(a) The Board of Regents shall establish an endowment for the physical sciences at the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks. The endowment shall be managed as a perpetual trust. The income of the endowment shall be used to pay the salary and related expenses of the person appointed under (b) of this section for research, teaching, and advanced studies in one or more physical science disciplines.
(b) The Board of Regents shall appoint a person who is distinguished in one or more physical science disciplines to be paid from the endowment for the physical sciences. The tenure and the duties of the appointee shall be established by the Board of Regents based on the need for (1) teaching, research, and studies in physical sciences of special interest in the state; and
(2) advancement of scientific study at the University of Alaska.