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Leadership Team

Shashank Priya

Shashank Priya, Ph.D.

Vice President

Administrative Support: Sydney Bongard, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: vprappts@msu.edu
All contacts: Office of Research and Innovation

Shashank Priya currently serves as Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan State University, where he provides visionary leadership for the institution’s research enterprise, stewarding nearly $992 million in annual research expenditures. In this role, he advances a bold strategic agenda that elevates discovery, accelerates innovation, and amplifies the university’s global impact.

The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) serves as the catalyst for Michigan State University’s research, innovation, and creative endeavors. OR&I administers research funding with rigor and transparency, safeguards the highest standards of research integrity, and delivers comprehensive grant support services. It fosters dynamic cross-disciplinary collaboration, advances technology transfer and commercialization, and ensures regulatory excellence. Through these integrated efforts, OR&I empowers scholars to generate transformative knowledge, spark groundbreaking discoveries, and translate ideas into meaningful societal benefit.

A distinguished materials engineer and accomplished scholar with more than two decades of research leadership, Priya has driven pioneering advances in piezoelectrics, magnetoelectrics, flexible photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics. His work has not only expanded the frontiers of science but has also been successfully translated into industry applications, exemplifying innovation with impact. He is an elected Fellow of the American Ceramic Society and the National Academy of Inventors, and he continues to shape national and international research priorities in smart materials, energy harvesting, and bio-inspired systems.

Priya founded and directed the NSF I/UCRC Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems and established the international Energy Harvesting Workshop—two influential platforms that have united academia, industry, and federal partners in collaborative pursuit of technological advancement and societal progress.

Committed to excellence, collaboration, and integrity, Priya is advancing Michigan State University’s research mission by strengthening infrastructure, expanding strategic partnerships, and accelerating the translation of innovative discoveries into real-world solutions that address society’s most pressing challenges.

Assistant and Associate Vice Presidents

Doug Buhler

Douglas Buhler, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation

Administrative Support: Sydney Bongard, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: buhler@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Interdisciplinary research related to food, environment, water, and international projectsDouglas Buhler517-355-0306
Training Grants and collaborations with the Graduate SchoolDouglas Buhler517-355-0306
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Water Alliance and CRISDouglas Buhler517-355-0306
Uncrewed Aerial and Submersible Vehicles (“Drones”)Douglas Buhler517-355-0306
Administrative duties including PI Waivers and F&A Cost Exception Requests, space allocations, matches and letters of supportDouglas Buhler517-355-0306

 

Krista Campeau

Krista Campeau

Assistant Vice President for Research Security

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: kcampeau@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Export Control and Trade Sanctionsexport@msu.edu517-432-4499
Research Security Programresearchsecurity@msu.edu517-432-4499

 

Kay Connelly

Kay Connelly, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Operations and Strategy

Administrative Support: Sydney Bongard, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: conne166@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Global Impact Initiative AdministrationBrooke Gallagher-Rademacher517-355-0306

Centers and Institutes Administration

CIRCLE, CSTAT, ICER, IIT, IQ, RDSP and RTSF

Kay Connelly517-355-0306
Shared Research Infrastructure, OR&I Cores, and equipment requestsKay Connelly517-355-0306
Grant Proposal Services and grant mentoring programsLauren Aerni-Flessner517-355-0306
Institutionally Limited Proposals, Tetrad Interdisciplinary Research Funding ProgramMelissa Buell517-432-3773
Administrative duties including matches, support letters, and space allocationsKay Connelly517-355-0306

 

Charles Hasemann

Charles A. Hasemann, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development

Administrative Support: Marta Sinclair, for appointments please email palmer91@msu.edu
Phone: 517-884-2370
Email: haseman1@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
MSU Innovation CenterCharles A. Hasemann517-884-2373
MSU Business ConnectCharles A. Hasemann517-884-2373
MSU TechnologiesAnne DiSante517-884-1826
Axia Institute - MidlandJohn Hatfield989-423-2046
Internal Funding ProgramsMelissa Buell517-432-3773
MSU Bioeconomy Institute - Lansing & HollandDoug Heemstra616-395-8958
MSU St. Andrews - MidlandCharles A. Hasemann517-884-2373

 

Laura McCabe

Laura McCabe, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Research Regulatory Support

Administrative Support: Samantha Hawkins
Phone: 517-432-4500
Email: mccabel@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Office of Research Regulatory Support (ORRS)Laura McCabe517-432-4500
Conflict Disclosures and Management (CDM)Alisia Lamborghini517-884-7000
Campus Animal Resources (CAR)Danielle Ferguson517-353-5064
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) 517-432-5275
Export Control & Trade SanctionsKrista Campeau517-432-4499
Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)Kristen Koritnik517-432-5275
Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)Sandy Wilkins517-432-8103

Administration

John Albrecht

John Albrecht, Ph.D.

