BU Profiles.

BU Profiles is an open source Profiles Research Networking Software that supports research networking and expertise searches. It enables individuals (either internal or external to BU) to locate researchers by subject matter, name, institution, department, division, faculty, etc. This tool is a new way to network and collaborate, find potential mentors, search for relevant panel members and advisory board expertise, evaluate research trends by investigator, and broadly surveys the community at large. BU Profiles offers traditional contact information while also revealing how individuals are connected to others in the larger research community by providing sophisticated, but user-friendly, data-mining tools. BU Profiles is brought to the BU community by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (BU CTSI).

BUMC IT creates a BU profile for all new faculty members at Boston University and reaches out to the faculty member once the profile is created. Types of information displayed in an individual’s profile:

  1. Managed Descriptions: Name, titles, affiliation, phone number and email address. Researchers can edit their own profiles, adding publications, awards, narrative, and a photo.
  2. Passive Networks: (Displayed on the right of each profile webpage).
    Automatically formed when BU researchers share common traits such as: work in the same department, work in the same building, co-author the same paper, or research the same topics (as defined, by publication keywords (e.g. “MeSH”). Passive networks are automatically updated with each new publication cited in PubMed
  3. Active Networks:(Displayed on the left of each profile webpage).
    Defined by each researcher and, if actively managed, can significantly enhance the power and value of BU PROFILES. When logged in to BU Profiles and viewing other profiles, you can mark individuals as collaborators, advisors, or advisees. In summary, you can build your own network of close collaborators. Only you can only see the network that you build. In the future you will be able to share your lists with others.

Profiles is only an effective networking tool if faculty information is up to date. SPH faculty are encouraged to update their BU Profile regularly.

Important notes:

  • To edit their profile, researchers should click “Edit my Profile” from the edit menu on the top navigation section.
  • BU Profiles uses the campus directory for contact information. Changes to this data may be made on the Employee Self Service page, under “Personal Information.”
  • BU Profiles refreshes each evening; it may take up to 24 hours to see changes.
  • The SPH Directory imports faculty title, biography, and publication from BU Profiles.
  • For suggestions and problems, researchers may request help.

Further information can be found at: https://profiles.bu.edu/About/default.aspx.