Associate Provost and Vice President for Research
Auburn University
Auburn University invites nominations and applications for the position of Associate Provost and
Vice President for Research.
Auburn is a comprehensive land-grant institution and is ranked 39th among public universities in
the country by US News & World Report. The University was ranked a “Best Value” by the
Princeton Review. It is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence,
positive work environment, exciting student life, and the beauty of its campus. Auburn
University, situated on 1,843 acres, is a campus of more than 24,000 students and 1,200 full-time
faculty members located on the rapidly developing I-85 corridor between Atlanta, GA and
Montgomery, AL. With nearly $100 million in extramural support in 2006, the University
research program has grown significantly during the past decade and is expected to accelerate
this positive trajectory.
Additional highlights of Auburn include the following:
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The National Security Agency has designated AU as a Center of Academic Excellence for
outstanding programs in information security and assurance.
AU is the only university in the country to offer an undergraduate degree in wireless
engineering, and the first in the Southeast to offer degrees in software engineering.
AU is known for its “rocket science.” Six NASA astronauts graduated from AU, and
three past directors of the Kennedy Space Center are AU alumni.
AU’s Ralph Brown Draughon Library is the largest library in the state, with 2.8 million
volumes. The library subscribes to 29,000 journals, 246 electronic databases, provides
library instruction and tours to students, prospective students and parents, and serves as
an instructional resource for faculty.
AU offers hundreds of scholarships, including $3 million in Spirit of Auburn scholarships
established in 2006 for top Alabama students. In all, AU provides $15.5 million in
scholarships.
AU’s international presence is growing: 536 students studied abroad in 2004-2005, and
more than 800 students from around the world attend AU. Auburn has 388 international
faculty and scholars and 634 student employees representing more than 40 nations.
AU produces more chief executive officers for the nation’s best small companies than any
other college or university in the South (Forbes magazine).
AU was named the “most wired” university in Alabama in 2006 by Yahoo, and is among
the top three in the SEC for computing resources, networks, and technology
infrastructure.
Recently, AU’s economic impact on the state of Alabama was estimated at nearly $4 billion,
including a $1.5 billion impact on the economy and a $2.4 billion impact in human capital.
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Vice President for Research
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Construction is underway for a new 156-acre research park, which at full development should
provide more than 12,000 new jobs stemming from those created within the park and spin-off
employment within businesses supporting park tenant companies.
The University is the oldest four-year, co-educational school in the state and the second-oldest in
the Southeast. It’s land-grant mission has long been dedicated to instruction, research, and
outreach. The University is comprised of the following colleges and schools:
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College of Agriculture
College of Architecture, Design and Construction
College of Business
College of Education
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Graduate School
College of Human Science
College of Liberals Arts
School of Nursing
James I. Harrison School of Pharmacy
College of Sciences and Mathematics
The Associate Provost and Vice President for Research reports to the Provost and also serves as a
member of the President’s Cabinet. This person is the chief academic research officer for the
University and has responsibility for expanding and strengthening partnerships with internal and
external constituencies to advance the research mission. The major areas reporting to the
Associate Provost and Vice President for Research are Sponsored Programs, Technology
Transfer, and Research Compliance.
The Associate Provost and Vice President for Research is in charge of the continued
development of the research mission of Auburn University. Primary responsibilities include:
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managing, promoting, and developing the research mission of the University, including
coordinating the research activities of the Schools and Colleges, Alabama Agricultural
Experiment Station, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and all University research
centers, institutes, and units;
leading the continued development of the recently initiated Auburn University Research
Park; and
coordinating research initiatives involving other State, Federal, and private stakeholders.
Qualifications for the position include significant experience in providing strategic and
operational leadership to a comprehensive research enterprise. The successful candidate must
have an earned doctorate or equivalent and a distinguished record of scholarship which would
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Vice President for Research
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support an appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure. Auburn University is seeking an
experienced administrator, outstanding communicator, scholar and innovator, and a seasoned
research leader who has worked with a variety of funding agencies. Knowledge and appreciation
of how all disciplines in a university promote its research agenda are highly preferred. Landgrant experience would be viewed positively. The successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen
and must be willing and able to obtain a personnel security clearance.
Electronic submission of all nominations and applications is encouraged. Letters of reference
will be requested for viable candidates following the initial screening process. The application
deadline is January 10, 2008 or until the position is filled. Women and minorities are encouraged
to apply. All correspondence relating to the position should be directed to the University’s
executive recruitment consultant:
Jerry H. Baker, President
Baker and Associates LLC
10 Glenlake Parkway
South Tower - Suite 140
Atlanta, GA 30328
770.395.2761
jbaker@baasearch.com
Auburn University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer