AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building

Working/Functional Title

AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building

Position Summary

The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) advances MSU’s research mission by supporting excellence across the full spectrum 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 research resources and core facilities; and implements university policies that guide and strengthen research and creative activity.

The AVPR serves as a senior leader and steadfast advocate for MSU’s shared research infrastructure. Working in close collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI), academic colleges, research institutes and centers, core facilities, museums, libraries, 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 strategic leadership for university’s portfolio of shared research resources (SRRs), including direct administrative responsibility for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), the MSU Bioeconomy Institute, and the St. Andrews Facility at the Midland site. Through this role, the AVPR will play a pivotal part in expanding MSU’s impact as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, whose faculty and staff drive leadership, innovation, discovery, and economic opportunity for Michigan, the nation, and the world.

Guided by data-informed decision-making, collaborative leadership, and strategic partnership development, the AVPR will strengthen connections across the university and with external partners to advance a cohesive, forward-looking, and globally competitive shared research infrastructure strategy. The AVPR models inclusive and collaborative leadership while ensuring that researchers, institutional partners, and community stakeholders can readily access and benefit from MSU’s world-class research capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership of Shared Research Infrastructure

• Implement the strategic vision of MSU’s research infrastructure, ensuring strategic alignment with university research priorities, faculty hiring plans, and external funding opportunities.
• Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to prioritize investments in research infrastructure, aligning these investments with strategic faculty recruitment to accelerate progress on institutional priorities and strengthen MSU’s research enterprise.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive performance and impact framework that integrates scientific, operational, financial, outreach and training metrics, supported by robust systems for continuous monitoring and data-informed decision-making.
• Advance and elevate MSU’s standing as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, driving discovery, innovation, and societal impact.

Oversight of OR&I Core Facilities and Coordination of Shared Research Resources

• Provide executive leadership and administrative oversight for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), a multi-core facility delivering cutting-edge capabilities in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, cryo-electron microscopy, flow cytometry, advanced imaging, gene editing, and other transformative research capabilities.
• Ensure the operational excellence, financial sustainability, and long-term strategic vitality of RTSF, with a focus on optimizing cost recovery and recharge models, strengthening workforce capacity, and guiding forward-looking capital investment and infrastructure planning.
• Foster strategic coordination across MSU’s broader ecosystem of shared research resources, including those that reside outside of OR&I, to minimize duplication, maximize efficiency, and ensure alignment with the university’s strategic research priorities.
• Establish and advance policies, governance frameworks, and performance standards that promote broad accessibility, operational efficiency, and world-class scientific excellence across MSU’s shared research infrastructure.

Capacity Building

• Lead transformative initiatives to modernize, expand, and optimize MSU’s shared research instrumentation, equipment, and infrastructure, ensuring the university remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological innovation.
• Partner strategically with faculty, colleges, and research units to secure major external investments in instrumentation and infrastructure, positioning MSU for success in highly competitive programs such as NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI), NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation Grants, and instrumentation initiatives supported by the DOE.
• Identify emerging federal, foundation, and industry funding opportunities and catalyze cross-campus collaborations that enhance MSU’s competitiveness and amplify the impact of its shared research resources.

Oversight of Midland Research Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and coordinated oversight of MSU’s research and education initiatives and partnerships in Midland, ensuring strong alignment with institutional priorities while advancing regional innovation and economic development.
• Cultivate and strengthen collaborative relationships with industry leaders, community partners, and regional stakeholders to expand MSU’s research presence, deepen translational partnerships, and amplify the university’s economic and societal impact.
• Advance faculty engagement, strategic infrastructure planning, and program development to support and grow Midland-based research and education initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and positioning MSU as a catalyst for regional discovery, innovation, and opportunity.

