NSF Director Will Return to Purdue to Head Global Policy Research Institute

Arden L. Bement Jr., an engineer and scientist who has served since 2004 as director of the National Science Foundation, is returning to Purdue University to lead its new Global Policy Research Institute, beginning June 1. A spokeswoman for the NSF, which uses a $6-billion annual budget to finance research at American universities, said she could not comment on any plans for finding a successor to Mr. Bement.