The University of Iowa held a public forum to welcome two new candidates to the open position of vice president for research.
UI ranks nationally as a top research institution. Every day, life-changing research takes place between the walls of our campus. The search for a new vice president of research has now been narrowed down to two names.
In 2024, approximately $684 million in external funding was announced for university-wide research projects. From groundbreaking cancer research at UI Healthcare to research on religion and society in the College of Arts and Sciences, Hawkeyes are always involved in research.
Former vice president for research Marty Scholz resigned in February after five years. Mr. Scholz achieved many accomplishments as vice president. Spearheading the post-COVID-19 campaign to bring research back to campus, increasing funding and diversifying sources of external research support are just some of his accomplishments.
“I am proud of all we have accomplished to support and expand the research enterprise at the University of Iowa, which enables researchers and scholars across our institution to make new discoveries.” They will have access to the resources and infrastructure they need to break ground,” Scholz said. A news release announcing his resignation.
Scholz left the UI to take a job at Brown University.
In September, Lois Geist, vice provost and professor of internal medicine at the Carver School of Medicine, was named interim vice president for research while a search committee sought candidates.
“I have had the opportunity to work with colleagues across campus who are doing important research, scholarship, and creative work, and I look forward to building on this excellence,” Geist said in a press release. ” he said.
The search committee will be co-chaired by Dennis Jamison, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver School of Medicine, and Jamie Jorgensen, vice president for legal affairs and general counsel.
“They understand the importance of advancing the research enterprise at Iowa State and value the unique skills needed to provide campus-wide leadership in this area,” said the UI Chancellor. Barbara Wilson said in a March news release. It was announced.
Last week, two candidates were brought to campus to participate in an on-campus public debate.
Related: UI searches for new vice president of research
The first candidate is Belinda McSwain Sturm, director of the Competitive Research Advancing Program at the Kansas National Science Foundation and Ross McKinney Faculty Fellow in Environmental Engineering at the University of Kansas.
Sturm held a public forum on October 10th at the Medical Education and Research Institute. She visited campus on October 10th and 11th.
Sturm has been interim vice president for research at the University of Kansas for the past year. She has a Ph.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and geological sciences from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor of science degree in environmental science and engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
David Schwebel is the second name mentioned for the coveted position. Mr. Schwebel is vice provost for research facilities and infrastructure and professor of psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Schwebel held a public forum on Oct. 16 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and also participated in campus visits on Oct. 16 and 17.
He held multiple leadership positions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in psychology, and a Ph.D. from Yale University. From the UI.
The university plans to announce the final decision for this position in the coming weeks.
