Search narrows for UW-Madison research leader

Four finalists have been named for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s top research and graduate education post.

Selected by a 17-member committee chaired by UW–Madison animal science Professor Mark Cook, finalists for the position of vice chancellor for research and graduate education are:

Arthur Kramer, director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology and professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Thomas Kuech, professor and chair of the UW–Madison Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and co-director of the Wisconsin Materials Institute.

Paul Ludden, a former UW–Madison professor of biochemistry and current professor of biological sciences and provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University.

Marsha Mailick, UW–Madison interim vice chancellor for research and graduate education, former Waisman Center director, and professor of social work.

CVs for the finalists are available on the VCRGE search website, and an online feedback form for finalists is also available.

Finalists will be interviewed by the chancellor and other senior campus leaders. Each of the candidates will also make a public presentation, outlining his or her vision for the post.

The schedule of presentations, all of which will be held in the H.F. DeLuca Forum at the Discovery Building (Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery), begins Monday, March 16, with Arthur Kramer from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. On Tuesday, March 17, Paul Ludden will present from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. Marsha Mailick will speak Wednesday, March 18, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., and Thomas Kuech will present Friday, March 20, from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

With supervisory permission, employees can attend in pay status if the presentation falls during normal work hours.

The vice chancellor for research and graduate education position was created last May after approval by the Faculty Senate. The vice chancellor is the university’s chief research officer, with overarching responsibility for a diverse and complex research operation with annual expenditures exceeding $1 billion. The candidate selected will oversee 17 cross-campus research and service centers and maintain oversight of the Graduate School, which is responsible for the graduate education of some 9,400 students in 150 master’s and 120 doctoral fields.

According to Cook, the selection process is expected to be completed sometime in April.

“The level of interest in this position was outstanding and the talent, deep. UW–Madison’s reputation for excellence and the search and screen committee’s hard work made for a strong pool of applicants,” notes Cook. “We expect campus to be heavily engaged in the final selection process, by attending the candidate presentations, and submitting feedback to the university search site.”