Stevens has recently made a big announcement regarding the research held on campus. Effective November 16, Dr. Edmund “Ed” Synakowski will take his place as the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation for Stevens. His role is to coordinate between professors, schools, and the entire university to improve the opportunity and quality of research performed at Stevens. Dr. Synakowski will be succeeding Dr. Dilhan M. Kalyon, who has held the position since September 2020. Dr. Kalyon will retain his position as Institute Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Director of the Highly Filled Materials Institute in the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science.
The Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (VPRI) reports to the Provost, Dr. Jianmin Qu. The VPRI works across every school and department at Stevens to offer research to all. The goal of the VPRI, according to Dr. Qu, is to “broaden the impact of the faculty’s research, identify beneficial partnerships with enterprises outside the university, and drive economic innovation and development.”
Dr. Synakowski is coming from a successful period as Vice President for Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During his time there, he developed the research program and was a tenured professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Before that, Dr. Synakowski was Vice President for Research and Economic Development and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wyoming. He introduced a new plan to improve the school’s research program there. Before entering the academic world, Dr. Synakowski was Associate Director of Science for Fusion Energy Sciences at the U.S. Department of Energy. During his time there, his work primarily involved organizing and budgeting projects through intra-agency cooperation and partnerships with outside institutions. Additionally, he served as director of the Fusion Energy Program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 2006 to 2009 and as a researcher and research program leader at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory from 1988 to 2005.
Dr. Synakowski’s list of accolades is as impressive as his experiences. He was awarded the Secretary of Energy’s Meritorious Service Award in 2017 and received awards for excellence in plasma physics research from Princeton University and the American Physical Society. He earned his undergraduate from Johns Hopkins University and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, he is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the United Kingdom’s Institute of Physics. Dr. Synakowski also holds over 160 peer-reviewed articles on topics including plasma.
Dr. Synakowski will be a great addition to the Stevens faculty considering his achievements and experience. Working closely with Dr. Qu, the Deans, and other members of the academic leadership team, he will lead Stevens’ research teams to further success and help develop the world of tomorrow. Please see the press release on Dr. Synakowski’s appointment for more information on Dr. Synakowski and research here at Stevens.
Be First to Comment