He will oversee research across both the Baltimore and College Park campuses and assumed his post July 1.
The presidents of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) today named Patrick O’Shea, PhD, MS, as the next vice president for research (VPR).
O’Shea, who currently serves as deputy VPR at UMCP, will oversee research across both the College Park and Baltimore campuses, which together spend $1.4 billion on research annually and collectively rank 11th nationally among public institutions, according to the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development survey. As VPR, O’Shea will collaborate with the presidents and senior leadership of UMCP and UMB to shape a forward-looking vision and strategy, guided by national trends in funding and the universities’ key strengths in areas such as quantum research, artificial intelligence, data science, health and biomedical advancements, and national security.
"Vice President O’Shea is a proven leader who was instrumental in launching the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State," said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. "I look forward to partnering with him to deepen the collaboration with College Park and to uncover new opportunities for innovation, discovery, and growth."
"It’s exciting to welcome Dr. Pat O’Shea back to this role at this pivotal moment in research administration," said UMCP President Darryll J. Pines, PhD, MS. "His extensive experience and distinguished scientific background make him well-suited to lead us into a new era of research. Under his guidance, I’m confident we will continue Maryland’s strong upward momentum."
O’Shea previously served as UMCP's vice president for research from 2011-2016. Under his leadership, the university achieved a record level of funding from competitive grants and contracts, made significant strides in areas related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization, upgraded and modernized many of its research systems, and launched the strategic research partnership with UMB.