Founding director of UA research institute steps down, interim director named

Dr. Ranu Jung, the founding director of the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) at the University of Arkansas (UA), is no longer in that position but remains in her role as distinguished professor of biomedical engineering.

Hugh Churchill, professor of physics and the 21st century chair in nanophysics, has been named interim director, according to a Thursday (April 9) news release. Jung stepped down as executive director last month.

The UA plans to conduct a national search for the director and will provide more information when it becomes available, the release shows.

In October 2021, the UA hired Jung as I3R’s founding director. She previously was professor and chair of the Florida International University Department of Biomedical Engineering in Miami.

Churchill joined the UA faculty in 2015 and has been internationally recognized for his work in quantum physics. He’s also the director of the Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering and is an associate director and co-founder of the MonArk NSF Quantum Foundry.

“Dr. Churchill’s leadership in research makes him the ideal person to lead I3R in this interim moment,” said Provost Indrajeet Chaubey. “He has led research centers on our campus and has a strong record of collaboration within the U of A and with universities across the state and nation. I’m thrilled to name him interim director of I3R, and I’m confident he will continue to encourage interdisciplinary work at the institute, across campus and with other universities and organizations. I again thank Dr. Ranu Jung for her service as the inaugural director of I3R. Her contributions have been incredibly valuable in the establishment and building of the institute.”

The Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research was established through a $194.7 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. UA officials announced the donation in July 2020, and it supports several initiatives, including I3R, which will advance the commercialization of interdisciplinary research.

The public research institute aims to deploy innovations at scale through partnerships with industry, community, and philanthropic organizations while educating and empowering a qualified workforce. The 144,000-square-foot I3R building opened in spring 2025 at the southeast corner of Dickson and Duncan streets. The capital amount for the building increased to $137.6 million from $114 million in 2022 amid rising construction costs and the cost of completing the research lab.

“I’m grateful to Provost Chaubey for placing his trust in me to lead the institute forward,” Churchill said. “I’m committed to I3R, its faculty and staff, and the campus community as we collaborate more broadly, elevate the institute on a national scale and showcase the impactful work we are doing to solve real-world challenges for the betterment of society.”