Debbie Niemeier, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been named associate vice chancellor for research and the director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment.

In her new post, she will help to identify emerging environmental research issues and interdisciplinary initiatives, and work closely with the Office of Research and associate deans for research to implement new ideas for external research opportunities with industry, government agencies and other research interests. As a former chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Niemeier's research focuses on quantifying the effects of transportation on air quality. Her research also includes evaluating the connections between transportation and air quality policy. She is also the director of the UC Davis-Caltrans Air Quality Project.