Varahramyan named UMaine vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School

Kody Varahramyan, senior aide to the chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), has been named University of Maine vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School, effective July 1.

“We are excited about the experience and vision Dr. Varahramyan brings to this critical leadership role at Maine’s public research university,” says Jeffrey Hecker, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “His experience growing funded research, fostering university-industry relationships, and supporting multidisciplinary research initiatives matches UMaine’s needs at this point in our development as a world-class research university.”

Varahramyan, who has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has 25 years of academic experience as a faculty member and administrator at Louisiana Tech University and IUPUI.

At IUPUI, Varahramyan has been senior aide to the chancellor since 2015. He served as IUPUI’s vice chancellor for research from 2008–15. Strategic projects developed during his tenure as vice chancellor include the Innovation-To-Enterprise Initiative, the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute, the STEM Education Research Institute and the Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute. Varahramyan was also professor of electrical and computer engineering at IUPUI.

He joined Louisiana Tech in 1992 after 10 years on the technical staff of IBM Corporation in Essex Junction, Vermont. At Louisiana Tech, Varahramyan served as the Entergy Distinguished Professor, as well as associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Engineering and Science, and director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing.

He also collaborated to develop innovative undergraduate and graduate degree initiatives, including the nation’s first bachelor’s program in nanosystems engineering.

Varahramyan’s research focused on nanoscale materials, process and devices, including integrated nanosystems for medical, energy, environmental and information technology applications.

He has authored and co-authored nearly 200 papers in journals and conference proceedings. Varahramyan is named as an inventor on seven patents, and has secured more than $31 million in external funding as principal or co-principal investigator on grants for research and educational programs.

Varahramyan says he is delighted to have the opportunity to join UMaine and work to “advance its development as a world-class research university.”

Contact: Margaret Nagle, 207.581.3745