Robert V. Duncan has been named vice president for strategic research initiatives, Texas Tech University Interim President John Opperman announced today. Duncan, the current vice president for research, will assume the role April 20.

Duncan’s focus in his new role will be identifying and developing new research partnerships with external industries and national labs while also focusing more time on his extensive research portfolio.

“I appreciate Dr. Duncan’s commitment to our research initiatives and congratulate him on this new opportunity that could produce tremendous benefits for the university,” Opperman said. “Our profile as a national research university has grown steadily over the last several years under Dr. Duncan’s leadership, including a 15 percent increase in total research expenditures over the last two years.”

Research awards increased 39 percent the last two years under Duncan’s direction while restricted research expenditures experienced a 20 percent growth during the same period. New laboratory spaces and an elevation in research proposals by university faculty have contributed to the recent growth.

Additionally, the university recently achieved Tier One status by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Texas Tech University is among 115 public and private research universities nationwide in the highest research category, which is due in part to a university’s national research profile.

A national search will begin immediately for Duncan’s replacement. Guy Loneragan, professor of food safety and public health in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, will serve as interim.

(News release from Texas Tech University)