University of Chicago selects new provost

The director of Argonne National Laboratory has been selected to be the University of Chicago’s next provost.

The school announced Eric Isaacs’ appointment Thursday. He’ll assume the post March 31.

As provost, Isaacs will be the university’s chief academic officer. His responsibilities will include overseeing the academic appointment process and the university’s budget.

Isaacs is an accomplished physicist in his own right and has been Argonne’s director since 2009. While at the lab outside Chicago, he worked with the University of Chicago in creating the Institute for Molecular Engineering and in expanding the Computation Institute.

University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer says Isaacs will bring with him “a distinguished career in research and education.”

Isaacs will succeed Thomas Rosenbaum. He’s been appointed president of the California Institute of Technology.