Candidates for the position of vice president for research, scholarship and innovation will visit campus and speak in town hall meetings open to the University community beginning Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Reporting directly to the University president, the vice president for research, scholarship and innovation is responsible for supporting and advancing UD’s research enterprise, which currently exceeds $237 million annually in externally funded projects. The vice president works closely with the provost to promote academic and research excellence. The vice president also plays a major role in shaping the future of the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus and works to enhance faculty innovation and entrepreneurship.

All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend the town halls. Livestream will be available at this link for those who cannot attend. The presentation also will be recorded.

Town halls will be held from 10:30 a.m. – noon on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the Trabant University Center Theater;
• Friday, Dec. 8, in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Room;
• Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Room; and
• Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose Room. 

At these forums, the candidates will present their vision for the position, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Biographical information about each candidate will be available to members of the UD community 48 hours in advance of each presentation on the Candidates tab of the search website.

Individuals who attend the candidate town halls or who have been involved in the interview process are asked to complete evaluation surveys, which are linked on the Candidates tab of the search website. Deadline for submission of these surveys is noon, Monday, Dec. 18.

The search committee, composed of faculty, staff and students from across UD, has been working with the search firm Education Executives, LLC, to identify excellent candidates.

Co-chairing the search advisory committee are Debra Hess Norris, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Unidel Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Art Conservation, and Yushan Yan, Henry Belin du Pont Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.