MIT has named a new provost. The former head of MITs Dept. of Biology, professor Chris Kaiser, will take on the role as provost, replacing MITs President-elect Rafael Reif, the institute announced today.

Kaiser, who has been a cell biologist and professor of biology, has been at MIT since 1991. The professor, 55, chaired the Dept. of Biology from 2004 until earlier this year.

As someone who grew up at MIT first as a graduate student and then as a member of the biology faculty I am extremely grateful to President-elect Reif for giving me the opportunity to serve the Institute in this capacity, Kaiser said in a statement. At MIT, innovation is the norm, and as provost I plan not only to build upon our already-strong programs, but also to continue to foster inventive new directions in education and research.

Kaiser was selected by Reif, the outgoing provost, who will take on his role as president on July 2. Reif selected Kaiser after consulting faculty members and students, according to MIT. The selection was then was confirmed by a vote of the Executive Committee of the MIT Corporation.

In his new role as provost, Kaiser will be responsible for the Institutes educational programs, as well as for the recruitment, promotion and tenuring of faculty. Kaiser will also work with the deans of MITs five schools to establish priorities and will work with the vice president for research and associate provost regarding research priorities.

As the head of the Dept. of Biology, Kaiser managed 14 new junior faculty in the department and in affiliated research institutions including the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, and the Broad Institute.

His efforts in genetic, biochemical and structural biology research methods have led to the identification of numerous genes and mutations involved in these processes.

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MIT names head of biology dept. as new provost