Senior Associate Vice President for Research

Oklahoma State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Senior Associate Vice President for Research. This position reports to the Vice President for Research Dr. Kenneth Sewell.

Established in 1890 Oklahoma State University (OSU) is a modern land-grant university fostering student success through a blend of tradition and innovation. OSUs goal is to become the preeminent land-grant institution in the country through a bold university strategy. Classified as a Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) university its leaders are advancing the institution further by supporting excellence across the tripartite mission of student instruction ground-breaking research and extending the universitys knowledge and expertise to the communities we serve. OSU has more than 35000 students and employs more than 7000 faculty and staff across its system with students from all 50 states and more than 100 nations.

OSU has five campuses: Stillwater which includes the College of Veterinary Medicine; OSU-Tulsa; OSU-Oklahoma City; OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee; and the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa which includes the OSU Medical Center. OSU also boasts 16 agricultural experiment stations and 77 county extension offices across the state.

The City of Stillwater provides the perfect setting for a comprehensive research university and is important in attracting top faculty members because of the environment the community provides for OSU employees and their families. With a population of more than 48000 Stillwater is the quintessential college town. It is the tenth largest city in Oklahoma and is conveniently located between the two largest cities in the state Oklahoma City and Tulsa. As Stillwaters largest employer OSU is committed to working with business and city leaders to provide economic development opportunities in Stillwater. The city has a diverse economy with a foundation in aerospace agribusiness biotechnology optoelectronics printing and publishing and software and standard manufacturing. Stillwater has been named one of the 6th Fastest Growing Small Towns in America by and one of the top 100 places to live by CNN/Money Magazine.

The Division of Research

OSU researchers improve quality of life by bringing new technologies processes and medicines to the marketplace. Research through innovation is the engine that drives economic development. Research through the social sciences and humanities improves our well-being and understanding of individual differences and points of view. Research in the creative and performing arts enriches our lives and appreciation of the world.

Utilizing world class facilities and 30 research centers and institutes OSUs faculty and staff are engaged in research across the full spectrum of human endeavor and inquiry including areas of state regional and national importance. Our faculty and staff work closely with undergraduate and graduate students during their education providing them with hands-on experience and mentoring that helps to develop their intellectual capabilities creativity and entrepreneurial skills. As such we are creating the next generation of scientists engineers scholars artists and entrepreneurs who will continue this tradition of research FY 2024 OSU was awarded 862 grants and research expenditures exceeded $250 million.

RESEARCH PRIORITIES

Galvanized by the We Are Land-Grant
strategy OSU has articulated four priority areas that translate nicely into the broad research priorities that give OSU its character and its focus both now and for the years that lie ahead.

Nourish the World

This priority encompasses a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to addressing global food security and nutrition challenges. While the core focus lies in production agriculture and nutrition science OSU recognizes the complex nature of these issues and incorporates expertise from diverse fields such as business chemistry biology engineering water management and political science. This holistic strategy aims to develop sustainable food systems improve agricultural practices enhance nutritional outcomes support sustainable ecosystems and optimize food distribution on a global scale. By leveraging its broad range of expert faculty and fostering collaborative research OSU aims to make significant contributions toward feeding the worlds growing population efficiently and sustainably.

Aerospace Innovation and Application

OSU recognizes the need to take a comprehensive approach to propel the future of flight. This priority combines the strengths of traditional aerospace engineering and aviation training with fields such as advanced autonomy materials science human performance and social sciences. This collaboration tackles not only the technical aspects of next-generation aerospace vehicles that include drones and advanced air mobility as well as their associated components such as propulsion systems and avionics but also the human element by focusing on pilot performance and safety and societal acceptance of innovations like urban air taxis and delivery drones. These systems will have a wide range of applications from emergency aid energy and crop surveillance sparking a wide use by nascent industries. By fostering a unique synergy between engineers scientists entrepreneurs and social scientists OSU aims to make air travel safer more efficient and pave the way for a thriving aerospace industry and logistics/supply chain industry with strong social integration.

Enhancing Human and Animal Health

OSU research leaders recognize the fundamental linkage between human and animal health. This priority leverages OSUs expertise in veterinary medicine physiology microbiology pathobiology genomics and toxicology as core disciplines while also incorporating roles from bioengineering computer science social sciences/business entrepreneurship and basic chemistry and biology. OSU aims to advance understanding of human and animal health and performance detect and mitigate the impact of zoonotic diseases employ data science/AI for early diagnosis of diseases develop innovative prevention and treatment strategies and enhance preparedness for future health crises. By fostering collaboration between veterinary and human medical research integrating multidisciplinary domain expertise for novel solutions and promoting entrepreneurial ventures in health technologies OSU seeks to make significant contributions to global health security improve public health outcomes advance human and veterinary medicine and support the viability of critical ecosystems.

