Ceccio tapped as associate VP for research

Steven Ceccio, professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics and of naval architecture and marine engineering, has been appointed an associate vice president for research. The appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Regents at the September meeting.

Ceccio (Photo by Marcia Ledford, U-M Photo Services)

"Professor Ceccio is someone with significant energy and enthusiasm," says Fawwaz Ulaby, vice president for research. "He has administrative experience and is an effective communicator as well. He also brings a sense of vision and familiarity with science and engineering research, which we will put to excellent use in OVPR [the Office of the Vice President for Research]."

Ceccio on Sept. 1 took on the position formerly held by Professor Anthony Francis, who recently was named associate dean for budget in LSA. Francis served as associate vice president for research since September 2002.

Ceccio received his bachelor's degree from
U-M in 1985 and his master's and doctoral degrees from the California Institute of Technology in 1986 and 1990. He joined the U-M faculty in 1990 as assistant professor and became a full professor in 2003. In 1996, Ceccio was awarded both a departmental Teaching Award and the Department of Energy Young Scientist and Engineer Award.

Ceccio is an experimentalist in fluid mechanics with a research focus on understanding multiphase flow processes. He currently heads two large multidisciplinary efforts to study the reduction of flow-induced friction drag.

As an associate vice president, Ceccio's responsibilities will include serving as the OVPR liaison to units in the natural or physical sciences, engineering, and related disciplines and professions.

"His strong interest in facilitating interdisciplinary research fits nicely with one of OVPR's important values," Ulaby says.