Chris Liu.Chris Liu, a proven, innovative research leader, has been named associate vice president for research development at Indiana University, a new position overseeing research development across all IU campuses.

Liu, who assumes the role Nov. 6, will lead IU’s research development team and provide general proposal support and facilitation of large multidisciplinary research and creative projects, strategic nominations and limited submissions, faculty research and leadership development, internal seed funding programs and federal agency research relations. He will develop and manage relationships, services and programs that catalyze the research goals of IU and its faculty.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the IU Research team, where he will play a critical role in building an ecosystem of research development across IU, supporting faculty researchers every step of the way,” IU Vice President for Research Russell J. Mumper said. “Under his leadership, we will foster and develop new ways to support IU researchers in pursuit of discovery and innovation leading to societal and economic impact in Indiana and beyond.”

Liu is currently the vice chancellor for research and economic development, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and professor in the School of Science and Engineering at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. As vice chancellor, he created the Office of Research Development in order to grow the university’s sponsored programs, overseeing an extraordinary 300% growth in sponsored awards from fiscal years 2018 to 2023.

“It is an honor to join Indiana University Research, especially at such an important time for the university as it advances the goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan,” Liu said. “I am excited to work with colleagues in research development and across the university to best support faculty researchers and grow IU’s transformative research and creative activity across campuses.”

Liu also served as program director at the National Science Foundation, where he managed a core earth science program in the Directorate for Geosciences and co-managed two cross-disciplinary programs in the Directorate for Biological Sciences with a total annual budget of $30 million. In addition, he has held other faculty and research leadership positions at California State University at Fullerton, Prairie View A&M University, East Tennessee State University and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Liu received a Ph.D. in paleobiology and a master’s degree in paleoclimatology from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in botany from Sichuan University. During his academic career, Liu received many awards and honors, including the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship and a NSF Career Award.