- Research
- Knowledge Enterprise
Effective August 1, 2022, Dr. Can (John) Saygin, Senior Associate Vice President for Research, has been named the new Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), a sister institution.
Dr. Saygin joined the research division in 2013 as Assistant Vice President of Sponsored Project Administration. In his administrative roles, he has applied data-driven techniques to project management, strategic initiatives, organizational changes, key performance indicators, and dashboard design. A two-year secondment followed in 2018 where he held several senior positions under the purview of the President’s Office and the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. He rejoined REDKE as SAVP in March 2020 when the pandemic hit.
We are grateful for Dr. Saygin’s service over the years and his contributions in attainment of the R1 designation, NRUF eligibility and the highest research expenditures to date. In fact, his last project right now is overseeing the auditing process of the university’s NRUF eligibility and liaising with the Texas Coordinating Board. Notably, he was the first to create a network of financial partners throughout the colleges and departments who work collaboratively on research accounting throughout the university.
We appreciate his championing of the latest technologies, building up a robust research business intelligence and analytics team; levering his Six Sigma expertise to improve pre- and post- award operations, and streamlining processes and outcomes to help faculty and administration navigate the research enterprise. Under his leadership, the Research Dashboard and Portal were created, with countless reporting features and permutations.
Since 2006, Dr. Saygin has also served as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Kleese College of Engineering and Integrated Design, and formerly served as director of the UTSA Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Lean Systems (CAMLS). He has directed several research projects funded by the Air Force Research Lab, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, the Boeing Company, the Ford Motor Company, UT Health San Antonio, and various manufacturing industries. He has also led regional advanced manufacturing efforts under the designation of Alamo Manufacturing Partnership.
With Dr. Saygin’s departure, the oversight ad interim of the Office for Sponsored Project Administration and REDKE Core Facilities will be handled by Dr. Michelle Stevenson, Associate Vice President for Research Integrity. Veronica Stoller will continue to lead the Office of Research Finance and Operations and will provide oversight and support for the Office of Research Computing and Business Intelligence. Please support our teams during this transition.