Seeking nominations and applications: Associate CIO for Research

Associate Chief Information Officer for Research
UGA Office of the Vice President for Information Technology (VPIT)
Reports to Vice President for Information Technology

Position summary:

The Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO) for Research is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing research computing infrastructure and services at the University of Georgia. This individual will oversee the Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center (GACRC) and play a pivotal role in shaping the University’s research technology strategy.

The ACIO for Research will collaborate with faculty, deans, the Office of Research, the Provost’s Office, and other stakeholders to ensure the University’s high-performance computing (HPC) and research IT resources align with the evolving needs of researchers. The role also includes fostering collaborations, supporting faculty in securing external funding, and engaging with industry partners to expand research opportunities.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic leadership in research computing

  • Develop and implement a University-wide research computing infrastructure strategy that supports the full spectrum of computational research, from desktop and departmental resources to centralized high-performance computing, cloud computing, high-throughput computing, and data-intensive workflows.
  • Ensure alignment with the diverse needs of faculty researchers across disciplines, incorporating specialized research software, scalable storage solutions, artificial intelligence, and machine learning while facilitating seamless transitions between local, institutional, and external computing resources.
  • Engage collaboratively with academic leadership, including deans and the Provost’s Office and the Office of Research to align research IT strategy with institutional goals.
  • Advocate for research computing needs at the University’s senior leadership level, ensuring investments in both infrastructure and expert support staff. Influence policy and budgetary decisions to sustain HPC, cloud, and data-intensive research resources while prioritizing skilled personnel who provide hands-on support, training, and expertise to researchers.
  • Lead efforts to integrate research computing resources into curricula and educational initiatives in collaboration with academic leadership.

Oversight of the Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center

  • Provide executive leadership for the GACRC, supervising its leadership and staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality research computing services.
  • Align the operational activities of the GACRC with the broader vision and strategy for research at the University.

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

  • Serve as the primary liaison between the Vice President for Information Technology and the Vice President for Research, fostering collaboration on shared research infrastructure initiatives.
  • Develop partnerships across academic and administrative units to expand and enhance research computing capabilities.
  • Engage with external organizations, industry partners, and research institutions to promote collaborative research opportunities.

Research development and funding

  • Partner with the Office of Research to identify funding opportunities and support faculty in grant proposal development.
  • Advocate for research computing needs in external funding and federal grant applications.
  • Work with University leadership to develop funding models that support sustainable growth in research computing.

Financial and capital planning

  • Work with the VPIT team and the Provost’s Office to develop capital budgets that align with the University’s strategic vision for research computing.
  • Ensure long-term sustainability of research IT infrastructure through effective planning, funding strategies, and resource allocation.

Qualifications:

  • Tenured faculty member at the University of Georgia
  • Significant experience in using research computing as a faculty researcher
  • Experience managing technical or research teams
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to engage faculty, administrators, and IT professionals
  • Familiarity with research funding opportunities
  • Knowledge of research data security and compliance regulations, notably CMMC 2.0 and NIST SP 800-171 rev. 3

Application process:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae to vpit@uga.edu. Review of applications will begin on Sunday, June 1 and continue until the position is filled.

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