Search launched for Purdue executive VP for Research

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue President Mitch Daniels announced Wednesday (March 20) the launch of a national search for the university’s next executive vice president for research and partnerships and senior research officer. The search will be led by Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity.

“Among the most critical roles at an AAU and land-grant institution such as ours is the leader of our $660 million research enterprise,” Daniels said. “We’ve seen overwhelming success over the past few years, and we expect our next research executive to continue to increase the scale and impact of Purdue discoveries in growing partnerships and solving the world’s grand challenges.”

This position is unique at Purdue in comparison to peer institutions in that it brings together research and partnerships under a single leader. In addition to being an extraordinary researcher themselves, the executive vice president for research and partnerships must be able to facilitate and lead relationships that drive both federally and foundation-funded research and as well as with the private sector.

The executive vice president for research and partnerships provides oversight for Purdue’s entire research enterprise, including the interdisciplinary large-scale research hub Discovery Park, as well as the Office of International Programs. The new executive vice president will be charged with developing new opportunities for sponsored research growth through innovative programs and partnerships, including new and expanded partnerships with major corporations and the world’s most prominent foundations and government agencies. Major responsibilities will include enabling the success of faculty-driven research by supporting cross-college research collaborations, working with the Office of the Provost, colleges, schools and faculty to recruit and retain outstanding faculty to expand scholarship, research excellence and national and international recognition. The position description can be found here.

Research awards at Purdue reached a record $454 million in 2018, up from $319 in 2013. In just the past year, the National Science Foundation named Purdue as the location for the national Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources, and the Semiconductor Research Corp. named Purdue as the site for its national Center for Brain-inspired Computing Enabling Autonomous Intelligence. In addition, Purdue has secured major partnerships with corporations such as Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and Eli Lilly and Co., among others.

The new EVPRP will succeed Suresh Garimella, who will leave Purdue at the end of the spring semester to become president at the University of Vermont.

Members of the search committee are:

Carrie Berger, associate dean for research, Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Luciano Castillo, Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Power Systems in Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering.

Graham Cooks, Henry B. Haas Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science.

Paul Griffin, director of the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Discovery Park.

Tom Hertel, Distinguished Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture.

Debbie Knapp, Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Mark Lundstrom, Don and Carol Scifres Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering.

Rick Mattes, Distinguished Professor, Department of Nutrition Science, College of Health and Human Sciences.

Melissa Remis, head, Department of Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts.

Chair: Provost Jay Akridge.

Names of outstanding candidates can be submitted to purdue-evprp@kornferry.com. 

Media Contact: Tim Doty, 765-494-2080, doty2@purdue.edu