Alam, who teaches in the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, said: 'Jung is pursuing his Phd in energy economics from Oxford University, and is well aware of the needs of the academic world. We are hopeful.'

Jung, a 1973 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer, studied at St. Stephen's College here and the London School of Economics.

He left the civil services after serving as joint secretary in the petroleum and natural gas ministry.

Jung had also played a major role in the privatisation of ONGC's Panna Mukta oilfield that went to a consortium of Reliance-ONGC and British Gas.

He worked with the Manila-based Asian Development Bank before joining the Observer Research Foundation as director of energy research.

Jung was chosen over outgoing vice chancellor Hasan and Bihar's principal secretary (home) Afzal Amanullah.