Reuben F. Burch V, Ph.D., is a dynamic and entrepreneurial-minded executive research
administrator who joins Texas Christian University as vice provost for research. With
extensive leadership experience in both higher education and industry, he will provide
vision, direction and strategic planning to increase research funding and scholarly
productivity to support TCU’s national research agenda. He begins Aug. 1.
The role of vice provost for research is essential to TCU’s strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, which emphasizes research, scholarship and creative activity as one of four main pillars. Burch will report to Floyd L. Wormley Jr., provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, who held the vice provost of research role from 2019 until he was selected as provost in 2024.
“Dr. Burch has a profound understanding of the research landscape and a career of accomplishments in research funding, interdisciplinary research collaborations and building research capacity at an R1 institution,” Wormley said. “His strengths in program building, leadership, innovation, invention, collaboration, relationship building, strategic vision and process optimization will catalyze our research, scholarship and creative activity.”
Burch will oversee the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance and Integrity. He will work closely with the provost, deans, Office of Graduate Studies, University Strategy & Innovation Office and TCU faculty and staff to expand TCU’s research enterprise. Under his leadership, TCU will increase research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students and strengthen and establish collaborative programs and partnerships with institutions, agencies, industry and other organizations. Key priorities are to advance and enhance TCU’s research infrastructure, implement new initiatives to increase research support, and promote TCU’s research accomplishments to educate the broader community about the value of research.
“This is an exciting time to join the Horned Frog family to redefine the future of research in higher education,” Burch said. “TCU’s strategic plan reminds us that it’s important to ‘keep the main thing the main thing.’ The main thing for TCU is the students; the main thing for my role as [vice provost of research] is to serve our faculty by providing them with world-class research opportunities and infrastructure from which all student experiences will benefit. I look forward to partnering with the administration and faculty from all colleges to leverage our research and creative activity to address the pressing challenges of our Fort Worth community and beyond.”
Burch comes to TCU from Mississippi State University where he was associate vice president for research, executive director and founder of the Athlete Engineering Institute, Jack Hatcher Endowed Chair in engineering entrepreneurship, and professor of industrial and systems engineering. He holds a B.S. in computer engineering from Mississippi State University, M.E.M. in industrial and manufacturing system engineering from Kansas State University and Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from Mississippi State.
Burch has extensive experience in fostering collaborations, securing competitive funding and managing research priorities and infrastructure. His career includes building successful programs from the ground up, fostering a culture of innovation and bringing together expertise from various fields to address complex problems and develop comprehensively applied solutions.