Nanotechnology institute begins search for director general

Ottawa, ON – January 23, 2004 – The National Research Council (NRC) says it has begun the official search for a permanent director general for the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) in Edmonton, AB. Candidates will be sought from academic and industrial research programs around the world. Screening criteria will stress both scientific achievement in a nanotechnology-related field and significant experience in managing research and development programs and technology transfer.

The suitable candidate must have “significant scientific credibility coupled with the vision and managerial experience to take us from the development stage to one of the top nanotechnology institutes in the world,” says Dr Arthur Carty, NRC president. “Recruiting a talented director general to lead the institute’s strategic and operational planning will be crucial to the success of this joint initiative with the University of Alberta in the years ahead.”

The first deadline for applicants is March 1, 2004. It is expected that the new director-general will be in place by this summer, but the competition will continue until a qualified candidate is found. The selection committee will include representatives from NINT’s three funding partners: NRC; the Alberta government; and the University of Alberta.

The successful candidate will replace Dr Janusz Lusztyk who has been NINT’s acting director-general since October 2003.