The White House has announced that President Barack Obama is nominating Robert Califf as the next commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Califf--a Duke University researcher, professor and cardiologist--joined the FDA as deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco in January. He is taking over for former FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg who resigned her post back in March after 6 years at the helm. Stephen Ostroff, the agency’s former chief scientist, has occupied the top post since then.

Califf, who’s job at Duke has been on hold since he joined the FDA, is a founding director of the school’s Clinical Research Institute--the world’s largest academic research organization.

Califf’s nomination is currently awaiting Senate confirmation.