Leadership of Bioeconomy Initiatives

• Provide visionary leadership for MSU’s bioeconomy research strategy, advancing innovation in bioproducts, sustainable agriculture, circular economy systems, and next-generation biobased technologies.
• Catalyze interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, research institutes, and external partners to strengthen MSU’s leadership and global impact in the rapidly evolving bioeconomy.
• Advance the development of research infrastructure, partnerships, and competitive funding opportunities that accelerate growth and discovery in bioeconomy related research, innovation, and translation.

Research Space Management

• Provide strategic oversight of OR&I-managed research spaces, ensuring that facilities are well-maintained, efficiently utilized, and aligned with the evolving needs of MSU's research enterprise.
• Serve as OR&I's representative on building and planning committees for new and renovated interdisciplinary research facilities, including the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, ensuring that shared research infrastructure needs, core facility requirements, and collaborative research environments are thoughtfully integrated into building design and planning processes.
• Partner with Facilities Planning and Space Management, college-level space administrators, and campus planning leadership to anticipate and address space needs related to the growth and strategic development of shared research resources and core facilities.
• Advocate for research-enabling design in new and renovated facilities, with attention to flexible, technology-ready spaces that support interdisciplinary collaboration, core facility operations, and the long-term vitality of MSU's research infrastructure.

Organizational Leadership & Collaboration

• Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with deans, institute directors, department chairs, and administrative leaders to advance a shared vision for research growth, innovation, and institutional excellence.
• Champion leadership development across MSU’s shared research resource ecosystem by fostering mentoring, professional development, and thoughtful succession planning that strengthens organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

Visibility, Accessibility & Engagement

• Advance the visibility, accessibility, and impact of MSU’s SRRs by leading the development of a user-centered online portal or research services marketplace that enables intuitive discovery of expertise, instrumentation, and services, while providing transparent information on access, availability, and cost structures.
• Strengthen coordination across MSU's life sciences and biomedical research cores spanning all campuses, fostering consistent branding, enhanced internal and external visibility, and greater operational efficiencies while preserving the distinctive strengths and identities of individual facilities.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that expand faculty engagement with existing SRRs, leveraging internal grant programs, incentive structures, and targeted outreach to colleges and departments to maximize utilization and research impact.
• Establish proactive planning practices that align SRR capabilities with faculty recruitment priorities, ensuring that newly hired faculty have immediate access to the advanced infrastructure and shared resources necessary to launch and sustain cutting-edge research programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., or equivalent terminal degree.
• Tenured full professor or equivalent senior academic or professional standing.
• Sustained record of federal research funding, with demonstrated experience working within or alongside shared research infrastructure environments.
• Prior service in central research administration, including experience in roles such as core facility director, center or institute leadership, associate dean for research, or equivalent administrative positions.
• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing shared research facilities, including financial sustainability, personnel management, and strategic planning.
• Exceptional relationship-development and facilitation skills, with a proven ability to lead through influence across complex, decentralized academic environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading or implementing a university-wide or multi-unit coordination initiative, including stakeholder engagement, governance design, and change management.
• Demonstrated inclusive and innovative leadership.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills.
• Proficiency in strategic planning, mentoring, and program development.
• Demonstrated agility and flexibility in leading organizational change.
• Commitment to advancing equity, inclusiveness, and cultural richness in the research environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience overseeing or evaluating shared research facility business models, including cost recovery structures and capital planning, with demonstrated ability to hold directors accountable for financial sustainability.
• Experience developing or leading career pathway or workforce development initiatives for research support personnel.
• Experience with federal instrumentation and infrastructure grants, such as NIH S10, NSF MRI, NSF Mid-scale, or equivalent programs.
• Experience bridging academic research infrastructure with industry, contract research, or commercialization partnerships.
• Experience with federal instrumentation grants, such as NIH S10, NSF MRI, or equivalent programs.
• Experience bridging academic research infrastructure with industry, contract research, or commercialization partnerships.
• Demonstrated success in building professional communities and advancing workforce development for research personnel across the university.

Required Application Materials

All applicants are expected to provide the following with their application:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

Special Instructions

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Review of Applications Begins On

05/15/2026

Website

https://research.msu.edu/