Notre Dame appoints VP for research
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The University of Notre Dame has appointed mechanical engineering researcher Jeffrey Rhoads to the position of vice president for research. President John Jenkins, who made the announcement Tuesday, said Rhoads’ appointment was based on the recommendation of Provost John McGreevy, as well as an eight-person search committee.
He succeeds Robert Bernhard, who will step down from the role after 16 years. Rhoads will begin his new role on July 1.
“The research of our faculty has been a point of emphasis and an area of remarkable growth at Notre Dame, and we are delighted to welcome Jeff Rhoads to help lead us in the next stage,” Jenkins said. “Jeff is an accomplished researcher and administrator, and well-suited to continue the exciting trajectory of Notre Dame research.”
Rhoads currently serves as executive director of the Purdue Institute for National Security and as a professor in Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he previously served as the director of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, associate director of the Purdue Energetics Research Center and director of practice for the Mechanical Engineering Education Research Center at Purdue.
Rhoads is also co-founder and chief operating officer of startup companies Next Offset Solutions Inc. and Level 6 Engineering LLC, companies that provide engineering and technical solutions for industry and the defense, energy and national security sectors.
As vice president for research, Notre Dame says Rhoads will oversee the university’s research infrastructure, which consists of more than 30 facilities as well as support programs.
“Jeff is both a visionary and a problem-solver who strongly believes in the power of research to unlock new knowledge and develop compelling solutions to real-world challenges,” McGreevy said. “He has successfully led research programs in academia and the public sector, developing crucial partnerships along the way, and he is perfectly suited to guide this next phase of the University’s research enterprise.”
Rhoads will also take on the position of professor in the university’s department of aerospace and mechanical engineering.