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The University of Utah has named the chair of the physics and astronomy department as dean of the graduate school.
David Kieda replaces Charles Wight, who left least year to become president of Weber State University.
Kieda is an internationally known researcher on the use of astronomical telescopes to study the fundamental particles and forces in the universe, according to a U. press release.
Kieda joined the U. faculty in 1990 after earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He's now leading several gamma-ray observatory projects and has 30 patents on electronic components, safer medical devices and novel material properties.
Kieda won the Utah Governor's Medal of Science and Technology last year.