According to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Ann Briggs Addo, however, the search committee is still in its early stages of selection and has not begun conducting interviews.

Chaired by chemistry and biochemistry professor Partho Ghosh, the search committee is comprised of Earl Warren College Provost Steven Adler, various professors, A.S. Council and GSA student representatives and Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Salk Institute faculty and was drawn from a slate provided by the Academic Senate as well as appointments made by the executive vice chancellor.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs in December, the committee will look for candidates with prior academic administration experience, a record of “service appropriate for appointment as a tenured senior professor” and accomplishments in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The search for the new dean began in January after five-year biological sciences dean Steve Kay stepped down from his position in September to join USC’s Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences as its 21st dean.

Since then, professor and current chair of the section of cell and developmental biology William McGinnis has been serving as interim dean and will continue to do so until a new dean is chosen.

Once the committee completes its interview process, a short list of two or three candidates will be recommended to the executive vice chancellor and chancellor, who will make the hiring decision.

The new dean of the division of biological sciences will report directly to Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Suresh Subramani, work with other divisional deans, oversee research centers and head the four academic sections of the division, including cell and developmental biology, ecology, behavior and evolution, molecular biology and neurobiology. In addition, the dean will be appointed as Richard C. Atkinson chair in the biological sciences and will begin the position in a full time capacity.