Dear colleagues,
As Greg Copenhaver, Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science, prepares to transition full time into the role of Director of UNC’s Institute for Convergent Science at the end of this academic year, the College of Arts and Sciences seeks nominations and applications for his successor as Associate Dean for Research and Innovation.
The College is the third-largest research enterprise at Carolina, bringing in nearly $135 million in research funding in FY22. Our research spans the breadth of the natural sciences, the social sciences and fine arts and humanities disciplines.
I am grateful for all that Greg has accomplished since assuming this role in July 2021. His contributions include helping the College to partner with the North Carolina Collaboratory to address pressing environmental and public health issues, working with the Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences to help secure a $12 million Title VI grant, and ensuring that our nation-leading research programs such as the Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE) have the physical infrastructure they need for their groundbreaking work. The College remains a strong institutional partner in the Institute for Convergent Science, and I know many of you will continue to work with Greg at ICS.
Below is the formal call for nominations and position description.
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Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
The College of Arts and Sciences seeks a tenured, full professor to fill the position of Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the College. This position is for four years and reports directly to the Dean of the College. Duties include:
- Oversight and facilitation of large, multiple PI research proposals (e.g., center proposals, STC proposals)
- Oversight and cultivation of research infrastructure throughout the College (e.g., identifying areas of strengths and weaknesses; building collaborations)
- Develop and implement strategies for optimizing the efficient use of shared equipment and resources, including recharge centers, research cores and animal care facilities
- Expansion of the grant preparation and support activities with the goal of expanding the number, size and types of grants and contracts funded.
This position will also ensure that funding opportunities are identified and distributed in a targeted approach; the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation will help cultivate strategic relationships with foundations and grants organizations and otherwise help the College think strategically about future funding opportunities and grants teams. The Associate Dean works closely with the Senior Associate Deans in the College and with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research to support our faculty and research mission as an R1 university. This position serves all the College, including the natural sciences, social sciences and arts and humanities, and the successful candidate will have a keen desire to see all parts of the College grow in their scholarly output and stature.
While the specific goals of this position will be developed in consultation with the chosen candidate, at minimum, the College aims to measure success with metrics such as: increases in the number and size of grants including large, multiple P.I. projects, more sustainable and equitable support for existing and future grants across the entire College, more efficient and strategic use and maintenance of equipment and space.
The Associate Dean for Research and Innovation will be responsible for developing and implementing research and innovation strategies for the College and supporting leadership and faculty to enhance the College’s research and scholarship portfolio. The Associate Dean will provide advice to the interdisciplinary research and scholarship enterprises within the College, working with the Senior Associate Deans, the faculty director of the Institute for Convergent Science, UNC Research, the Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovate Carolina and other units throughout the University.
Qualifications
Candidates should currently hold a tenured faculty rank and have a distinguished record of funded research. Preference will be given to candidates at the rank of full professor; associate professors are eligible for consideration. Administrative and/or leadership experience is required.
Demonstrated commitment to research and innovation; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with decision-makers at multiple levels of the institution; demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills; demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills; and demonstrated ability to work with the diverse faculty across the three divisions of the College.
Application/Nomination Instructions
We welcome direct applications and nominations. Applicants should submit a letter to Anne.Belote@unc.edu, addressed to the search committee, explaining how their professional experience is relevant to this position, describing past involvement or leadership with programs or activities related to research and innovation.
The search committee also welcomes nominations of prospective candidates, who will then be contacted and invited to apply. Please send all nominations to Anne.Belote@unc.edu.
Review of applications will begin on Monday, March 6, 2023. The search committee will interview finalists later in the spring semester.
Members of the search committee are being finalized. Please direct all inquiries to Anne Belote at Anne.Belote@unc.edu.
Sincerely,
Jim
James W.C. White
Craver Family Dean
College of Arts and Sciences