The University has secured two senior scientists, Stephen Rich and John Yates, as part of the Board of Visitors' 2004 initiative to improve science and technology research.
Jeff Blank, assistant to the vice president of research in graduate studies, said that Rich and Yates will start their appointments in January 2007.
Rich and Yates were two of over 175 nominations, Blank said. He explained that a search committee narrowed the nomination list to the top 10 nominees, all of whom the University wants to hire over the next five years. Rich and Yates are the second and third scientists to be brought to the University under this initiative.
"We are looking for that caliber of scientist who publishes in prestigious journals regularly and also brings on significant amount of sponsored research," Blank said.
Fariss Samarrai, senior news officer for science, said bringing Rich and Yates to the University will add to both funding and prestige for the science and technology research department.
"The fact that we have pulled three of the top people is great for the University," Samarrai said. "If you can bring multidisciplinary people together, you have a much higher success rate with more likelihood for more funding," Samarrai said.
According to Rich's spokesperson, David Foreman, while at the University, Rich will be furthering his studies in the genetic complications behind various health problems.
Rich said he is both "extraordinarily excited and extraordinarily frightened at the same time" about becoming a part of the University community.
Rich added that he already has several immediate goals.
"We need to start recruiting additional scientists on board and to integrate the already very strong scientific community with the undergraduate, the graduate and the medical school," Rich said. "I also want to utilize genetics to help people understand why they get diseases."
Yates' expertise, on the other hand, is surface chemistry, Samarrai said.
Samarrai said Yates will use his background in surface chemistry to further the University's research in astronomy.
Samarrai also said Yates has a desire to work with undergraduate students at the University.
Yates "plans to work some with the Engineering School, with their nanoscience program," Samarrai said.
Blank said the University's two newest additions to the graduate research program will hopefully just be the beginning of a trend.
"We're hoping this is just the first phase of enhancing research at U.Va. and that this will be a launching pad," Blank said.
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