Executive Vice President for Research
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA - United States
The Georgia Institute of Technology seeks a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Executive Vice President for Research. Applications, inquiries, and nominations are invited.
The Georgia Institute of Technology (“Georgia Tech”, “The Institute” or “Institute”) is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 50,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech’s faculty attracted $1.37 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation’s top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.
An international leader in managing the global transition from an industrial economy to an information economy, Georgia Tech is a leading research performer. As a top R1 research university, Georgia Tech is shaping the future of basic and applied research by pursuing creative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Teams from all seven Georgia Tech colleges, nine interdisciplinary research institutes, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the Enterprise Innovation Institute, and hundreds of research labs and centers, work side by side to transform ideas into tangible results for their partners in federal and state agencies, companies, and private organizations. The Institute contributed $5.3 billion in direct economic impact to the state of Georgia in FY 2023 (the highest of any university in the state), driving innovation and progress at regional, national, and international levels. The Institute recently took occupancy of Coda, a first-of-its-kind, mixed-use facility in the heart of Tech Square, designed to create opportunities in interdisciplinary research, commercialization, and sustainability, and led a public-private partnership to develop Science Square Labs, an advanced commercial facility to support research and innovation in biotechnology and the life sciences.
The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country, and conducting more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI’s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.
As a direct report to President Ángel Cabrera, and in close partnership with the Provost, the EVPR serves as the chief research officer and provides overall leadership for the Institute’s research, economic development, and sponsored activities, including the GTRI, Enterprise Innovation Institute, nine interdisciplinary research institutes (IRIs), and related research administrative support units. The EVPR has seven direct reports and serves as part of the Executive Leadership Team with the President; Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance; and the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff.
The new EVPR will play a vital role in growing research at Georgia Tech that aligns with the Institute’s strategic plan and its recently released four Big Bets. This growth is expected to further distinguish Georgia Tech as a place of world-class excellence with a strong commitment to compliance and research security. Likewise, through entrepreneurship, innovation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, Georgia Tech will significantly amplify its impact on the people of Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and the nation. The next EVPR will further develop and strengthen the infrastructure required to support a $1.37 billion enterprise that continues to grow at a rapid pace. They must also cultivate and grow partnerships with the stakeholders across campus, with the Georgia Research Alliance, the University System of Georgia, and corporate and industry partners, as well as government agencies at the state and national level.
A terminal degree in an appropriate discipline represented within the Institute is required as is an appreciation and experience at the interface between liberal arts and science and technology. Significant experience in research leadership within higher education, government, and/or industry is required as is the ability to obtain a U.S. Security clearance. The next EVPR must be deeply committed to collaboration and interdisciplinary research in support of advancing technology to improve the human condition.
WittKieffer is assisting Georgia Tech in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Monday, November 11, 2024. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile which can be found below.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to: Suzanne Teer, Jessica Herrington, and Cathryn Davis at [email protected].