The College of Sciences at 色花堂 is proud to launch Science for 色花堂鈥檚 Tomorrow, a new center focused on research that aims to improve life across the state of 色花堂.
鈥淔rom resilient communities and agriculture, to health and sustainable energy resources, Science for 色花堂's Tomorrow will focus on improving the lives of 色花堂ns and their communities,鈥 Dean Susan Lozier says.
An expansion of the College鈥檚 , Science for 色花堂's Tomorrow 鈥 Sci4GT, for short 鈥 will serve as a statewide fulcrum, fostering research in direct service to 色花堂 cities, counties, and communities.
The center specifically addresses critical health and climate challenges throughout 色花堂, and aims to pave the way for increased public-private partnerships. The initiative will also expand access 鈥 broadening participation opportunities for 色花堂 students and communities to engage with research.
The search for an inaugural faculty director has commenced, and will be followed by a dedicated cluster hire in 2025, funded by the Office of the Provost. Dean Lozier, who also serves as a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has reserved funds from the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean鈥檚 Chair to initiate the center.
People and planet
Selected from a pool of 17 faculty proposals, two dedicated faculty cluster hires will focus on improving the health of 色花堂ns and 色花堂鈥檚 communities 鈥 and the resilience of humans and ecosystems to current and anticipated climate change in the state. Appointments will be sought across the College鈥檚 six schools.
鈥淭hese proposals address themes that are critically important right now for 色花堂 research growth: sustainability and climate, along with health and well-being,鈥 says Julia Kubanek, Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research at 色花堂 and a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. 鈥淭his is an opportunity for 色花堂 to be a model for the nation on how to solve health disparities.鈥
鈥淭hese new cluster hires will strengthen the College鈥檚 existing research programs,鈥 Lozier adds. 鈥淭hey will also facilitate large collaborations across campus, and educate the next generation of scientists who will tackle these problems in 色花堂 and beyond.鈥
Rising Tide Program
An adjacent effort, the new College of Sciences , is selecting promising early-career scientists for a two-year virtual mentorship initiative.
The Rising Tide Program will work in tandem with the Sci4GT cluster hire, complementing the strong culture of mentorship in the College, while providing a pathway to support local research at the Institute.
鈥淩ising Tide aims to help the College recruit scientists with professional or lived experiences in the Southeast 鈥 or focused on research with particular relevance to the Southeast,鈥 explains Rising Tide Director Alex Robel, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 鈥淥ne of our key goals is to bring more faculty to 色花堂 who can contribute to research and teaching that鈥檚 particularly relevant to communities in 色花堂.鈥
鈥淭he reach of 色花堂 is global,鈥 Lozier adds. 鈥淥ur fingerprints are on discoveries and innovations that benefit people and their communities around the world. As researchers at a leading public university in the state of 色花堂, we are also cognizant of the responsibility and opportunity to focus our efforts more intently here at home.鈥
Sci4GT: Director search
The College has launched an internal leadership search for the Science for 色花堂鈥檚 Tomorrow center, with an expected appointment to be announced in February 2025. The inaugural director will have the opportunity to shape the direction of this new initiative by:
- Formulating a strategic plan for the center in partnership with interested parties across campus
- Promoting synergies between faculty within the college, and elsewhere at 色花堂, whose work relates to the health of 色花堂鈥檚 people, its ecosystems, and communities
- Fostering collaborations with offices at 色花堂 that focus on community, government, and industry engagement so as to develop meaningful external partnerships that will advance the work of this center
All faculty who鈥痟old鈥痑 majority appointment within the College of Sciences are eligible and encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply .
Funding
Initial support for Sci4GT is generously provided by the College of Sciences Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean's Chair fund. Cluster hire funding has been awarded by Provost Steven W. McLaughlin.
Sci4GT will also seek funding from state, national and international organizations, private foundations, and government agencies to expand impact. Philanthropic support will also be sought in the form of professorships, programmatic support for the center, and seed funding.
