Boudouris to Lead UA Research, Economic Development

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Bryan W. Boudouris has been named the next vice president for research and economic development at The University of Alabama and will begin his tenure April 1. 

Boudouris comes to UA from Purdue University where he serves as the associate vice president for strategic interdisciplinary research with the Office of Research and R. Norris and Eleanor Shreve Professor of Chemical Engineering. He served as program director in the Division of Materials Research at the National Science Foundation from 2020-2022 as part of an Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignment.

“I am pleased Dr. Boudouris will be leading our team at the Office for 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,” UA President Stuart R. Bell said. “I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Allen Parrish for his outstanding and continuing interim leadership, and I appreciate the dedication of the hiring committee in their thoughtful consideration of candidates.”

As associate vice president for strategic interdisciplinary research at Purdue, Boudouris helped increase the number and award size of large, interdisciplinary centers that advance the research portfolio of the university while having a translatable impact to the global community. From fiscal year 2022 to the following year, research expenditures increased by around $50 million with greater growth anticipated in the future. 

Boudouris also serves as director of the Army-funded Energetic Materials Basic Research (EMBR) Center. As director of the $15 million project housed at Purdue, he guides the overarching research, training and workforce development efforts within the center to deliver on the opportunities associated with this critical area of national security.

A recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2016, Boudouris has received numerous awards at the college and national levels, including the John H. Dillon Medal from the American Physical Society recognizing outstanding accomplishment and research in polymer physics. 

Boudouris earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. 

“Dr. Boudouris brings a wealth of knowledge in strategically securing support for research,” said Dr. James Dalton, UA executive vice president and provost. “I look forward to seeing his vision and expertise continue to elevate the Office for Research and Economic Development to new heights.”

“It is a humbling honor and true privilege to be named the new vice president for research and economic development,” Boudouris said. “The research ecosystem at The University of Alabama has grown rapidly with multiple compelling efforts coming together currently thanks to outstanding faculty, groundbreaking researchers, talented students, an integrated discovery and translation enterprise based on a group of highly talented individuals, and visionary senior leadership at the institution.

“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.”

The UA Office for Research and Economic Development oversees a variety of interdisciplinary units that collaborate with faculty, staff, students and external partners to catalyze, support and safeguard research and scholarship activity. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, the University saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in fiscal year 2023 over the previous year.