Harvard University announced on Mar. 13 that Karin Öberg, a distinguished scholar in astrochemistry, will become the next senior vice provost for faculty. Öberg will take on her new role starting July 1.
The appointment is significant as the senior vice provost for faculty oversees faculty affairs across the university, including recruitment, retention, and support of scholars. The position also involves coordinating academic appointments and advancing research and teaching efforts.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber said, “Karin is a widely admired faculty member whose excellent judgment and efforts to nurture academic excellence have already made a difference at Harvard. I am eager for even more members of our community to benefit from her experience and skills. I have no doubt that she will excel in her new position.”
University Provost John Manning added, “I am delighted that Karin has agreed to take on the role of senior vice provost for faculty. She is a brilliant scientist, a dedicated teacher, a respected academic leader, and an exemplary institutional contributor. Her deep commitment to academic excellence and broad range of interests will serve her well, and I look forward to working closely with her in her new role.”
Öberg succeeds Judith D. Singer, who will retire from the Provost’s Office later this spring after 18 years of service to return to teaching. As professor of astronomy and Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences at Harvard, Öberg’s research focuses on how chemistry influences planet formation around young stars through laboratory experiments, modeling, and astronomical observations.
In addition to publishing over 250 peer-reviewed articles and receiving honors such as the Packard Fellowship and Simons Investigator Award in Astrophysics, Öberg has contributed significantly to both Harvard’s internal governance and international scientific organizations. She has served on various university committees as well as external boards like ALMA telescope in Chile and Associated Universities, Inc., among others.
“I believe that a flourishing faculty, free to pursue academic excellence, is at the heart of Harvard’s mission,” said Öberg. “I am deeply honored and excited at the opportunity to serve the University and support the next generation of scholars in this new role.”
Öberg holds degrees from Caltech (B.Sc.) and Leiden University (Ph.D.), reflecting her strong background in both chemistry and astronomy.
