Weyhenmeyer to leave role as VP for research and economic development, will transition to tenured professorship in College of Veterinary Medicine

Earlier this week, James Weyhenmeyer indicated that he will step down from his position as vice president for research and economic development in May to take his tenured professorship in the College of Veterinary Medicine to focus on advancing biomedical sciences research.

Weyhenmeyer joined Auburn in 2019 and, since that time, Auburn experienced notable growth in its research and development spending. For the past two years, Auburn ranked in the top 11% of U.S. research institutions, coming in at 100 among 915 universities, according to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD Survey. During the period from 2017-22, Auburn’s annual research expenditures increased from $190.3 million to $304.4 million, resulting in a rankings jump of 14 places. Among public universities, Auburn is ranked 68 out of 412 institutions.

“Research is a critical component of Auburn’s land-grant mission,” President Christopher B. Roberts said. “Dr. Weyhenmeyer’s commitment to impactful research and innovative economic development has helped to further cement Auburn’s place as a leading research institution. I am incredibly grateful for Jim’s contributions, which have had a positive impact on the university's reputation and success as a research institution.”

Weyhenmeyer provided leadership to various research and economic development units, including sponsored programs, proposal services and faculty support, research compliance, the university veterinarian, electronic research administration, innovation advancement and commercialization, external engagement and support and university-based start-ups. He worked with the university’s administration, including academic units, research centers and institutes, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

“I have enjoyed working to advance Auburn’s research portfolio through collaboration with the remarkable researchers across the university,” Weyhenmeyer said. “I now look forward to focusing future efforts on elevating biomedical sciences research across campus with colleagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine whose research focuses on the health sciences. There is tremendous opportunity for advancement in this critical area.”

Weyhenmeyer joined Auburn from Georgia State University, where he served as vice president for research and economic development and as chair of the Research Foundation Board of Directors. At GSU, Weyhenmeyer managed the university’s research portfolio, economic development activities and information technology operations. Prior to GSU, he was the senior vice provost for research and economic development at the State University of New York and the vice president for research at the State University of New York Research Foundation.

Weyhenmeyer’s own research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, the PhRMA Foundation and private industry. He has received many awards and honors for his research, most recently the American Heart Association’s Meritorious Achievement Award for research and service and inducted as foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.

“We welcome Dr. Weyhenmeyer in the College of Veterinary Medicine as he helps to bridge and expand biomedical sciences research across the Auburn campus with an emphasis on One Health,” Dean Calvin Johnson said. “He is an accomplished cell biologist and neuroscientist who has published widely on cardiovascular disease and stroke, and he couples this with tremendous research administration experience. We look forward to working with him more closely.”

Weyhenmeyer received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College, a doctorate from Indiana University and did his postdoctoral training in the departments of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Iowa.