HRI’s Executive Director, Barbara Ryan, has issused the following memo regarding important updates within Health Research, Inc.:
Dear PIs and Administrators,
I hope everyone is doing well. I thought it would be helpful to share some updates that may affect your project budgets and operations for the current year. It is difficult to provide an overall or bottom line impact statement as the nuances of particular awards are quite varied.
Accordingly, I offer the following: the 2% general salary increase should be budgeted in almost all active awards and should not result in an unexpected burden. While the institutional indirect rate is approximately 3% higher than last year, the fringe rate is 1.7% lower than had been projected/budgeted. The net impact should therefore be quite minimal. There is a slight decrease in the non-institutional indirect rate. Combined with the decrease in the fringe rate, non-institutional awards should realize a small savings in their budgets.
Thank you for your tireless effort in applying for and managing your projects; we at HRI admire your resolve.
Compensation Changes:
As many of you may know, CSEA represented HRI employees ratified the proposed contract between Health Research, Incorporated and the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc. Local 1000. With a new contract in place effective April 30, 2015, HRI can move forward to implement the following:
General Salary Increase
Effective May 7, 2015, the basic annual salary rate of employees in active, graded employment status will be adjusted by 2%.This increase will be included in the June 3, 2015 paycheck.
Performance Advances
Effective May 7, 2015, Performance advances for employees with an eligibility date of April 1 will be added to the basic annual salary rate of eligible employees. This increase will be included in the June 3, 2015 paycheck.
Longevity Lump Sum Payments
Longevity lump sum payments for employees eligible as of April 2015 will be paid on June 17, 2015.
Questions concerning these compensation changes may be directed to Marianne Castelot at Marianne.Castelot@healthresearch.org. Please note that during the next two weeks our focus will be on implementing the above changes, therefore we will most likely respond to your questions after June 1, 2015.
Proposed Fringe and IDC Rates for 4/1/2015 – 3/31/2016:
Fringe Rates:
The proposed fringe rates for the period April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 are as follows:
Proposed Prior Year
Tier 1-6 43.7% 45.4%
Part-time 22.7% 21.8%
GRA W/Pension/Hlth 29.5% 33.9%
GRA No Pension 13.6% 12.6%
Intern 8.4% 8.1%
Intern W/Pension 26.1% 25.9%
Indirect Rates:
The proposed Indirect Cost Rates for the period April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 are as follows:
Proposed Prior Year
Institutional 83.3% 80.0%
Non-Institutional 22.9% 23.6%
Off-Site 20.4% 20.8%
***We anticipate approval of these rates by the end of May or early June***
Questions concerning the proposed changes to fringe and indirect rates can be directed to Jessica Preston at Jessica.Preston@healthresearch.org.
Office of Sponsored Programs Staff Changes:
As many of you know, Terrie Dehm has recently retired from HRI. Terrie has been an integral member of the Office of Sponsored Programs for over 20 years, and its Director for over 14 years. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues at HRI and DOH alike, as we have all benefited from her incredible ingenuity, intellect, and leadership.
We wish Terrie well as she starts a new chapter in her life. She has just welcomed her third
grandbaby into her life and soon plans to travel to Italy with her husband! After that, she hopes to be found volunteering at the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at AMC and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Fortunately, we have qualified and capable staff that will ensure us a smooth transition.
Michael Saglimbeni has been promoted to take on the role of Director of Sponsored
Programs. Michael has been with HRI for a total of 12 years, and has served as Assistant
Director of Sponsored Programs for almost 7. He is eminently prepared for his new position and I am happy to welcome him to the Executive Team. Michael can be reached at 518-431-1265 or michael.saglimbeni@healthresearch.org.
I would also like to re-welcome Jessica Kleinberg-Preston to the role of Assistant Director of
Sponsored Programs after an 8-year hiatus, during which she split her time between HRI and her young children. Jessica has almost 17 years of experience at HRI and is excited to have the opportunity to work with all DOH staff again in her new role. Jessica can be reached at 518- 431-1242 or jessica.preston@healthresearch.org.
Finally, I am pleased to welcome Alicia Bivona back to her full-time position. She will now
single-handedly perform the job of Grant Administrator that she and Jessica have successfully shared for the last 8 years.
Best wishes to all in their new roles!
