Robert Barnhill, who has led research activities on Kansas University’s Lawrence campus since 1997, has been selected for a one-year position with the Council of Graduate Schools.

Barnhill, vice provost for research and president of the KU Center for Research, will leave Sept. 1 to serve as dean-in-residence for the organization, which has headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The position promotes communication between the National Science Foundation, which provides the salary money, and the council, which works to improve graduate education and communication among member schools.

“The idea is to give good counsel to both of them and bring both of them together,” Barnhill said. “I’ve done a lot of work in D.C., and I like doing that.”

Jim Roberts, associate vice provost for research, will temporarily serve as Barnhill’s replacement until a national search is conducted and a permanent replacement is named by July 1.

“Because Bob and Jim have worked so closely together since the center’s inception, I believe this transition in leadership will be as seamless as such operations can be,” David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, said in a statement.

When Barnhill returns to KU after his time in Washington, he will be a senior scholar with the Center for Research and professor of mathematics, electrical engineering and computer science.

Barnhill said his work at the council would focus in two areas — making research more “sustainable” for top scientists, meaning they’ll have to spend less time on grant proposals, and promoting research among American Indians. Barnhill’s wife, Marigold Linton, is director of American Indian Outreach at KU.

During Barnhill’s tenure at KU, research funding has doubled to $243 million in fiscal year 2002, the most recent data available. He previously was chairman of the computer science department for five years and vice president for research for six years.