Liz Lempert, who served eight years as the first mayor of the consolidated municipality of Princeton, has joined Princeton University as assistant director in the Research Development office.

In this new role, which took effect Monday, Lempert will assist faculty in amplifying the societal benefits of their research and in developing collaborations with community-based organizations and other educational institutions.

Lempert became mayor in 2013 when the former Princeton borough and township merged. She served two terms, through 2020. During her tenure, Princeton was recognized for its leadership in governmental innovation, bicycle mobility and environmental sustainability by organizations such as the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the League of American Bicyclists and Sustainable Jersey.

Before turning to politics, Lempert worked as a journalist, including ten years as a producer and editor at the public radio environmental program Living on Earth. More recently, while in residence at the University’s Pace Center for Civic Engagement, she compiled a resource guide for community partners.

Lempert has a master’s degree in science writing from Boston University and undergraduate degrees in symbolic systems and history from Stanford University.