Robert Scheller has been named associate dean for research at NC State\u2019s College of Natural Resources, effective February 1, 2022. He brings nearly three decades of research and leadership experience to the position, and the appointment follows a seven-month period of Scheller serving as interim in the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince arriving at NC State, Dr. Scheller has become a campus leader in building and leading interdisciplinary research teams,\u201d said Myron Floyd, dean of the College of Natural Resources. \u201cHe will play a central role in advancing our strategic priorities, particularly our goal of promoting collaborative research and learning that contributes to sustainable environments and healthy communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As associate dean for research, Scheller will continue his responsibilities of leading and developing the college\u2019s strategic research initiatives; assisting faculty with grant submission and management; interfacing with funders, funding agencies and policymakers; creating and maintaining strategic partnerships; increasing multidisciplinary research collaboration; and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The college manages a research portfolio of approximately $60 million, with more than 200 faculty and staff conducting research across three departments \u2014 Forestry and Environmental Resources, Forest Biomaterials, and Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, the college\u2019s faculty and staff received approximately $6 million in funding awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheller said he looks forward to continuing to support the research endeavors of the college\u2019s faculty. \u201cMy career has benefited greatly from the support of research leaders and professionals and I hope I can do the same for others \u2026 We are doing incredible and meaningful science that has the potential to transform our world \u2014 I\u2019m incredibly proud of that and eager to share that with our peers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added, \u201cScience is transitioning towards a more multidisciplinary, collaborative, inter- and intra-institution paradigm. One of my roles is to help the college prepare for and embrace this paradigm while respecting and building upon our historic strengths \u2026 Both the existing and new modes of research will benefit from a carefully articulated strategy for transforming our approaches to research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though the college\u2019s research portfolio remains strong and continues to experience steady growth, Scheller plans to overhaul various research administration processes to improve efficiency and to expand the college\u2019s investment in emerging research areas, such as the sustainable bioeconomy and environmental justice. He also plans to capitalize on large funding opportunities from Congress and administrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most importantly, Scheller will continue to place an emphasis on maintaining and promoting the college\u2019s land grant mission. \u201cDelivering science that serves society is why I joined NC State and the College of Natural Resources. This is our key strength and it will become ever more important as our world experiences unprecedented changes in the coming decades,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have incredible diversity \u2014 both across our people and across our science \u2014 that allows us to plug our expertise into solving many of the \u2018grand challenges\u2019 that face society.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheller joined NC State in 2017 as a member of the Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security Cluster within the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program. He is a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources and a Faculty Fellow in the Center for Geospatial Analytics. He was named a University Faculty Scholar in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n