Carnegie Mellon University ———

COVID-19 Updates

Information and resources for the CMU community

Scotty with mask and vaccination bandaid
COVID-19 Updates  ›  Researchers

Research at CMU During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Effective July 1, 2021, CMU shifted to a Transitional Posture, which, as the name indicates, is designed to support our community as we transition back to daily in-person experiences.

Consistent with this revised posture, research labs and facilities are to be managed in accordance with the Pandemic Planning Guide that can be found on the Returning to On-site Work page. 

Under this transitional posture, the submission and maintenance of individual return plans is no longer required. Weekly reporting on previously approved plans is also no longer required. Individual labs/facilities may relax density limitations, scheduling and entrance/exit logging activities at their discretion, provided they continue to follow all relevant university-wide guidance and policies.

See below for revised guidance on conducting human subjects research.

nanolab_700-min.jpg

Quick Links and Resources

Complete Tartan Testing Weekly If Not Fully Vaccinated

All CMU community members who are not fully vaccinated must participate in Tartan Testing weekly. 

Tartan Testing Shuttle

As part of Tartan Testing, CMU provides free shuttle service to the Pittsburgh campus testing location from various off-campus locations. Per CDC requirements, facial coverings for all individuals (both those fully vaccinated and not vaccinated) are still required when traveling on public transportation, including CMU shuttles.

COVID-19 Symptoms & Reporting

Plans for COVID-19 Symptoms:

Plans for Positive Tests:

Researcher Return Details

As part of the plan to return to on-site operations, researchers are required to acknowledge their awareness of the university policies and procedures on the following:

All research faculty should have already developed continuity plans for their lab groups in preparation for a ramp down of research. A return of on-site research will require you to summarize these plans in the event that public health circumstances require another suspension or remote migration of research activities within 24 hours.

Use the researcher pandemic preparedness guide (a 2-page self-examination; .pdf) to help you with your plans.

Effective July 1, 2021 approval for resuming research is no longer required. 

All research activities need to address the health and safety compliance considerations as outlined by university policy.

All projects/facilities are responsible for ensuring regular cleaning and disinfecting of active spaces. In all circumstances, FMCS will continue cleaning and disinfection regimens for common areas.

Effective July 1, 2021:

Human subjects researchers must advise all study participants and those who accompany them of their relevant obligations under the university minimum requirements.  In order to facilitate compliance with the minimum requirements, researchers should follow the guidance in the revised COVID-19 Screening Process and Questions.  This screening process replaces previous guidance/requirements and screening questions.

Researchers are advised that they are not permitted to ask and/or document a participant’s vaccination status nor are they permitted to require participants to be vaccinated unless such activities and requirements are part of an approved IRB protocol.

All persons coming on site to participate in human subjects research are considered to be approved visitors by the Vice President for Research.  No additional approvals are necessary unless required by a facility-specific policy. 

More Information for Researchers

Research Communications

You can find all research communications on the OVPR website

Collaborating Visitors

Collaborating visitors coming on-site must adhere to all visitor protocols.

Associate Deans for Research (or equivalent) by College/Unit