TCU hires vice provost of research to lead efforts to become R1 university
TCU has hired a new vice provost for research as the university aims to gain “R1” status over the next decade.
Reuben F. Burch V begins in the role Aug. 1. He previously was associate vice president for research at Mississippi State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a doctorate in systems engineering.
The vice provost for research will be the driver of the university’s plans to grow its research footprint, one of the core tenets of its strategic plan. TCU set a goal to become a top research university and gain R1 status by 2035.
The university plans to expand research opportunities for all students and create partnerships with outside organizations. Burch is expected to direct the TCU’s efforts to garner more research funding and grow the amount of scholarship the university produces.
“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,” Burch said.
Burch’s boss will be a previous vice provost for research, Floyd L. Wormley Jr., who became 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.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM.
