EUGENE–Richard Linton, the chief research officer and director of sponsored programs for the University of North Carolina System, this summer will become the vice provost for research and graduate studies and dean of the graduate school at the University of Oregon.

John Moseley, provost and academic vice president, made the announcement today (April 13). Linton will begin serving in his new position on Aug. 1.

Linton has held academic positions in North Carolina for 23 years, as a faculty member at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill since 1977, and as a research administrator for the 16-campus UNC system since 1986.

He currently serves as the chief research officer and director of sponsored programs for UNC, including two major research universities, UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. During the past decade, UNC rose to a ranking of third, behind only the Texas and California systems, in federal support for research and development.

"We are very pleased to have attracted someone with the extensive experience of Rich Linton to head our research and graduate programs at UO," says Moseley. "Furthermore, his experience is in both a system, the University of North Carolina, and on a campus, Chapel Hill, for which we have enormous respect. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with him."

As UNC’s chief research officer, Linton has been involved in the development of policies and programs related to academic research and development. For example, he chairs the statewide University Council on Research and has worked extensively with the North Carolina governor’s office in strengthening the ties between research and economic development, and in developing international research programs.

Linton is also responsible for administrative oversight of the 174 research or public service centers and institutes authorized by the UNC Board of Governors. In 1999, Linton received the President’s Award from the Society of Research Administrators for his support of sponsored programs administration within North Carolina.

"I am delighted and honored to be appointed to the University of Oregon in a position of leadership for research and graduate programs," says Linton. "The university offers a wealth of challenges and opportunities to enhance graduate studies, to nurture interdisciplinary programs, and to mesh the university’s fine tradition in research with the rapidly changing needs of society, especially to the benefit of the citizens of Oregon. I look forward to working with students, faculty and staff in enriching the research enterprise and its integration with graduate education."

Linton, 48, received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1977. Although he became an academic administrator only three years after receiving tenure in 1983, he has remained active in the mentoring of chemistry doctoral students and in the publication and communication of research findings. He has supervised 35 doctoral students in analytical chemistry and has authored approximately 180 articles in a breadth of applications in the biological, environmental and materials sciences.

In addition, Linton has taken many leadership positions involving national and international scientific conferences and societies, has served as the founding editor of a scientific journal on microanalytical techniques, and currently is president-elect of the Microbeam Analysis Society. Linton was promoted to professor of chemistry in 1989 and also was named professor of applied and materials sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1996.

The announcement of Linton’s selection concludes a national search that attracted more than 120 applicants.

As vice provost for research, Linton will administer the UO research budget which is approximately $54 million per year. He will oversee 22 interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the Office of Research Services and Administration, the Office of Human Subjects Compliance, the Office of Veterinary Services and Animal Care, and the Office of Technology Transfer.

As dean of the graduate school, Linton will administer more than 60 graduate degree programs involving 3,400 students in seven UO schools or colleges. He also will serve as the UO representative to the Council of Graduate Schools and the Western Association of Graduate Schools.

Linton succeeds Tom Dyke, a UO chemistry professor who has served as interim vice provost for research, and Marian Friestad, an associate professor of marketing who has served as interim dean of the Graduate School.

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