Stephen Forrest — opto-electronics researcher, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering at Princeton and former chair of the electrical engineering department — has accepted the position of vice president of research at the University of Michigan.
The University of Michigan's Board of Regents met yesterday to approve his Jan. 1 appointment. Forrest, a University of Michigan alumnus, will oversee the university's $750 million research program.
"I know Michigan and I like it very much. Having lived there for six years was very important [in making my decision]," Forrest said.
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman said in a press release that Forrest "combines an impressive record of research achievement with personal, hands-on involvement" in technology transfer and the administration of major research operations.
Forrest said he felt confident the Princeton electrical engineering department would be "just fine" after he officially leaves.
"The University has been around for 260 years, most of that time without me," he said.
In fact, Forrest said he saw his leave as an "opportunity for the University to find other people."
Peter Ramadge, the current chair of the Princeton electrical engineering department, said Forrest "had a very substantial research program here" and that he had "done some of his best work" at Princeton during his 15 years at the University.
Ramadge said the department would be sad to see Forrest leave, given his strong relationships with local companies such as the Universal Display Corporation, a leader in the development of organic light emitting devices.
Though Forrest is taking his lab manager and some of his graduate and postdoctoral students with him to Michigan, Ramadge was not unnerved.
He said that it "seemed only natural" that Forrest would take his lab manager with him, and that only some researchers on his team would be leaving Princeton immediately.
Those who are nearing completion on their research projects will remain at the University until they are done. However, "others who haven't been working for so long" at Princeton will transfer as soon as possible to start research at their new home institute.
According to Ramadge, the transfer as a whole will be a gradual process that will take about a year.
Forrest will remain at Princeton until he assumes his new post in January.
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