Associate Vice President for Research Infrastructure and Capacity Building

Michigan State University (MSU) invites nominations and applications for an entrepreneurial, strategic leader to serve as theAssociate Vice President for Research Infrastructure and Capacity Building (AVPR) within the Office of Research andInnovation. Michigan State is the nation's premier land-grant university and one of the top research universities in the world. Asa member of both the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance, MSU is nationally recognized for itsacademic excellence, impactful research, and global outreach. It is also known for its Spartan grit and resilience. MSU is stronger becauseof its community, which includes more than 51,000 students, 5,600 faculty and staff, and a network of over half a million living alumni whoare extremely loyal supporters and cheerleaders for the university. In 2025, Michigan State had $992M in research expenditures and wasranked #1 nationally in Department of Energy expenditures. Multiple major capital projects are also underway - the Plant and Environmental Sciences Building , the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation , and the Health Sciences Research Center in Detroit - all of which will significantly expand MSU's researchcapabilities. The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) advances MSU's research mission by supporting excellence across the fullspectrum 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 researchresources and core facilities; and implements university policies that guide and strengthen research and creative activity. Thenext AVPR serves as a senior leader and steadfast advocate for MSU's shared research infrastructure. Working in close collaboration with theVice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI), academic colleges, research institutes and centers, core facilities, museums, libraries,external and industry partners 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 strategicleadership for university's portfolio of shared research resources (SRRs), including direct administrative responsibility for the ResearchTechnology Support Facility (RTSF), the MSU Bioeconomy Institute, and the St. Andrews Facility at the Midland site. After anextensive two-year initiative involving over 180 community members, MSU has developed a comprehensive blueprint to transform their shared research resources (SRR) ecosystem .This collaborative effort establishes a clear vision for coordinated, sustainable, and world-class research infrastructure that will drivediscovery and innovation for decades to come. Central to this work will be establishing a long-term, sustainable financial model, inpartnership with the university's CFO and Contract and Grant Administration, for MSU's core facilities, expanding utilization and broadeningthe user base internally across the institution and externally through partnerships with industry and universities across the state. The successful candidate will hold a terminal degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., or equivalent), be a tenured professor or possessequivalent senior academic standing, and a sustained record of federal research funding, with demonstrated experience working within oralongside shared research infrastructure environments. Candidates should bring prior experience in central research administration—such asservice as a core facility director, center or institute leader, associate dean for research, department head/chair, or in a comparableadministrative role—along with a demonstrated ability to oversee shared research facilities, including responsibility for financialsustainability, asset management, personnel management, and strategic planning. The successful candidate will also possess exceptionalrelationship-building and facilitation skills, with a proven capacity to lead through influence in complex, decentralized academicenvironments. All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV orresume and a letter of interest addressing the leadershipprofile . WittKieffer is assisting Michigan State University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materialsshould be received by September 1, 2026 . Application materials, inquiries, and nominations should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal . Nominations and inquiries can also be directed to: Jessica Herrington at jherrington@wittkieffer.com andNatalie Song at nsong@wittkieffer.com . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genderidentity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteranstatus. jeid-8c2b16ead343447ebb31cffe31e78ac0