Bernhard becomes interim director of the Applied Research Institute

Donald Biggar Willett Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering Jennifer Bernhard has been named as the interim director of the Applied Research Institute (ARI) while continuing her current role as associate dean for research in the College of Engineering.

"As associate dean for research, Bernhard has interacted with ARI regularly and is familiar with the research carried out there, the aspirational goals of the Institute, and its operational details," College of Engineering Interim Dean Tamer Başar said in an announcement. "She has the confidence of the staff and possesses the knowledge, ability, and drive to lead ARI during the transition period until a permanent director is in place."

n her current role at the College, Bernhard has helped increase overall research expenditures and provided support for large research proposals, including NSF Engineering Research Centers, NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers, and NNMI Manufacturing Institutes. She joined the university as a visiting assistant professor in ECE ILLINOIS faculty in 1999. Since then, she has been promoted to a full professorship and been an affiliated faculty member or research professor with the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, the Coordinated Science Laboratory, and the Information Trust Institute.