Schmidt to succeed Gibson as associate provost

Professor Martin Schmidt of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has been appointed Associate Provost, Provost L. Rafael Reif announced this week.

Schmidt will succeed Lorna Gibson, the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, who will return to her research in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and will be taking a sabbatical next year.

"Professor Gibson brought a depth of experience, sound and thoughtful judgment, and a strategic perspective to this position, and I am deeply grateful for her service," Reif said. "I look forward to working with Professor Schmidt to build on the strong foundation she helped establish."

Professor Schmidt SM '83, PhD '88 has been a faculty member since 1988. From 1999 to 2006 he served as the director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL) at MIT. His teaching and research is in the areas of micro and nanofabrication of sensors, actuators, and electronic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), design of micromechanical sensors and actuators, and micro/nanofabrication technology. He is the co-author of more than 60 archival journal publications and 110 peer-reviewed conference proceedings. His appointment will commence on July 1.

The Associate Provost chairs the Committee for the Review of Space Planning (CRSP), with oversight for space planning, allocation and renovations across the Institute. The position also includes responsibility for managing faculty affairs, including faculty development, renewal, and grievance policies and procedures.

During her tenure as Associate Provost, Professor Gibson oversaw the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research from program development through to the beginning of construction. Working with Vice President for Human Resources Alison Alden and her staff, as well as the staff in the Provost's office, she also helped develop the recently announced program for faculty renewal. In addition, she chaired the Advisory Council on Neuroscience overseeing faculty searches. 

A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 11, 2008 (download PDF).