The University announced Bryan W. Boudouris as the new vice president for research and economic development on Jan. 12.
Boudouris, who will begin his tenure on April 1, currently serves as the associate vice president for strategic interdisciplinary research with the Office of Research at Purdue University. Additionally, he is the R. Norris and Eleanor Shreve Professor of Chemical Engineering, a special title for particularly accomplished faculty at the university.
During his time at Purdue, Boudouris helped increase research expenditures by almost $50 million from the 2022 fiscal year to the next.
According to data from the Higher Education Research and Development Survey from the National Science Foundation, the University ranked second to last out of all SEC schools in research and development expenditures. From 2021 to 2022, the University’s expenditures in these areas grew 26.02%.
Boudouris graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 2004 and received a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2009.
UA President Stuart Bell said he was pleased that Boudouris will be leading the Office of Research and Economic Development.
“His experience and depth of expertise aligns well with our strategic goals and will elevate UA’s research enterprise to new levels of success,” Bell said.
Boudouris, one of five candidates for the position, has received various awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the John H. Dillon Medal from the American Physical Society for recognition in polymer physics.
The five candidates each met with groups of students, faculty and staff to give presentations and participate in a Q&A session led by Search Committee Chair Cliff Henderson in November.
James Dalton, UA executive vice president and provost, said he looks forward to having Boudouris on his team.
“Dr. Boudouris brings a wealth of knowledge in strategically securing support for research,” Dalton said.
Boudouris said he is humbled to receive the position and expressed what an honor this is for him.
“To be able to join the team at this exciting juncture is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I could not be more thankful to the leadership of the University for their strong commitment to the research and economic development infrastructure and their vision for a state-of-the-art knowledge creation ecosystem,” Boudouris said.
