Douglas Wolfe named AVP for Research, director of strategic initiatives

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Douglas E. Wolfe has been named the new associate vice president for Research, director of strategic initiatives (AVPR-SI) within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR) at Penn State, effective Sept. 18.

Wolfe succeeds Phil Savage, who is returning to his role as head of the Department of Chemical Engineering after the last year as interim in this role.

“We would like to sincerely thank Phil for his excellence as interim associate vice president for Research, director of strategic initiatives. Phil’s vision in this role has brought many new opportunities to our research enterprise,” said Andrew Read, interim senior vice president for research at Penn State. “Bringing Doug into this role will expand on this vision for Penn State, elevating us in various areas. Doug’s expertise and history of innovative collaboration for more than two decades at the University will help Penn State research stay at the top of the long-game, and his experience in funding of more than $150 million will truly be an asset as we look to the future of the research enterprise.”

Wolfe is professor of materials science and engineering; engineering science and mechanics; nuclear engineering; and additive manufacturing and design, and previously served as Metals, Ceramics and Coatings Processing Department Head for the Applied Research Laboratory.

Prior to this appointment, Wolfe worked for the Applied Research Laboratory for more than 25 years and has been recognized as an international expert in the field of materials science, focusing on applied research with an emphasis of implementation, transitioning and commercialization. Wolfe received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Penn State in 1994, 1996 and 2001 respectively and has more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 patents/patents pending, and 18 invention disclosures, and is a member of several professional societies.

“I'm excited to be joining the Penn State Research leadership team and to continue the tradition of research excellence exemplified across the University," Wolfe said. "I am looking forward to fostering and growing strategic research initiatives across a wide range of emerging, multidisciplinary thrust areas. Penn State’s research portfolio has a profound and wide-reaching impact on advancing future developments impacting societal, medical, environmental, and national security applications. My goal as AVPR-SI is to build and leverage multidisciplinary teams to investigate research challenges that embody Penn State’s mission to seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation while assisting in developing our next generation workforce.”

The role of associate vice president for Research, director of strategic initiatives, serves as a key member of the Research leadership team and works in partnership with other leaders to implement research priorities and oversee portions of the institution’s research administration and infrastructure.

In this role, Wolfe will also work with the interim senior vice president for Research and members of the University Research Council to support faculty in their pursuits of extramural funding for strategic research; and will oversee the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO) in support of larger, externally funded interdisciplinary research proposals. Among other responsibilities, he will provide leadership and OSVPR representation on internal and external task forces and committees on behalf of the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research to develop recommendations for addressing challenges and opportunities impacting Penn State Research, including managing the strategic plan implementation and delivery process.

Additionally, he will work to streamline the Penn State Research infrastructure and will engage Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses in research directions. This role also directs the development of information dissemination strategies and training opportunities in support of interdisciplinary and strategic research and works collaboratively across the University to leverage sponsored grants and contract funding with corporate and foundation gifts and grants to expand Penn State Research’s impact.

About Penn State Research / OSVPR

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research is responsible for facilitating the $1 billion+ research enterprise at Penn State by working with a broad range of units across the University. The mission of the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research is to support a rigorous program of faculty and student research and creative accomplishment by enhancing the environment for scholarly and artistic endeavors, encouraging the highest standards of quality, and fostering ethical conduct in research.