Powering a Growing World Population Sustainably and Responsibly

This research priority showcases a comprehensive approach to addressing global energy challenges. This priority leverages a wide range of expertise from electrical and petroleum engineering to geology chemistry economics and energy accounting covering both traditional and cutting-edge energy solutions. The strategy encompasses traditional oil and gas technologies alongside renewable sources like solar wind and hydrogen as well as advancements in energy storage rare earth elements and critical minerals. OSU energy research aims to drive innovation in energy efficiency develop viable extraction methods and create new technologies. OSU seeks to contribute to global energy security and support economic growth through energy R&D.

FUNCTIONAL AREAS

In addition to providing OSU-wide leadership for the research enterprise the Division of Research operates a number of functional offices and processes on behalf of the institution. Below is a thematic listing of those areas along with a few example components.

• Institutional-Level Research Strategy/Policy
• Mid-/Long-Term Initiative Planning
• New Policy Development
• Policy Updates/Revisions

• Faculty-Facing Research Programs
• Liaising with Associate Deans for Research
• Internal Grants
• Startup Packages
• Grantsmanship

• Student-Facing Research Programs
• Management of VPR-Level Programs
• Support of Undergraduate Research

• Research Capacity and Competitiveness
• NSF EPSCoR
• NASA EPSCoR
• Grant Writers

• Central Research Unit Management
• Institution-Level Institutes
• Core Facilities

• Central Sponsored Programs Administration
• Coordinating OSU Decentralized Sponsored Programs Infrastructure
• Contract/Agreement Management

• Public-Facing Outreach and Communications
• Publications
• Outreach Events and Platforms

  
  

• Federal Relations
• Liaising with Delegation/Staff
• Lobbyist Management

• Research-Based Economic Development
• Technology Commercialization
• Technology Acceleration
• Research Park Management

• Research Cyberinfrastructure
• High Performance Computing Center
• Regional Supercomputer

  
  

• Research Integrity
• Research Integrity Officer
• Management of Research Misconduct Allegations/Investigations
• Responsible Conduct of Research

• Research Compliance
• Full Spectrum of Compliance Domains (IRB IACUC Biosafety etc.)

• Research Security
• Federally-Compliant Research Security Program (as per NSPM-33)
• Insider Threat Program

• Security Clearance Management
• Controlled Unclassified Information Management
• Export Controls

The Position

The Senior Associate Vice President for Research (SAVPR) at OSU functions as a number two to the Vice President for Research (VPR). As such the SAVPR serves as the senior member of the VPR leadership team which is composed of two additional Associate Vice Presidents and three Assistant Vice Presidents. The SAVPR has delegated authority in most areas to stand in for the VPR when needed and is often called upon to fill in temporarily when leadership vacancies occur throughout the Research Division. Thus breadth of knowledge/experience across the Divisions functional areas and deep management skills are critical.

The specific operational portfolio of the next SAVPR is not expected to exactly match that of the most recent incumbent. Rather the successful candidate will work with the VPR and the VPR leadership team to identify the portfolio components at the intersection of the SAVPRs interests/skillsets and the functional areas of the Research Division (described above). The result will be a dynamic portfolio that allows the SAVPR to create demonstrable positive impact on the OSU research enterprise while simultaneously broadening the leadership purview. The latter aspect is important both for the SAVPRs professional development and for being able to truly fill in for the VPR when needed.

The Senior Associate Vice President for Research must possess an earned doctoral degree and have academic credentials and previous experience that merit a tenured appointment in an academic unit within the University. Other minimum qualifications include:

• professional and administrative experience in Research in a complex organizational environment;
• demonstrated record of administrative leadership personnel management effective communication and informed decision-making;
• demonstrated record of inspiring and facilitating others to engage in a collaborative environment to innovate create and advance the research mission;
• demonstrated record of working effectively with faculty and administrators to create collegial relationships that promote research; and
• demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with people in a wide variety of interests and disciplines to foster high productivity in research scholarly and creative activities

The successful candidate should be eligible to obtain and possess a Top Secret Security clearance should have a full range of knowledge of functions within the Research Division and preferably already at the rank of full professor at a research university.

Application Process

Although applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by December 14 2025 to receive optimal consideration. Nominations and application materials which should include a letter indicating the applicants interest experience and qualifications for the position and curriculum vitae must be submitted online at additional information please contact our search consultants at Buffkin / Baker:

Mr. Martin M. Baker

Ms. Chelsie Whitelock

Buffkin/Baker

Oklahoma State University as an equal opportunity employer complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non- discrimination. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race religion age sex color national origin marital status disability or veteran status with regard to employment educational programs and activities and/or admissions.

Required Experience:

Exec