Working/Functional Title
AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building
Position Summary
The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) advances MSU’s research mission by supporting excellence across the full spectrum of scholarly, creative, and scientific activity. OR&I delivers comprehensive research support services; safeguards the safety, integrity, and ethical conduct of research; fosters technology transfer and strategic external partnerships; supports shared research resources and core facilities; and implements university policies that guide and strengthen research and creative activity.
The AVPR serves as a senior leader and steadfast advocate for MSU’s shared research infrastructure. Working in close collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI), academic colleges, research institutes and centers, core facilities, museums, libraries, and administrative partners, the AVPR helps shape and coordinate strategic investments in people, infrastructure, and shared resources that advance MSU’s research enterprise forward. The AVPR provides executive oversight and strategic leadership for university’s portfolio of shared research resources (SRRs), including direct administrative responsibility for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), the MSU Bioeconomy Institute, and the St. Andrews Facility at the Midland site. Through this role, the AVPR will play a pivotal part in expanding MSU’s impact as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, whose faculty and staff drive leadership, innovation, discovery, and economic opportunity for Michigan, the nation, and the world.
Guided by data-informed decision-making, collaborative leadership, and strategic partnership development, the AVPR will strengthen connections across the university and with external partners to advance a cohesive, forward-looking, and globally competitive shared research infrastructure strategy. The AVPR models inclusive and collaborative leadership while ensuring that researchers, institutional partners, and community stakeholders can readily access and benefit from MSU’s world-class research capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership of Shared Research Infrastructure
- Implement the strategic vision of MSU’s research infrastructure, ensuring strategic alignment with university research priorities, faculty hiring plans, and external funding opportunities.
- Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to prioritize investments in research infrastructure, aligning these investments with strategic faculty recruitment to accelerate progress on institutional priorities and strengthen MSU’s research enterprise.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive performance and impact framework that integrates scientific, operational, financial, outreach and training metrics, supported by robust systems for continuous monitoring and data-informed decision-making.
- Advance and elevate MSU’s standing as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, driving discovery, innovation, and societal impact.
Oversight of OR&I Core Facilities and Coordination of Shared Research Resources
- Provide executive leadership and administrative oversight for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), a multi-core facility delivering cutting-edge capabilities in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, cryo-electron microscopy, flow cytometry, advanced imaging, gene editing, and other transformative research capabilities.
- Ensure the operational excellence, financial sustainability, and long-term strategic vitality of RTSF, with a focus on optimizing cost recovery and recharge models, strengthening workforce capacity, and guiding forward-looking capital investment and infrastructure planning.
- Foster strategic coordination across MSU’s broader ecosystem of shared research resources, including those that reside outside of OR&I, to minimize duplication, maximize efficiency, and ensure alignment with the university’s strategic research priorities.
- Establish and advance policies, governance frameworks, and performance standards that promote broad accessibility, operational efficiency, and world-class scientific excellence across MSU’s shared research infrastructure.
Capacity Building
- Lead transformative initiatives to modernize, expand, and optimize MSU’s shared research instrumentation, equipment, and infrastructure, ensuring the university remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological innovation.
- Partner strategically with faculty, colleges, and research units to secure major external investments in instrumentation and infrastructure, positioning MSU for success in highly competitive programs such as NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI), NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation Grants, and instrumentation initiatives supported by the DOE.
- Identify emerging federal, foundation, and industry funding opportunities and catalyze cross-campus collaborations that enhance MSU’s competitiveness and amplify the impact of its shared research resources.
Oversight of Midland Research Operations
- Provide strategic leadership and coordinated oversight of MSU’s research and education initiatives and partnerships in Midland, ensuring strong alignment with institutional priorities while advancing regional innovation and economic development.
- Cultivate and strengthen collaborative relationships with industry leaders, community partners, and regional stakeholders to expand MSU’s research presence, deepen translational partnerships, and amplify the university’s economic and societal impact.
- Advance faculty engagement, strategic infrastructure planning, and program development to support and grow Midland-based research and education initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and positioning MSU as a catalyst for regional discovery, innovation, and opportunity.
Leadership of Bioeconomy Initiatives
- Provide visionary leadership for MSU’s bioeconomy research strategy, advancing innovation in bioproducts, sustainable agriculture, circular economy systems, and next-generation biobased technologies.
- Catalyze interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, research institutes, and external partners to strengthen MSU’s leadership and global impact in the rapidly evolving bioeconomy.
- Advance the development of research infrastructure, partnerships, and competitive funding opportunities that accelerate growth and discovery in bioeconomy related research, innovation, and translation.
Research Space Management
- Provide strategic oversight of OR&I-managed research spaces, ensuring that facilities are well-maintained, efficiently utilized, and aligned with the evolving needs of MSU's research enterprise.
- Serve as OR&I's representative on building and planning committees for new and renovated interdisciplinary research facilities, including the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, ensuring that shared research infrastructure needs, core facility requirements, and collaborative research environments are thoughtfully integrated into building design and planning processes.
- Partner with Facilities Planning and Space Management, college-level space administrators, and campus planning leadership to anticipate and address space needs related to the growth and strategic development of shared research resources and core facilities.
- Advocate for research-enabling design in new and renovated facilities, with attention to flexible, technology-ready spaces
