The National Science Foundation this Fall appointed James Collins, formerly Ullman Professor at Arizona State University (see full bio at http://sols.asu.edu/faculty/jcollins.php), as head of Biological Sciences following the retirement of Dr Mary E. Clutter.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Jim Collins," said NSF Director Arden L. Bement Jr. "Not only is he a scientist of extraordinary distinction, his longstanding interest in the broad cultural, institutional and educational aspects of biology will serve our mission to integrate research and education."
Collins, who took over as Assistant Director for Biological Sciences beginning in October, will oversee NSF's nearly $580 million annual investment in fundamental biological research and serve on the Foundation's senior management team.
Collins has substantial prior experience with NSF in his roles as program director, a research awardee, and as chairman of the external Advisory Committee for the biological sciences directorate (BIO AC). He also represented BIO AC on NSF's Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education.
As an investigator, Collins has focused on how subgroups within a species physically change in response to ecological and evolutionary pressures, and, most recently, the role of pathogens in the global decline of amphibians. He chairs the task force of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Declining Amphibian Populations.
In addition, he has concentrated on the intellectual history of ecology and taken an active role in ASU's successful curriculum-enhancement and mentoring programs for undergraduates.
Story courtesy of NSF