Jack Hu, the J. Reid and Polly Anderson Professor of Manufacturing Technology, has been appointed as vice president for research, following this afternoon’s approval by the Board of Regents. Professor Hu has been serving as interim vice president for research since January 2014.
The appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2018. Vice President Hu will oversee the Office of Research and have overall responsibility for nurturing excellence and integrity of research across the university, including the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and our health system. Annual research expenditures at the University of Michigan total $1.3 billion.
He launched several important interdisciplinary initiatives, including the opening of the M-City test environment at U-M’s Mobility Transformation Center and a new campuswide initiative in data science. He has provided steady and able leadership in promoting safety in research and in navigating an increasingly complex regulatory framework for research.
Vice President Hu has been a member of the U-M community since 1985. He is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Industrial and Operations Engineering. His leadership experience includes service in two associate dean positions in our College of Engineering, directing the Program in Manufacturing and as executive director of Michigan Interdisciplinary and Professional Engineering.
He earned his B.S. degree from Tianjin University in China and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.