ultrastructural BioImaging (Bioimagerie ultrastructurale) technology and service unit (UTechS UBI) was set up on July 1, 2017.
For administrative and operational matters, the UTechS UBI is affiliated with the Center for Innovation and Technological Research, directed by Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, and for scientific purposes it is affiliated with the Department of Cell Biology and Infection, directed by Chiara Zurzolo.
This UTechS is directed by Jacomine Krinjse-Locker, an Expert Research Engineer at the Institut Pasteur.
The first five-year term of the UTechS will run through to June 30, 2022, subject to a positive assessment of its work in June 2019.
More information in decision memo 720
With the creation of the Cytometry and Biomarkers (UTechS CB), Mass Spectrometry for Biology (UTechS MSBio), Photonic BioImaging (UTechS PBI) and Ultrastructural BioImaging (UTechS UBI) UTechS units, the following entities were closed on June 30, 2017:
- Imagopole (024091)
- Ultrapole (021140)
- Ultrastructural Microscopy Platform (024092)
- Center for Human Immunology (024491)
- Cytometry Platform (024490)
- Structural Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Unit (024215)
More information in decision memo 721
- The Eukaryote Genotyping Platform (024394) was closed on June 30, 2017.
More information in decision memo 741
- Organization of technology and service units (UTechS)
Description and aims of UTechS
Technology and service units (UTechS) are new structures that offer services, training and access to cutting-edge technologies and methods. They replace the previous platforms. For administrative and operational matters, UTechS units are affiliated with the Center for Innovation and Technological Research (Citech) and for scientific purposes they are affiliated with one of the Institut Pasteur's 11 departments.
Evaluation
UTechS units are set up following a specific evaluation procedure conducted by the Scientific Council, involving an ad hoc committee composed of operational managers from similar service structures in Europe.
This evaluation procedure takes place every five years, following a similar timetable to the research units, and particular emphasis is placed on service activities.
UTechS research activities are evaluated with the department they are scientifically affiliated to by the Scientific Council and the French High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES).
Missions
The main mission of UTechS is to provide services to support research units wishing to implement new technologies in their projects. These services include training, provision of equipment and conducting projects on behalf of research units. They are steered and coordinated by the Citech.
To make sure the services they offer meet the needs of scientists on campus, each UTechS has:
- a steering committee, mainly composed of heads of research units on campus, which is tasked with advising the UTechS Director on how to implement a strategy that serves the needs of those on campus as effectively as possible. The steering committee issues recommendations concerning requests for resources and the allocation of these resources (human and operational resources and equipment).
- a committee of users, primarily composed of scientific staff who work directly with the UTechS. The main aim of this committee is to create a forum where scientists' needs and suggestions for procedural improvements can be passed on.
Another mission of UTechS units, which is optional but recommended, is technological R&D, with the aim of: 1) developing new cutting-edge services; 2) maintaining motivation and expertise among staff members; 3) creating value (intellectual property, partnerships with industry, technology transfer, etc.). Permanent UTechS staff may devote up to 25% of their time to technological R&D. UTechS Directors can set up R&D groups supported entirely by external funding if there is sufficient space in their premises. They also have the opportunity to submit technological research projects which will be assessed competitively by the Scientific Council for the allocation of posts and operational budget from the Institut Pasteur.
A final important task for UTechS units is to transfer knowledge and expertise. UTechS staff provide training for users on campus and in the Institut Pasteur International Network, as well as students who attend teaching programs run by the Institut Pasteur. UTechS units also showcase and promote innovative technologies and methods developed within research units.
Management
UTechS Directors are responsible for managing their UTechS, especially administering budget resources, premises and staff allocated to the UTechS by the senior management and the Citech management to carry out service and R&D activities.
An intermediate management position – Head of Activities – may also be created within each UTechS. Heads of Activities are experts in relevant technological fields. They are responsible for the resources allocated to carry out UTechS activities (infrastructure and equipment, management of associated budgets, and management of premises by delegation from the UTechS Director, especially when several sites are concerned). The Head of Activities is responsible for implementing services, managing the teams assigned to activities and co-evaluating the staff in these teams.