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            Auburn University - University Relations
                         (334) 844-9999
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4/14/95                 Mitch Emmons

JOHNSON NAMED INTERIM DIRECTOR OF AUBURN RESEARCH UNIT 

      AUBURN -- Gerald Johnson, associate vice president for research 
at Auburn University, has been named interim director of AU's Institute 
for Biological Detection Systems.  He succeeds Larry Myers, who became 
associate director of the research unit.
      IBDS was established in 1989 as a multidisciplinary institute to 
do research in the area of biologically based detection systems. It is 
administered by a board of deans, chaired by College of Veterinary 
Medicine Dean J.T. Vaughan, and a director.
      As the IBDS program grew into a major university research 
institute in 1993, Myers recommended that it be reorganized to provide 
for an associate director for program development and a director with 
overall administrative responsibilities. As associate director, Myers 
will continue to lead the research programs and program development.
      Johnson, a political scientist, has been at AU since 1970. For 
the past three years, he has been interim vice president for research and 
associate vice president for research.
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