Taylor Eighmy, senior vice president for research at Texas Tech University, has been named vice chancellor for research and engagement for UT.
Eighmy, 56, will begin October 2. He brings strong experience in growing research programs at Texas Tech University and the University of New Hampshire.
Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said Eighmy’s track record indicates that he is well prepared for his new role.
“Dr. Eighmy has significantly increased grants and contracts at both universities. He has worked closely with faculty and administrators to help them become more competitive on a national level through attracting grants and contracts to support their research,” Cheek said. “He is extremely productive in his work and will be a great addition to our campus.”
Eighmy has been a faculty member and research administrator at Texas Tech since 2009. There he helped the university qualify as a National Research University by the Texas state government, making it eligible to receive support from the state to grow its research base. He also played a large role in initiating planning for a new research park and forming the Transdisciplinary Research Academy to broaden capacity for larger proposals.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, he held a variety of faculty and administrative positions at the University of New Hampshire, including interim vice president for research and assistant vice president for research. He began his career at New Hampshire in 1986 as a research assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering.
He has a doctorate and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to serve in this new capacity and a great opportunity to help the university realize its aspirations,” Eighmy said. “I look forward to collaborating with and serving the faculty and senior leadership to build upon UT’s talents and great potential.”
Eighmy serves on the Fully Chartered Committee of the US Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board.
He invented a patented reactive barrier technology for contaminated sediments. His research interests focus on the beneficial use of waste materials, life cycle analysis of waste products, chemical speciation, spectroscopic surface analysis, reactive barriers, environmental chemistry of leaching behavior, and environmental microbiology.
Lee Riedinger, professor of physics and director of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education has been serving as interim vice chancellor while the university conducted a national search for a permanent administrator.
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C O N T A C T :
Karen Simsen (865-974-5186, karen.simsen@tennessee.edu)