News Brief: Wednesday, January 19, 2000

Cmte. looking for new research head Physics Professor Ralph Amado, who currently holds the position, will step down later this year after his five-year contract ends, but will remain on the Physics Department faculty. Unlike Amado, who served only part time, the new vice provost will be a full-time administrator, a change announced by Barchi at last month's University Council meeting. The committee -- which will lead a national search to find Amado's successor -- is being headed by Biology Department Chairman Andrew Binns. Binns said he does not know how long the search will take because the committee has not yet been given its formal charge from Barchi. "We're just getting ready to meet for the first time with the provost, who will officially charge us," Binns said last night. "We'll work until we get the right person, or persons, identified." He said the vice provost position will be advertised in The Chronicle of Higher Education and he expected that the committee will work in conjunction with a professional search firm to identify potential candidates for the position. "I think the provost has set the bar admirably high," Binns said, noting that any candidate must have experience with both research and administrative work. The University's externally funded research activities have grown rapidly in recent years, totalling $476 million last year, among the top in the nation. -- Jeffrey Joseph