Dr. Christopher Lawson, professor in the Department of Physics, has been elected board chair of a national nonprofit coalition that promotes the importance of vibrant science and technology in states that historically have received smaller amounts of federal R&D funding.

Dr. Lawson will lead the Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States as it works to improve university research infrastructure and competiveness. As chair, Dr. Lawson will serve as the public face of the 25-state coalition and will be responsible for visits with members of Congress, coordination with federal agencies, and annual retreats and conferences. Since 2010, Lawson has served as executive director of Alabama EPSCoR, which has helped secure research funding from federal agencies totaling $66 million from 2012-2015.