New Search Opens for Vice Chancellor for Research Daniel J. Fitzgibbons CHRONICLE STAFF April 14, 2000 Almost two years after Chancellor David Scott canceled a search for a permanent vice chancellor for Research, a new hiring process is underway. A 15-member search committee is expected to begin reviewing applications and nominations for the post immediately and continue until the position is filled, although a June 1 application deadline has been set. The post is being advertised beginning this week in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The post will also be advertised in Women in Higher Education, Black Issues in Higher Education, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education and the journals Science and Nature, as well as several online sites. The appointment date is Jan. 1, 2001. According to the vacancy notice, the campus is seeking "a dynamic, visionary leader with a record of professional experience and accomplishment to lead the University's research faculty and programs into the 21st century." As the chief research officer of the campus, the vice chancellor for Research advances the research mission of the University and represents the institution's research interests to federal and state governments, industry and to other national and international constituencies. The vice chancellor oversees all policies and procedures relating to research, technology transfer and economic development, and works closely with the faculty to encourage and support research and scholarly activities. Under a new administrative structure put into place by the chancellor a year ago, the vice chancellor for Research reports to the senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and provost, working together to develop strategic directions and financial strategies that promote the full academic mission of the University. The vice chancellor for Research has administrative responsibility for the offices of Research Affairs, Grant and Contract Administration, Technology Transfer, Science and Technology Advancement, Economic Development, Animal Care and the University of Massachusetts Press. Qualifications for the position include: A distinguished record of research and scholarship appropriate for appointment as a tenured full professor in an academic department of the University; A strong and well-articulated research vision and a thorough understanding of the mission of a major land-grant research and teaching institution; A strong and enthusiastic commitment to the campus's strategic priorities, which include teaching and learning, advancing research and graduate education, promoting economic development, and embracing diversity and pluralism; The demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty members, students, staff, administrators, and public and private funding agencies; Full understanding of the contributions and requirements of scholars from all fields; and Familiarity with university patents and licensing. To ensure full consideration, nominations and applications, including vitae, research vision statement and the names and addresses of three references should be received by June 1, 2000. Nominations and applications should be sent to Vice Chancellor for Research Search Committee, Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost, 362 Whitmore Administration Building. Professor Michael Malone, chair of the Chemical Engineering Department, is chairing the search committee. The other members of the panel are Psychology professor Jeffrey Blaustein; Vice President for Academic Affairs Selma Botman; Food Science professor Pavinee Chinachoti; professor Richard Farris, head of Polymer Science and Engineering; professor Lila Gierasch, chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Joseph Goldstein, dean of the College of Engineering; professor Robert Hallock of Physics and Astronomy; John Kingston, associate professor of Linguistics; History professor Kathy Peiss; Linda Slakey, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Edward Riseman, director of the Computer Vision Laboratory in Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Ting-Wei Tang; Polymer Science and Engineering graduate student Kathryn Wright; and professor Juan Zamora of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The vice chancellor for Research post has been filled on an interim basis by Frederick Byron since 1994. He was a leading candidate for the permanent appointment until the chancellor canceled the search in May 1998. At the time, Scott said he favored placing the functions of the Research area under a new vice provost, an idea he first proposed in his 1996 Strategic Action plan for the campus. Concerned that research was being devalued and that faculty would lose their influence within the Research executive area, a number of professors opposed the vice provost model. Following a report by an ad hoc committee of administrators, faculty and graduate students, Scott agreed to a compromise plan in which the vice chancellor for Research title would be retained, but would report to the provost, who would also carry the title of senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. By retaining the vice chancellor title, faculty continue to have a role in hiring, a guarantee that would not have been provided had the post been changed to a vice provost.