Scott Michaels, chair of the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as Indiana University’s new assistant vice president for centrally administered centers and core facilities in IU Research, effective Jan. 2.

Scott Michaels.

In the new leadership role, Michaels will oversee centrally administered research centers and institutes, core services and facilities, and state-serving entities. In accordance with the IU 2030 strategic plan, he will help accelerate the scale and scope of research at the university by contributing to the development of new programs and initiatives, supporting collaborations between and growing the research portfolios of centrally administered centers and institutes.

“As the leader of one of the largest departments at IU Bloomington, Scott has championed research, ensuring faculty and students have the physical infrastructure and administrative support necessary to conduct transformative work,” said Russell Mumper, vice president for research. “We’re thrilled he has agreed to build on that leadership experience, supporting centers, institutes and core facilities in achieving continued research growth and success.”

As assistant vice president for centers and core facilities, Michaels will work to enhance the university’s overall research environment by ensuring that centrally administered core services and facilities not only meet the needs of faculty but support growth of strategic research areas and initiatives.

“Scott is a tremendous leader who has many years of experience conducting laboratory research at IU,” said Brea Perry, associate vice president for research and vice provost for research on the Bloomington campus. “His insights will help us cultivate new opportunities for research collaboration and infrastructure to achieve the goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan.”

In addition to maintaining a lab where he studies gene regulation, research has been central to the many leadership positions Michaels has held over his 20 years of service to IU. He served as founder and director of the Protein-Interaction Facility, director of the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, and associate chair for research in the Department of Biology before assuming the role of department chair.

“I look forward to helping research continue to flourish at IU, collaborating with center and institute leaders to build pathways for expanded partnerships and external funding,” Michaels said. “IU centers and institutes play a critical role in IU’s thriving research community and are at the forefront of uncovering solutions to the most pressing problems of our state, nation and world. I’m excited to get started.”

Michaels received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.