Finalists for Chief Research Administration Officer to deliver public presentations March 11 and 13
Two finalists have selected from a nationwide search for the Chief Research Administration Officer and Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP)
Presentations will take place on Wednesday, March 11, and Friday, March 13, 2026.
More information and candidate names will be shared here 48 hours before their scheduled presentation times.
Please use this form to provide feedback for the RSP Director candidates. Feedback is due by Wednesday, March 18.
To protect the privacy of candidates, presentations will not be recorded.
The is a key leadership position that will guide the university’s expansive research enterprise and support one of the nation’s most accomplished research communities.
The director will serve as a senior advisor to campus leadership and plays a central role in shaping the administrative infrastructure supporting faculty, staff, and students to pursue groundbreaking research—from proposal development to award management.
UW–Madison ranks fifth among American universities for research expenditures and submits over 4,000 proposals each year, requesting more than $3.5 billion in funding. RSP manages about 10,000 active awards valued at nearly $4 billion.
“The director plays a critical role in helping the institution retain research funding, but also in helping researchers navigate the complexities involved with sponsored research by providing customer service qualities and removing administrative burdens so researchers can focus on their research,” says Dorota Brzezinska, vice chancellor for research. “I am grateful to the search and screening committee for their efforts in supporting this search.”
The search committee is chaired by Mark Rickenbach, interim associate vice chancellor for research policy and integrity, and professor of forest and wildlife ecology.
Candidate: TBA
Presentation: Wednesday, March 11
Time and location TBA
CV
Candidate: TBA
Presentation: Friday, March 13
Time and location TBA
CV
Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the director will develop strategic and operational planning for a team of about 110 employees; advise stakeholders in research and sponsored programs; and provide vision for the pre- and post- award functions of RSP, including: proposal submission, negotiations of sponsored research agreements, non-funded agreements, clinical trials, fee for service agreements, awards acceptance and setup, financial oversight, invoicing, reporting, audit, and closeout. In addition to being responsible for the complete cycle of actions for proposals and awards, RSP is responsible for policy development for all sponsored programs at UW–Madison and for preparing the University’s F&A proposal.