Vice President for Research

The University of Georgia (UGA), the flagship public, land-grant and sea-grant university of the state of Georgia, seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the next Vice President for Research (VPR), who will set and execute a compelling strategic vision to significantly grow and expand the impact of the University’s research enterprise. UGA is among the nation’s most prominent, active, and versatile public research institutions, with over $628 million in total annual research expenditures in 2024, representing a 77% increase over the last decade. The next VPR will have the rare opportunity to lead in a collaborative and dynamic research environment and contribute toward pioneering discoveries that will improve health, well-being, and prosperity for future generations.

The University of Georgia’s excellence in research is attributed to the scholarly and creative contributions of its talented faculty and staff and the intellectual quality, vitality, and passion of its students across its 19 colleges and schools. Capital investments in recent years have created access to cutting-edge instrumentation, discovery platforms, and research environments that enhance UGA’s funding opportunities and competitiveness in attracting research leaders. Most recently, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia authorized UGA to establish a new, independent School of Medicine, which provides an exciting opportunity for the new Vice President for Research to build on the campus momentum around health research.

The University of Georgia’s research and academic strengths are matched by a long-standing commitment to technology transfer. The University is a national leader in intellectual property creation and licensing revenue, ranking number one among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products introduced to market based on its research in FY23. It has placed in the top two for nine consecutive years, with UGA faculty introducing over 1,200 new products to the marketplace, 69 of those in the last year. Major investments in research have led UGA to international leadership in infectious diseases, vaccine development, glycoscience, plant and food science, prevention of human trafficking, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, and many others.

As the state of Georgia’s flagship public university, UGA serves as a catalyst for economic and scholarly advancement in one of the most demographically and socioeconomically dynamic states in the nation, and its future is inextricably linked with the state’s growth and transformation. The University’s overall economic impact on the state of Georgia was $8.4 billion in 2024. Through its partnership with the Georgia Research Alliance and multiple investment phases in its Innovation District, UGA and its Office of Research are creating a comprehensive ecosystem of places, programs, and people, all working together to foster creativity and entrepreneurship through the commercialization of ideas.

The Vice President for Research reports directly to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet and works closely with leadership across the University and regional, national, and global external partners. The VPR leads a team of approximately 15 direct reports and 167 personnel within the Office of Research who administrate the University’s pre and post award processing services, research integrity and compliance, and manage the growth of the University’s start-up and technology transfer services. The VPR also has responsibility for over 620 personnel across the University’s 46 interdisciplinary research initiatives, centers, institutes, and core research facilities. Additionally, the Office of Research encompasses 19 research centers and institutes whose directors report to the VPR and 10 core research facilities with indirect reporting responsibilities.

The next VPR will have the opportunity to shape the future of UGA’s research effort, including capitalizing on the addition of the School of Medicine to develop innovative, cross-disciplinary research efforts across campus and the state to propel UGA to new heights of productivity and impact. The successful candidate will be a dynamic and visionary leader with experience in strategic planning and implementation. They will bring a distinguished scholarly record and a deep understanding of the research enterprise, intimate knowledge of and experience with federal and other funding mechanisms—including industry and foundation support—and a commitment to the mission of a flagship public, land-grant and sea-grant university to impact the lives and livelihoods of its constituents. The VPR will have experience with and knowledge of technology transfer, licensing, and research policy and compliance. They will understand the importance of convergent, applied, and translational research across disciplinary boundaries, including the humanities, liberal and fine arts, life sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences in the broad span of the University’s work. The VPR will have significant administrative acumen in a complex research environment and be a collaborative and mission-driven leader with a demonstrated commitment to intellectual diversity in scholarly pursuits.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. All inquiries, nominations, and applications (including—as separate documents—a cover letter, resume, and list of references) should be directed in confidence electronically below. Electronic Applications are strongly encouraged.

Kate Barry and Micah Pierce are leading this search with Damla Williams.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.