Liu Named Tennessee Tech’s New Vice President For Research

Dr. Zahanjiang John Liu has been named Tennessee Tech’s Vice President For Research, effective October 1.

Liu currently serves as Vice President at Syracuse. He previously served as Associate Provost at Auburn. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to hire Liu after a nationwide search.

Liu has been awarded more than 80 research grants totaling over $50 million.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected to serve as the next vice president for research at Tennessee Tech,” Liu said during the meeting. “I am very excited to join the leadership team at this time to bring Tech to be one of the finest research universities in the state and country.”

Liu’s background highlights research including his current position as Vice President for International Strategy at Syracuse. He served in two different research roles at Auburn. He earned a masters and doctorate at the University of Minnesota in biology.

Under President Phil Oldham, Tech has tried to increase its research reputation with an emphasis on externally-funded research. The University earned more than $36 million in research dollars last year, a new record.

Liu was inducted into the prestigious USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2022. He is also a fellow in the World Aquaculture Society, a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a recipient of Syracuse University’s Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding Leadership, and a recipient of the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award.