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Zhanjiang ‘John’ Liu appointed as Syracuse University’s vice president for research

Will Carrara | Contributing Photographer

Zhanjiang “John” Liu will start his role as vice president for research at Syracuse University on Sept. 1.

By Sandhya Iyer

Zhanjiang “John” Liu was appointed to serve as Syracuse University’s vice president for research on Tuesday. The appointment, effective starting Sept. 1, received unanimous approval from the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Liu was previously an administrator and faculty member at Auburn University. He served as associate provost and associate vice president for research since 2013 and as a professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences since 1995.

As associate dean for research and assistant director at Auburn’s College of Agriculture and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Liu was responsible for significant growth in extramural research funding, according to an SU News release. Funding increased from $4-6 million to $18.2 million in 2009, then to $25.4 million in 2010 and $29 million in 2011.

Liu also sponsored grants training for junior faculty, developed global collaborative relationships and broadened the pool of college funding sources during his time at Auburn, per the release.

At SU, Liu will work to increase research activity and partnerships across campus and create new opportunities for student engagement in scholarship, according to the release. He will report directly to Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly and oversee the Office of Research and its sub units: the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Research Integrity and Protections and the Office of Technology Transfer.



Liu said in the release that he is “very impressed” with SU’s research programs, campus and leadership team.

“I look forward to working with our faculty, students, and staff to advance the research mission,” Liu said in the release. “Building on our strengths as a Carnegie R1 research university, I am excited to bring our research to a new level as a world-class research university.”

Wheatly said in the release that as a scholar and a leader, Liu is an outstanding choice to lead the research effort at SU.

“I am confident he will be an outstanding asset as we build on our Carnegie ranking as an R1 research school and further distinguish Syracuse as a world-class research university,” Wheatly said.





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