Tuesday, February 2, 1999
Dental institute narrows quest for new director of UCLA
school
APPLICANTS: Committee now sees three eligible for professorship,
status
By Hemesh Patel
Daily Bruin Contributor
As the search continues for a new director of the UCLA Dental
Research Institute (DRI), the newly appointed search committee has
narrowed the candidates down to three top picks.
When Dr. No-Hee Park became dean of the School of Dentistry July
1, the DRI began its search for a new director.
"Due to my increased responsibilities as dean of UCLA School of
Dentistry, I have started to coordinate with vice chancellor for
research, Dr. Kumar Patel, to conduct a national search for a new
DRI director," Park said.
According to an advertisement in the Journals of Science and
Dental Research, the candidate must have a doctoral degree or
doctorate in dental science and prior experience in leading
scientific investigations.
"We are very excited about bringing in another premier
scientist," said Kathryn Atchison, assistant dean for research.
In addition, candidates must bring substantial funding to UCLA.
The director will also be appointed as a professor with tenure in
the School of Dentistry and will receive a professor-level
salary.
The objective of the DRI is to study the basic mechanisms of
disease through original research.
"We are looking for an internationally known scientist in the
area of research in orofacial disease," Atchison said.
The DRI director is responsible for "coordinating research,
comprising a budget and working with joint collaborations," said
Dr. Robert Lindemann, chair of the search committee.
"We are looking for someone who has a strong background in
research (equal) to the quality of research (done at UCLA)," said
Edmond Hewlett, assistant professor with the School of
Dentistry.
Hewlett said it is necessary the School of Dentistry maintains
the same quality it has today when a new director is selected.
According to Atchison, potential research for the DRI consists
of a variety of scientific research, ranging from oral cancer to
wound healing.
The Wound Healing Center, a recent addition to the DRI, "is an
exciting new area of research for the DRI and I strongly believe
that it is one full with possibilities and opportunities," Atchison
said.
The search committee is comprised of eight people, five of whom
are on the standing search committee, and three additional
members.
Members of the standing search committee include Atchison and
Ichiro Nishimura. Additional members include Judith Gasson,
director of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Wenyuan
Shi.
"Seven applications have been received," Lindemann said. "The
committee narrowed down the candidates to three when it met for the
first time Friday."
The names of the candidates have not been released, but
Lindemann said two of the candidates are from the West Coast and
the other is from the Midwest.
The three candidates will be individually interviewed by all
eight members of the search committee.
"We hope to have someone by July 1999," Lindemann said.
The future director "would make the DRI grow even faster,"
Atchison said.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]