Exploring New Frontiers of Faculty Excellence

For nearly 100 years, University of Houston faculty have inspired innovation within classrooms and communities. A UH initiative aims to ensure this trend continues by bringing 100 top researchers to campus.

In 2022, UH launched its Presidential Frontier Faculty (PFF) initiative.  Supported by the vision of UH President Renu Khator, Presidential Frontier Faculty are strategically recruited scholars from across the nation. Their research is interdisciplinary and confronts societal challenges affecting communities worldwide. PFF members also mentor future generations of problem-solvers and professionals.

In essence, these professors contribute to UH’s ever-growing research profile and to bolstering its academic enterprise.

President Khator’s ambitious goal is to bring 100 Presidential Frontier Faculty to campus, and the institution is working to hit that magic number.

“We must use our intellectual capital to serve communities and improve quality of life,” said UH President Renu Khator. “Research is a key driver in this endeavor, unlocking cures for chronic illness, clean energy solutions and a more equitable society. When you think of modern advancements that have propelled humanity forward, they all start with research.”

An inaugural cohort of 17 Presidential Frontier Faculty arrived on campus in 2022. The pandemic put a pause on its progress, but this fall, 18 new PFF members joined the University.

The majority of these scholars have dual faculty appointments within colleges and departments. All PFF members work within research clusters aligned with long-term federal research priorities.

“To address the complex challenges of the 21st century, we want to empower collaborative research across multiple disciplines,” said Claudia Neuhauser, vice president for UH’s Division of Research. “Researchers who can cross disciplines are poised to lead interdisciplinary teams. They also bring unique perspectives to the classroom.”

Neuhauser is among UH’s academic leaders who are on the frontlines of identifying future PFF members. The Office of the Provost also is tasked with guiding this initiative, which recruits scholars leading research in these priority disciplines: health, artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability and aerospace.

“These scholars and teachers are emblematic of UH’s reputation as a world-class institution and are accelerating our journey toward becoming a top 50 public university,” said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase.