Robert H. Miller has been named interim vice provost for research, effective Aug. 1, as the office’s current leader, Pamela M. Norris, announced she plans to step down from the position, while continuing in her faculty role in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
A renowned neuroscientist, Miller has held a number of leadership roles in the research and academic medical enterprises and currently serves as vice dean for research and academic affairs, Vivian Gill Distinguished Research Professor, and professor of anatomy and cell biology in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS).
Miller previously served as GW’s vice president for research from 2018-2020. During that time, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research procured GW’s enhanced electronic research administration tool, myResearch, and implemented a number of recommendations advanced by the faculty-led research ecosystem review committees.
“Bob’s depth of experience and familiarity with GW’s research enterprise makes him well qualified to lead these critical functions and continue our momentum,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Christopher Alan Bracey. “I want to thank Pam for her leadership, especially for finding innovative ways to support faculty across all disciplines and career stages. Her efforts will continue to pay dividends and position our scholars for future success.”
Miller maintains an active research program, serving as principal investigator on multiple grants. His research over three decades has focused on the biology of the nervous system, and he has authored more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has dozens of patents.
Prior to joining GW in 2014, Miller served as the vice president for research and technology management at Case Western Reserve University. He will retain his roles within SMHS when his new appointment starts in August.
“The GW scholarly community is creative, innovative and collaborative,” said Miller. “I look forward to working closely with the provost and university leadership to advance our research mission and support faculty, postdocs and students from across all disciplines.”
Norris plans to continue her advocacy for the importance of diversity in science and engineering and to think deeply about the challenges facing U.S. science in the global STEM landscape, as noted by National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt in her recent State of the Science address.
Norris has agreed to co-organize a series of convenings in collaboration with the Government-University Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) and the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine of the National Academies, with the first convening focused on women in entrepreneurship. For this work, she will leverage her role as a senator representing the United States in the World Business Angel Investment Forum.
Norris will also continue her work as an inaugural member of the Women in Science Diplomacy group, noting the importance of international cooperation for the advancement of science, and will chair multiple conferences in her field of study, nanoscale thermal transport, in the coming months.
“Drawing on my experiences over three decades as a faculty member and in various academic leadership positions, I hope to engage national and international audiences on the actions to help protect and strengthen U.S. global leadership in science, including the best ways to broaden and diversify the community of scholars that are engaged in discovery,” Norris said.
Norris added her appreciation for the OVPR team and campus partners that support research and scholarship, saying, “I am so thankful for their teamwork, their creativity and their commitment to excellence. There is a clear and direct link between the efforts of staff and research administrators and the discoveries that are making an impact in the world.”
During her tenure, Norris launched a number of initiatives to support faculty scholarship including a robust new faculty orientation program, popular multi-day faculty writing retreats and expanded grant development resources. She emphasized enhancing the external recognition of GW scholarship, brought the popular radio show Science Friday to GW’s campus and sponsored a highly visible presence at the nation’s largest multidisciplinary scientific association (AAAS). Norris provided critical support for the early development of the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS), the university-wide Trustworthy AI Initiative and multiple federally sponsored programs that aim to diversify the STEM workforce. She also prioritized highlighting and celebrating the impact of book authorship and increasing visibility of GW’s broad cross-disciplinary strengths.
GW’s research enterprise and reputation continue to rise. In 2023 GW was invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious group of North America’s leading research universities. Sponsored research activity at GW maintains its upward trajectory—expenditures on federally funded research activities are up nearly 18% in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior year. GW’s faculty have wielded considerable influence in their fields and in the public discourse through the editing and authoring of more than 350 books since 2021.
The Office of the Provost will share information about the search for a permanent vice provost for research as it is available.
