NEWPORT – J.D. Swanson, a Salve Regina University professor of biology and biomedical sciences, was hired by the National Science Foundation for a two-year, rotational program director position, according to a mid-November statement by the school.
The work of the NSF, said Swanson in a statement, is “incredibly important to the nation’s economy” and looks forward to joining the “$7 billion agency with 2,500 [employees].”
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Swanson will serve in the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and, using a $160 million budget, administer the merit review process on research and education proposals, make funding recommendations, administer large infrastructure awards and professional internships for aspiring scientists and engineers as well as manage the purchase of large-scale equipment for U.S. jurisdictions that have previously not seen as much investment from the agency.
He and his team will work with multiple NSF programs and departments, including the Research Infrastructure awards, the Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education program, the science and technology centers, major research instrumentation and the Advanced Research Infrastructure program.
Swanson is enthused by the work. In his statement, he said: “I get to see the very best science in the world and see how the very best people in the world do it.”
During his two-year stint with the NSF, Swanson will retain his position at Salve Regina through the Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment Act, which will provide a grant to the school to cover his salary and benefits, freeing up funds to hire a faculty person during that time. The Salve Regina University Biology and Biomedical Sciences Department has hired two visiting professors, Anna Radovic and Joseph Schrader, who will lecture during that period.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
