Madison Reporter

Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska has recently joined the University of Wisconsin–Madison as its new Vice Chancellor for Research and a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She now oversees the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, which manages over $1.52 billion in annual research expenditures, placing UW–Madison among the top 10 universities in the nation for research volume.

Grejner-Brzezinska's own research has significantly advanced the application of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), aiming to provide location/navigation solutions under various conditions. Her work is driven by her fascination with explorers' stories and a love of maps—a passion she shares with Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Cynthia Czajkowski.

“I am very grateful to Cindy for her support in my transition to VCR and for making me feel so welcome,” said Grejner-Brzezinska. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with Cindy and other campus leaders, as well as the world-class campus research community here to grow the Wisconsin Idea, a principle that I strongly believe in.”

Before joining UW–Madison, Grejner-Brzezinska held multiple leadership roles at Ohio State University, including vice president for knowledge enterprise, professor of civil engineering, department chair, and associate dean for research. She has also been appointed by President Joe Biden to the National Science Board and previously served on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Grejner-Brzezinska holds numerous fellowships and honors, including being a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Navigation, and Royal Institute of Navigation. She is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

As principal investigator for the NSF Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), she seeks new directions in engineering research aligned with global economic and societal needs. With over 350 peer-reviewed publications and nearly 60 sponsored-research projects totaling about $39 million, her contributions are extensive.

Originally from Olsztyn in northeastern Poland, Grejner-Brzezinska arrived in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar graduate student at Ohio State University. Her academic journey includes master's degrees from both The Ohio State University and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland.

When asked about her attraction to UW–Madison, Grejner-Brzezinska cited "the nationally and internationally recognized research strengths" along with "the culture of collaboration across disciplinary fields." Her first visit left a lasting impression due to "the energy, enthusiasm, and collective wisdom" she encountered.

Grejner-Brzezinska expressed her fondness for Lake Mendota's shoreline on campus: “Someone told me that it’s the view one will notice first, and the view one will never forget.”

She values her colleagues at UW–Madison: “The people...are amazing. I am grateful for their time and patience while onboarding me.” Additionally, she sees her work aligning with the Wisconsin Idea by developing GPS applications that serve society beyond national defense purposes.

Grejner-Brzezinska shared insights into her family life: Her husband David Dean leads an osteo-engineering lab at Ohio State University; her daughter Bogna Brzezinska is a gynecological oncologist; Eric Schorsten runs a real estate business; Matthew works in affordable housing; and they have three dachshunds—Toby, Zeke, and Fritz.

In conclusion, she stated: “I am delighted...to join UW–-Madison...and look forward to working with [everyone]...to take on [our] research enterprise...from strength to strength.”