Following six months as an interim, Lawrence B. Schook was named Friday as vice president for research at the University of Illinois.

His promotion to interim vice president was announced in February.

"He has been serving in an interim capacity since March, and doing a terrific, energetic job. This action would lift the 'interim' title and allow him to serve on a permanent, full-time basis," said UI spokesman Tom Hardy.

The action requires approval by the Board of Trustees at its Urbana meeting on Sept. 9.

The position was created as part of a senior administrative realignment to streamline and strengthen the university's research mission, according to President Michael J. Hogan.

The new office assumes the responsibilities formerly performed by the Office for Technology and Economic Development, including the offices for Technology Management at Chicago and Urbana-Champaign; IllinoisVENTURES LLC; the research parks at Chicago and Urbana-Champaign and Innovations at the UI website.

"Larry's leadership and vision have been everything we expected and more," said Hogan in a news release. "He has reached out across our campuses, and his work to foster collaboration will elevate our already distinguished record as a pioneer in breakthrough research and discovery."

Schook's goals, he said, include streamlining research processes, ensuring access to the arts and humanities through technology, supporting collaborative research efforts, promoting public/private research partnerships, and developing the infrastructure and facilities to encourage innovation and economic development.

As vice president for research, Schook serves as the senior research officer of the university. He advises the president on matters of research, intellectual property, technology commercialization, economic development activities and other matters designated by Hogan.

Schook will be responsible for managing the university's nearly $800 million research enterprise. He will also work closely with both the Office of Governmental Relations to communicate the university's research priorities on a local, state and federal level, and the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs to integrate technology breakthroughs into healthcare advances, the UI said.