Reecy named associate vice president for research

Jim Reecy, professor of animal science and director of the office of biotechnology, has been named an associate vice president for research in the office of the vice president for research (OVPR), effective June 1. Reecy takes over the position from Wolfgang Kliemann, who will return to the mathematics department in August. Kliemann had served in the role since 2014.

Reecy will work with faculty and the OVPR leadership team to develop opportunities for interdisciplinary research and to support faculty in successfully pursuing their research goals.

Reecy came to Iowa State in 1999 as a faculty member in the animal science department. His research interests have focused on beef cattle genetics and genomics to improve the nutrient content of beef, disease resistance of beef cattle, and livestock bioinformatics. He became director of the office of biotechnology in 2009, helping faculty address biotechnical research questions and providing researchers state-of-the-art equipment and services. A search for a new director for that office will occur this fall.

Reecy also has led the OVPR’s high performance computing steering committee, was co-chair of the Enhancing Institutional Excellence committee, and was involved in managing the initial Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Initiative projects.