A national search for the new head of the Northern Illinois University Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships has found a resolution on campus.
Dr. Gerald Blazey, a physicist who came to NIU in 1996 and has served as interim vice president of the division for the past two years, is the choice to take the chair officially on May 16, pending approval of the NIU Board of Trustees.
“We had excellent candidates,” said NIU President Doug Baker in announcing the selection, “but Dr. Blazey’s scholarly research, career accomplishments, experience working in our nation’s capital and understanding of the federal funding process well prepare him for this role.”
The division which Blazey heads promotes professional development, facilitating grant and contract submissions; and seeking collaborations with a range of partners for a variety of challenges.
“My strategic vision for increasing the quantity and quality of NIU scholarship and innovation incorporates three general tactics: direct investment in individuals and research groups, partnerships with regional institutions, and reduction of policy impediments,” Blazey said.
Blazey holds a Ph.D. in experimental high-energy physics. He joined the NIU faculty after working at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Batavia.