The University of Iowa will refocus the scope of the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR) when it hires a new vice president, shifting the role of economic development elsewhere within the university.
After the departure of Vice President for Research and Economic Development Daniel Reed in October 2017, the university—led by a search committee of broad campus representation—hosted two open forums to gather feedback on the department’s structure. The resulting decision was to return the department to its roots, emphasizing the urgency of finding fresh and innovative ways to support research and scholarship in a rapidly shifting academic and federal landscape.
Currently held on an interim basis by Graduate College Dean John Keller, the VPR position provides central leadership to the university’s research, scholarly, and creative programs.
Among other tasks, the vice president facilitates and fosters the excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activities; strengthens relationships with the public, private agencies, and corporations that provide support for research and scholarly endeavors; enhances relationships with community partners; assures the integrity of the research enterprise; and oversees the formulation and implementation of research-specific policies related to regulatory compliance and intellectual property management.
UI President Bruce Harreld says the new vice president for research will work to support existing and emerging economic development activities on campus. But, because research and economic development are such important endeavors in their own rights, the university will be best served by separating them.
Harreld says his office is working with campus leaders to determine next steps for coordinating economic development units and activities, which include UI Ventures (assists faculty in launching businesses); Protostudios (an advanced prototyping resource); MADE (a platform for bringing medical devices and other inventions to market more quickly), the UI Research Park; the UI Research Foundation; and the activities of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, among others.
“Economic development is a natural outgrowth of research but requires different tools and skills,” Harreld says. “We need to focus our vice president for research on developing innovative ways to support faculty in their discovery efforts and developing equally robust approaches for fueling innovation.”
Aliasger Salem, the Bighley Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and head of the Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics at the UI College of Pharmacy, and David Gier, director of the School of Music and Erich Funke Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, are co-chairing the search.
Salem says that in writing the position description and considering the university’s new budget model, the committee will be searching for candidates who are especially adept at encouraging and supporting interdisciplinary research. Significant strides were made in this direction during Reed’s tenure through the launch of ideation events, the Creative Matters lecture series, and a new Research Development Office, Salem says.
Among other responsibilities, the vice president for research will advise the president and other key leaders in decision-making and oversight of general university matters as a member of the president’s cabinet; oversee a range of research units and functions (including the Division of Sponsored Programs, selected central research support facilities and centers, the State Hygienic Laboratory, and regulatory compliance units such as the Human Subjects Office, animal care unit, and health protection office); articulate and champion the university’s research mission; and identify, develop, and nurture innovative, collaborative and strategic research initiatives.
“This is a time of great challenge and great opportunity,” Salem says. “We’re excited to find the kind of leader who can accelerate impactful, multidisciplinary research at the University of Iowa.”
Gier says the committee is using the search firm Isaacson, Miller to develop a list of prospective applicants for the position.
“This is the firm also searching for a new dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as a new provost,” Gier says. “Relying on their assistance for three searches will provide a great deal of synergy and help us identify top-caliber candidates for all the positions, including vice president for research.”