Todd Murphey named Director of Transformative Research
The Office for Research is pleased to announce that Professor Todd Murphey of the McCormick School of Engineering has been appointed Northwestern's inaugural Director of Transformative Research.
In this new role, Murphey (pictured above at right) will focus on expanding opportunities for Northwestern faculty to conduct federally funded and secure research initiatives on campus and in collaboration with external partners such as national laboratories. He will also work closely with Northwestern's compliance and IT teams to navigate evolving research security regulations, ensuring faculty are well-positioned to engage in high-impact research across disciplines.
Reporting to Associate Vice President for Research (National Labs) Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, Murphey's responsibilities will include:
- Expanding opportunities for Northwestern faculty to engage in federally funded research
- Developing pathways for faculty to pursue secure research initiatives on campus or with external partners
- Serving on University and Office for Research committees related to research security regulations
- Providing faculty perspective on transformative research initiatives in collaboration with school leadership
- Liaising with Northwestern IT on matters related to research security
- Connecting the Northwestern compliance team with federal agency representatives as needed
Murphey joined Northwestern's faculty in 2009 and is a professor of mechanical engineering. His research focuses on robotics, control theory, and computational methods for decision-making in complex systems. His work has advanced applications in autonomous systems, human-robot collaboration, and adaptive control strategies for uncertain environments. He has received funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and NASA. His expertise in securing and managing federally funded research makes him well-suited for this new leadership role.
"Todd brings a wealth of experience in federally funded and interdisciplinary research," said Figueroa-Feliciano. "His leadership will help build new opportunities for Northwestern faculty to engage in cutting-edge, high-impact research while ensuring we remain at the forefront of evolving research security practices."
Vice President for Research Eric Perreault emphasized the importance of this new role in shaping Northwestern's research landscape. "As the federal research funding environment evolves, we must ensure that our faculty have the support and infrastructure to pursue ambitious, high-impact projects. Todd's appointment underscores Northwestern's commitment to fostering transformative research while navigating the complex regulatory landscape with integrity and excellence. His experience working on national advisory boards focused on security makes him an exceptional choice for this position."
Murphey expressed enthusiasm for the role: "I'm excited to work with faculty across disciplines to expand and strengthen Northwestern's research portfolio. As federal priorities evolve, we have a unique opportunity to shape how transformative research is conducted at the University. I look forward to supporting my colleagues in pursuing new and ambitious projects."