Vice Chancellor for Research (2026)

The University of California, Berkeley seeks an innovative leader to serve as its next Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR). The VCR works with the university’s leadership and faculty to advance a broad research vision for the entire campus that encourages and facilitates discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration to help ensure UC Berkeley’s continued preeminence. The VCR serves as the primary executive leading campus-wide sponsored-project program development, research policy, planning, administration, and compliance. Reporting jointly to the Chancellor and the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVCP), the VCR oversees an extensive research and operational portfolio, including core functions that support grant administration, innovation & entrepreneurship, research compliance and security, research safety, and over 35 umbrella research centers/institutes, museums and field stations with many more subunits. Key priorities focus on advocating for external funding opportunities amidst a shifting federal and higher-education landscape, advancing interdisciplinary research and innovation across disciplines, expanding external partnerships, and supporting core research infrastructure. Additionally, the VCR will address evolving research security and safety regulations, pursue opportunities to improve research administration, and foster a diverse, collaborative research ecosystem. To learn more about the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCRO), please visit https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/.

The full leadership profile can be found at https://evcp.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/2026-09/vcr_search_2026_leadership_profile_version_09.01.26.pdf.

Inquiries, nominations, and referrals may be sent to James Kao of Berkeley Executive Search (BES) at executivesearch+vcr@berkeley.edu.

Timeline

The VCR search advisory committee members were selected in June. Listening sessions are taking place in August to gather feedback about the opportunities and challenges, qualities and skills, and the priorities for the next VCR. The full leadership profile has now been published. Recruitment for the position is ongoing through the fall, and the interviews will be conducted in the late fall. While search timelines can change, we anticipate the hiring decision will be made at the end of the fall semester.

Community Feedback Survey

We seek input from the campus community about this critical position. Please submit your input on this online survey. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes. It is a way for the search advisory committee and search advisors to seek input from the Berkeley community in all areas. Information gathered will help identify opportunities and challenges for the role as well as perspectives on desired qualities of the next VCR. The survey will be available throughout the search.

Search Advisory Committee Roster 2026

• Benjamin Hermalin, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (Committee Chair)
• Claire Tomlin, James and Katherine Lau Chair in Engineering
• David Schaffer, Director of Bakar Labs, Director of QB3, Hubbard Howe Jr. Distinguished Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering, Molecular and Cell Biology, and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute
• Edward Miguel, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Oxfam Professor in Environmental and Resource Economics, and Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Effective Global Action
• Emily Zazulia, Associate Professor, Department of Music
• Kairi Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Administration and Compliance
• Kelly Sparks, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
• Mark Asta, Dean, College of Engineering
• Michael Lu, Dean, School of Public Health
• Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Director of the Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory and Professor of Earth & Planetary Science
• Lok Siu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Ethnic Studies
• Rachel Segalman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Edward N. Kramer Distinguished Professor of Materials, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry & Biochemistry, UC Santa Barbara

Search Manager: Kristine Lee Wilby, Director, Strategic Projects and Executive Recruitment, Office of the EVCP.

Search Firm: Berkeley Executive Search (BES) is a UC internal executive search team. Inquiries, nominations, and referrals may be sent to James Kao, Esha Bharati, and Tracey Frink of BES at executivesearch+vcr@berkeley.edu.

For general questions about the SMG search process, please review the SMG searches FAQ. Additional questions may be referred to Kristine Lee Wilby at kristineleewilby@berkeley.edu.