The search for a director of the Plant Sciences Institute is under way.

Richard Seagrave, chairman of the search committee, said he expects a lot from the candidates who are applying for the position.

“We’re hoping for a world-class scientist,” said Seagrave, distinguished professor of chemical engineering.

Search committee member Dan Ashlock also said he was looking for an accomplished scientist.

“We want someone who can hold together a large, diverse organization with lots of departments,” said Ashlock, associate professor of mathematics. “It would be nice if [the candidate] had made great discoveries.”

The committee was formed in December to find a director for the Plant Sciences Institute. Colin Scanes, associate dean of agriculture, is serving as the interim director.

Ashlock said the most important issue for the new director is an understanding of the science and business ends of running the institute.

“[The new director] needs to understand how science works and how it is funded,” he said. “Right now, it is a big tangle.”

Seagrave said the new director’s work load will be divided in two.

“First, [the person] will have a tenure-faculty position in the department and contribute and conduct research,” he said. “Second, the director will direct activities at the institute and in the eight centers.”

After forming the committee in December, members began looking for the ideal candidate.

“Advertisements were sent to three national journals, and we communicated with basic science departments across the U.S.,” Seagrave said.

Response from the advertisements has been modest, Seagrave said.

“Roughly, we’re getting a typical response like we were looking for a dean of a college, but we have nothing to compare it with,” he said.

The committee will begin reviewing applications in March, but it hasn’t set a deadline for finding the new director.

“We’ll review [applications] until we find the person we want,” Seagrave said. “This is not something we have done before, so it is interesting and exciting.”