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), associate professor of biological sciences, College of Arts and Science
- Chin Chiang, professor of cell and developmental biology, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Ethan Lippmann, assistant 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 and associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
Administrative (voting)
- Lori Rolando, medical director of occupational health clinic, VUMC
- Katherine Shuster, veterinarian in division of animal care, VUMC
- Robin Trundy, biosafety officer and associate director, environmental health & safety
- Jeanne Wallace (alternate), director of division of animal care, VUMC
Community members (voting)
- Thomas C. Lennon, retired
- Robert Loedding, retired
Ex Officio (non-voting)
- Kyle Becker, safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Scott Bury, director of office of animal welfare assurance, VUMC
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor, environmental health, safety, and sustainability, division of administration
- Matt Loch, safety officer, environmental health and safety
- Ruth Nagareda, manager of compliance, risk and insurance management
- Anthony Tharp, assistant dean of basic sciences, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Kevin Warren, senior director of Office of Clinical and Research Safety, 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
- Guil Gualda, professor of earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Science
- 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
- Yi Ren, assistant professor of biochemistry, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
- Gary Sulikowski, professor of chemistry, College of Arts and Science
- Jennifer Ufnar, research assistant professor of teaching and learning, Peabody College of Education
Administrative (voting)
- Aaron Covey, assistant director of college facilities, dean’s office, College of Arts and Science
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor of environmental health and safety, division of administration
- Liane Moneta-Koehler, assistant provost for research integrity and compliance, office of the vice provost for research and innovation
- Ruth Nagareda, manager of compliance, risk and insurance management
- 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
- Kevin Warren, senior director of Office of Clinical and Research Safety, VUMC
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
- Bill Gabella, research assistant professor of physics, College of Arts and Science
- Richard Haglund, Stevenson Professor of physics, College of Arts and Science
- Duco Jansen, senior associate dean for graduate education and faculty affairs, professor of biomedical engineering, professor of neurological surgery, School of Engineering
- Matthew Tyska, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair Professor of cell and developmental biology, scientific director of cell imaging shared resource, School of Medicine- Basic Sciences
Administrative (voting)
- Aaron Covey, assistant director of college facilities, dean’s office, College of Arts and Science
- Andrea George, assistant vice chancellor, environmental health, safety, and sustainability, division of administration
- Liane Moneta-Koehler, assistant provost for research integrity and compliance, office of the vice provost for research and innovation
- Ruth Nagareda, manager of compliance, risk and insurance management
- Dawn Riddle, senior director, risk and insurance management
- Barry Templeton, senior manager of engineering facilities, dean’s office, School of Engineering
- Anthony Tharp, assistant dean, School of Medicine – Basic Sciences