Julie Chen expected to get nod as next UMass Lowell chancellor

The search for the next chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell has been narrowed to three finalists, including the campus’s chief research officer, Julie Chen, who is expected to get the nod when trustees meet on Monday, according to a person involved in the process.

Chen, 57, is the only local finalist and has been considered a leading candidate for the post. With three mechanical engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chen came to UMass Lowell in 1997 as co-director of the Advanced Composite Materials and Textile Research Lab University. She currently serves as vice chancellor of research, innovation, and economic development, and is a professor of mechanical engineering.