Executive Director - University Research Organization (URO)

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: uro@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactEmail
Research Administrator, URORyan McGertyuro@msu.edu
Office Coordinator, URO Shannon Dalekuro@msu.edu

 

Heather Bedevia

Heather Bedevia

MAU Human Resources Director

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: bedeviah@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactEmail
Human Resources Business Partner for Research and Innovation, CSTAT, ICER, IIT, RIO, RU4M, and Research Regulatory Support (CAR, CDM, ECTS, EHS, HRPP, IACUC)Andrea LaForgetaberand@msu.edu
Human Resources Business Partner for CIRCLE, EEB, Elemental Health, QBEAM, RTSF, SPA/OSPTracy Halloranhallor27@osp.msu.edu
Human Resources Business Partner for Axia Institute, Bioeconomy Institute, Business Connect, Innovation Center, Midland St. Andrews, MSU TechnologiesJanelle Campbellfloresj4@msu.edu
Human Resources Coordinator for Axia Institute, Bioeconomy Institute, Business Connect, Innovation Center, Midland St. Andrews, MSU TechnologiesJenna Cornishcornis20@msu.edu
Human Resources Coordinator for Research Regulatory Support (CAR, CDM, ECTS, EHS, HRPP, IACUC)Shavaar Durkdurkshav@msu.edu
Human Resources Coordinator for Research and Innovation, CIRCLE, CSTAT, EEB, Elemental Health, ICER, IIT, QBEAM, RIO, RTSF, RU4M, SPA/OSPJennifer Pargoffpargoffj@msu.edu

 

Charles "Lee" Cox

Charles "Lee" Cox, Ph.D.

Research Integrity Officer

The Research Integrity Officer reports directly to the President with secondary responsibility to the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

Phone: 517-432-6698 
Email: RIO@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Research Integrity CoordinatorPaula Jackson517-355-0306
RECR Education Program DirectorGreg Swain517-355-0306

 

John Furcean

John Furcean

Director of Research Technology and Compliance

Phone: 517-355-0306 
Email: furceanj@msu.edu

Areas/ProjectsContact

Research Technology and Software 

furceanj@msu.edu
Research Securityresearchsecurity@msu.edu
Regulated Research EnclaveControlledResearchIT@msu.edu

 

Brooke Gallagher-Rademacher

Brooke Gallagher-Rademacher

Chief of Staff

Administrative support: Samantha Hawkins, for appointments please email hawki379@msu.edu.

Phone: 517-355-0306

Email: ori.adminsupport@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Finance Operations for Bioeconomy Institute, ICER, EEB, and MSU St. AndrewsLeslie Genest517-355-0306
Internal Grants Programs AccountingMelissa Buell517-355-0306
Finance Operations for Innovation Center, CSTAT, Axia Institute, OSP/CGA, and PAGMStaci Starck517-355-0306
Research and Innovation FinanceCheryl Chapman517-355-0306
RTSF Business ManagerEmily Williams517-355-0306

 

Lauren Aerni-Flessner

Lauren Aerni-Flessner, MSI

Interim Director of Communications

Faculty Resources for Communicating Research

Phone: 517-355-0306

Email: aernifle@msu.edu

UnitPrimary ContactPhone Number
Events and Special Projects Coordination, Event AccessibilityTanya Bakija517-355-0306
ICER Communications Manager, Research and Innovation Content StrategistMichelle David517-355-0306
Website Content, Web Accessibility, Newsletters, Social Media, and Digital CommunicationsErik Heckel517-355-0306

Fellows

Honglei Chen

Honglei Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

MSU Research Foundation Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Academic Leadership Fellow 2023-2024

Phone: 517-353-8623
Email: chenho19@msu.edu


 

Jeff MacKeigan

Jeff MacKeigan, Ph.D.

Professor Department of Pediatrics and Human Development
Senior Fellow for Research Infrastructure 2024-2026

Administrative support: Sydney Bongard, for appointments please email ORI.AdminSupport@msu.edu

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: mackeig1@msu.edu

 


 

Pat Soranno

Patricia Soranno, Ph.D.

Professor Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Senior Fellow for Research Infrastructure 2024-2026

Administrative support: Sydney Bongard, for appointments please email ORI.AdminSupport@msu.edu

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: soranno@msu.edu


 

Irving Vega

Irving Vega, Ph.D.

Red Cedar Distinguished Professor, Translational Neuroscience
Academic Leadership Fellow 2022-2024

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: vegaie@msu.edu