Harvard’s search for a new dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study officially began yesterday as University President Drew G. Faust sent an e-mail to Radcliffe alums, faculty, and staff announcing the appointment of an advisory committee.

Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences Barbara J. Grosz has served as interim dean of the institute since Faust, Radcliffe’s founding dean, moved to Mass. Hall on July 1.

Homi K. Bhabha, the senior adviser in the humanities at Radcliffe and a member of the advisory committee, said yesterday that the committee will consider both internal and external candidates, and that “there’s a possibility” that Grosz will stay on as a permanent appointment.

Bhabha said that he was contacted over the weekend by a “senior person” at another university who asked him about the search.

“The Radcliffe dean position really does command the interest of very senior people,” Bhabha said.

Provost Steven E. Hyman will chair the panel of 12 scholars.

Several committee members contacted yesterday declined to comment for this story, saying they did not want to discuss the search before the committee convenes for the first time, at a date not yet set.

Nancy F. Cott, the Trumbull professor of American history and Pforzheimer director of the Schlesinger Library, said she was invited to join the committee several weeks ago, adding that she hopes to have an appointment ready by July 1 next year, when Grosz’s interim term expires.

“I am not that happy that the committee has not yet met,” said Cott.

She said that the process is a lengthy one, but the committee’s “aim is certainly to find somebody during this academic year.”

The advisory committee is made up of recent Radcliffe fellows and professors from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education, and Harvard Law School.

Of the 12, three committee members have a background in the natural sciences—Naomi E. Pierce, the Hessel professor of biology; Stuart M. Shieber ’81, the Welch professor of computer science; and Hyman, a professor of neurobiology.

The other committee members include Dunwalke Associate Professor of American History Vincent Brown, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature Julie A. Buckler, choreographer Ann Carlson, Goldman Professor of European Studies and Professor of Sociology and African and African American Studies Michèle Lamont, Professor of English and American Literature and Language Leah Price ’91, Professor of Education Julie A. Reuben, and Gottlieb Professor of Law Elizabeth Warren.

—Claire M. Guehenno contributed to the reporting of this story. —Staff writer Laurence H. M. Holland can be reached at lholland@fas.harvard.edu. —Staff writer Daniela Nemerenco can be reached at dnemeren@fas.harvard.edu.