One of three candidates in the running to become the new Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, Richard Billo, affirmed at an open forum Monday that the University is on the right track to achieving the important goal of becoming a nationally prominent research institution.
Billo detailed his plan to continue the University’s rise to research prominence to a handful of the University community.
“This is not my vision,” he said. “This is LSU’s vision.”
Billo is the current associate vice president of research at the University of Texas in Arlington.
He said the LSU Flagship Agenda encompassed the importance of national prominence.
The University’s research funding averages $150 million, fluctuating by no more than $3 million, Billo said.
“That’s a good thing,” he said, adding that institutions across the nation have suffered greatly from significant cuts to research funding.
Billo said he wants to see the University’s number grow to $200 million.
He told of how he transformed UT Arlington from a “sleepy” institution with little funding to a better research institution. He set a goal for a yearly research growth of 10 percent when he started there, and by his third year at the school, research was up by 87 percent.
He cited growth as one of the most important factors of gaining prominence, but he said it’s not the most important.
“I believe in the importance of improving the quality of life for people in Louisiana, the U.S. and the world,” he said.
At the end of research, the goal is to create more high-wage jobs, he said, and that means licensing research and attracting companies to Louisiana, a state rich with resources and opportunity.
Billo repeatedly expressed how impressed he was by not only Louisiana culture, but the professionalism of University staff and faculty he encountered while touring the University.
“With you, we can do things that will make an impact,” Billo said.
He said many universities ignore young faculty who are eager to research, but he would not.
“Four words I swore I would never say are, ‘You can’t do that,'” Billo said.
Billo said one important aspect of his role as vice chancellor will be to cultivate relationships with not only national agencies and Congress, but with faculty, staff and students.
He described himself with words like “matchmaker,” “results-oriented” and “mentor,” saying he would develop relationships with researchers on campus and determine who they could work with to produce better research.
“My job is to be ready for opportunity that comes up and make it available to faculty,” Billo said, explaining that awareness of faculty researchers’ strengths would mean fewer missed opportunities.
Billo focused mainly on science and engineering research but said there are possibilities with social sciences.
He summarized his stance on research and funding in one sentence: “Tell us what you need, and let’s find a way to get there.”
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]