Syracuse University names Liu VP for research

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University has appointed Zhanjiang (John) Liu to serve as the school’s vice president for research.

Liu’s appointment, which the school’s board of trustees “unanimously” approved, is effective on Sept. 1, Syracuse said in a news release.

Liu comes to Syracuse from Auburn University, where he has served as associate provost and associate VP for research since 2013. He’s also been a member of the faculty in Auburn’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences since 1995.

“John is an outstanding choice to lead the research enterprise here at Syracuse University,” Michele Wheatly, vice chancellor and provost at Syracuse University, said in the release. “He has excelled both as a scholar himself and as a leader among, and advocate for, his scholarly peers. He has a deep understanding of the value of research in a university setting as well as the increasingly competitive nature of funding opportunities for such scholarship.”

Liu’s role

As VP for research, Liu will report directly to Wheatly and will oversee the office of research and its component units, including the office of sponsored programs; the office of research integrity and protections; and the office of technology transfer.

Liu will serve as a “vital” member of Syracuse University’s leadership team, working to “promote and elevate” research activity and partnerships across departments, disciplines, schools, and colleges.

He will partner with university leaders and faculty to “create and implement an expansive new vision” for research activity at Syracuse that “enhances its standing as an innovation leader and generates new opportunities for student engagement in scholarship,” the university said.

He also will work to “promote translational research and discoveries as well as inventions development and their path to implementation.”

A native of China, Liu also served as international/China programs coordinator for Auburn’s College of Agriculture between 2004 and 2007.

In that role, he helped facilitate international collaborative relationships and cooperative agreements and coordinate various academic exchange programs and outreach activities.

 

Assuming the role

Liu assumes the role that Gina Lee-Glauser vacated with her retirement in late 2015.

Peter Vanable, associate provost for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School, has served as VP for research in an interim capacity since Lee-Glauser’s retirement.

 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com