EHS Governance Committees
Institutional Biosafety Committee
Committee Charge:
The Vanderbilt Institutional Biosafety Committee (VU IBC) provides review and oversight of research involving the use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules as required by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The composition and operations of the VU IBC are intended to satisfy the requirements of the NIH Guidelines first and foremost. However, the VU IBC also reviews research activities involving the use of human-derived materials, nonhuman primate-derived materials, agents infectious to humans, animal and plants, and acutely hazardous biological toxins to ensure compliance with other federal regulations and support environmental and worker safety.
Committee Members:
Faculty (voting)
- Julian Hillyer (Chair), centennial professor of biological sciences, College of Arts and Science
- Chin Chiang, professor of cell and developmental biology, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Ethan Lippmann, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, School of Engineering
- Lisa McCawley, research associate professor of biomedical engineering, School of Engineering
- Jenny Schafer, research associate professor of cell and developmental biology, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Benjamin Spiller, associate professor of pharmacology, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- William Wan, assistant professor of biochemistry, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
Administrative (voting)
- Katherine Shuster, veterinarian in division of animal care, VUMC
- Robin Trundy, biosafety officer and associate director, environmental health and safety
- Jeanne Wallace (alternate), vice president for animal care, VUMC
Community members (voting)
- Abigail Holloway
- Ryan Mason
Ex Officio (non-voting)
- Kyle Becker, senior safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Scott Bury, director of office of animal welfare assurance, VUMC
- Selene Colon, assistant dean, research, School of Medicine-Basic Sciences
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor, environmental health, safety, and sustainability, division of administration
- Kendra Hoffsmith, safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Paul Liebman, senior director, general counsel
- Matt Loch, safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Katrina Ngo, safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Ana Nobis, medical director, occupational health clinic, VUMC
- Anthony Tharp, assistant dean, facilities, infrastructure and risk management, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Venita White, RN, occupational health clinic, VUMC
Chemical Safety Committee
Committee Charge:
The Chemical Safety Committee (CSC) will ensure that chemical materials are used safely and in compliance with local, State of Tennessee, and federal regulations in research and teaching lab spaces and activities.
Committee Members:
Faculty (voting)
- Bridget Rogers (Chair), associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, School of Engineering
- Fred Guengerich, professor of biochemistry, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Tim Hanusa, associate director of interdisciplinary graduate program in materials science, School of Engineering, professor of chemistry, College of Arts and Science
- Dmitry Koktysh, research assistant professor of chemistry, College of Arts and Science
- Jessica Oster, associate professor of earth and environmental science, College of Arts and Science
- Yi Ren, assistant professor of biochemistry, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Alex Waterson, research professor of pharmacology, School of Medicine-Basic Sciences; associate director of drug discovery (VICB)
Administrative (voting)
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor of environmental health and safety and chemical hygiene officer, division of administration; adjunct faculty of civil and environmental engineering, School of Engineering
Administrative (non-voting)
- Aaron Covey, assistant director of college facilities, dean’s office, College of Arts and Science
- Liane Moneta-Koehler, assistant provost for research integrity and compliance, office of the vice provost for research and innovation
- Paul Liebman, senior director, general counsel
- Ben Schmidt, cleanroom manager of Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), office of research and innovation
- Barry Templeton, senior manager of engineering facilities, dean’s office, School of Engineering
- Anthony Tharp, assistant dean, facilities, infrastructure and risk management, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
Laser Safety Committee
Committee Charge:
The Laser Safety Committee will ensure that lasers are used safely and in compliance with accepted standards and local, State of Tennessee, and federal regulations.
Committee Members:
Faculty (voting)
- Shane Hutson (Chair), chair and professor of physics and professor of biological sciences, College of Arts and Science
- Duco Jansen (Interim Chair), senior associate dean for graduate education and faculty affairs, professor of biomedical engineering, professor of neurological surgery, School of Engineering
- Bill Gabella, research assistant professor of physics, College of Arts and Science
- Richard Haglund, Stevenson professor of physics, College of Arts and Science
- Richard Simerly, Louise B. McGavock professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Bryan Millis, research assistant professor of biomedical engineering, School of Engineering
Administrative (voting)
- Sergey Avaneysan, university laser safety officer, environmental health and safety, division of administration
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor of environmental health and safety, division of administration; adjunct faculty of civil and environmental engineering, School of Engineering
Administrative (non-voting)
- Marcus Balanky, assistant director of radiation and laser safety and university radiation safety officer, division of administration
- Aaron Covey, assistant director of college facilities, dean’s office, College of Arts and Science
- Paul Liebman, senior director, general counsel
- Liane Moneta-Koehler, assistant provost for research integrity and compliance, office of the vice provost for research and innovation
- Barry Templeton, senior manager of engineering facilities, dean’s office, School of Engineering
- Anthony Tharp, assistant dean, facilities, infrastructure and risk management, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences