Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Stephen Cross, Ph.D., announced on June 3, 2016, that Gisele Bennett, Ph.D., has been named as Georgia Tech’s Associate Vice President for Research Faculty Interaction, effective Aug. 1, 2016.

Bennett’s work as director of the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and across Georgia Tech makes her uniquely qualified to take on this new and important role for Georgia Tech, according to Cross.

During the past few months, Georgia Tech’s research leadership and GTRI have defined a plan to increase interactions and connections across the Institute. This effort identified a need for a leader to spearhead increased engagements between GTRI and the colleges.

“As we considered candidates for this leadership position, it was clear that our best candidate already worked across the Institute with many of GTRI’s major campus partners,” Cross said.

Bennett is a Regents’ Researcher, director of EOSL since 2005 and a professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She also has been named the Glen P. Robinson Chair in Electro-Optics at GTRI.

Her work spans electrical and computer engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and computer science and atmospheric sciences, while her patents and publications demonstrate the wide engagement across disciplines. She has served as an adviser for multiple doctoral and master of science candidates.

She has served across the Institute on multiple leadership committees, including search committees, industry engagements, and the Institute’s strategic plan advisory group.

For the past 10 years, Bennett led EOSL into an expanded research portfolio and a growing base of sponsored programs. She has also represented GTRI and Georgia Tech externally through many high-profile external engagements, including the following:  

• Led efforts to gain European Union programs during a time where GTRI was seeking to expand its international footprint  
• Served as a member the Army Science Board since 2013
• Led a major research initiative at GTRI in container security/RFID systems and related technologies
• Led a multi-year program providing a leading decision support software toolset to the first responder community
• Served both the Optical Society and SPIE in professional positions   

Bennett will be in transition between now and Aug. 1, when she will move into the AVP role for 50 percent of the time and maintain her research portfolio the other 50 percent. GTRI Deputy Director Joe Brooks will lead the search for new EOSL Director in the upcoming weeks.