Welcome to the Kissinger Laboratory. We hope that you find your experience working with us to be rewarding and enjoyable. This guide is intended to help you with basic lab and University regulations.

Lab Policy on Absences

Please notify Kathy a soon as you are aware of a meeting you will attend. A Travel Authority must be processed which allows for you to travel on University-related business. Please submit the name of the meeting, dates you will attend, and location.

Consult the U.S. Department of State's website at:

   http://www.travel.state.gov/

to determine if a Visa or Passport will be needed for international travel and allot a sufficient amount of time to process your application.

There are federal per diem rates for both domestic and international travel. This rate applies to meals and incidentals, and lodging. Please check the rates for your meeting's location before you travel by going to:

   http://www.gsa.gov/

and clicking on Per Diem Rates. For International travel, visit:

   http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/78350.htm

Please note there are rules regarding what meals you can be reimbursed for on your day of departure and day of return. You do NOT automatically receive money for three meals for all days of your trip.

Day of departure:

   Departure for overnight trip prior to 6:30 am: Employee is eligible for per diem for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
   Departure for overnight trip prior to 11:00 am: Employee is eligible for per diem for lunch and dinner.
   Departure for overnight trip prior to 5:30 pm: Employee is eligible for per diem for dinner.

Day of return:

   Returning from overnight trip after 6:30 am: Employee is eligible for per diem for breakfast.
   Returning from overnight trip after 1:30 pm: Employee is eligible for per diem for breakfast and lunch.
   Returning from overnight trip after 7:30 pm: Employee is eligible for per diem for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Taxes and tips are allowable expenses; however, they should be included in the total expense for the meal.

If you are traveling with a group, it is advised that you each pay for your own expenses (meals, lodging, etc.).

State employees traveling by commercial air must utilize the lowest possible coach fares. Employees will not be reimbursed for the portion of non-coach that exceeds the cost of the lowest available fare on the same flight.

State officials or employees may, at any time, use personal frequent flyer miles or similar programs to upgrade to non-coach travel. In addition, nothing in this policy shall preclude a state official or employee from personally paying for an upgrade to non-coach travel.

You also have the option of billing your airfare directly to a UGA approved travel agency if your travel is being charged to one of the lab's grants. (This means you won't have to wait for reimbursement.);

Please do this through Kathy.

Feel free to book your own airfare and hotel, but you must notify Kathy and Jessie beforehand of your intention to travel and let Kathy know how much these expenses will be so that she can check the status of our travel funds BEFORE you book.

The only travel expense that we are allowed to pay for you by UGA purchasing card (P-card) is your registration fee if it does not include housing and/or meals.

All travel expenses must be reimbursed AFTER travel has taken place except for airfare.Airfare may be reimbursed to UGA employees before the trip. Upon your return, give Kathy all original receipts to process your reimbursement. If you used your personal automobile to drive to the meeting site or to the airport, you also need to submit your license tag number and mileage.

If you have an order to place (office, wet lab, computer supplies, etc.) give Kathy the company name, item, item number, quantity, and price. For those in the wet lab, please enter this information in the Orders database.

If there is an emergency, contact Campus Police at 542-2200. This includes if you are here during non-business hours and something comes up such as flooding, alarms, etc.

IF THERE IS A BUILDING MAINTENANCE ISSUE, CONTACT DANIEL BRINKLEY, THE COVERDELL BUILDING SUPERVISOR, DIRECTLY.

For keys and key card access, contact Linda Buffington.

The mail room is located across from the CTEGD office, room 145. Mail pick-up times are 8:00am and 1:30pm.

To reserve a conference room, go to: http://www.biomed.uga.edu/Coverdell_Center_room_request.html

If you are asked to sign for a package by UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc. for someone in the lab who is not there, please do and send that person an email to let them know. If it is a delivery to the wet lab and the package indicates it needs special handling, consult someone in the Kissinger or Striepen wet lab (Room 306) for assistance.

Kissinger Lab Website: http://mango.ctegd.uga.edu/jkissingLab/

Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases Website: http://www.ctegd.uga.edu/

Genetics Department Website: http://www.genetics.uga.edu/