UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Shashank Priya, associate vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR), has been named vice president for research at the University of Minnesota and will conclude his tenure at Penn State on Sept. 29. Senior Vice President for Research Lora Weiss said the University plans to conduct a national search for Priya’s replacement.
“We are greatly appreciative of the contributions Shashank has had on the University’s research enterprise during the past four years,” Weiss said. “His efforts have been valuable in supporting Penn State’s overall research, including increasing research support. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
Priya has been Penn State’s associate vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives since January 2018, which supports OSVPR’s mission to administer and promote Penn State’s research enterprise, including advancing global collaboration opportunities for solving challenges.
He is responsible for facilitating teams for large-scale interdisciplinary research programs and competitions, limited submissions, and strategic funding opportunities, as well as conducting red team reviews on proposals to these programs. Priya also oversees the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, strategic international research directions in collaboration with Penn State Global, Commonwealth Campus research programs, capital equipment for core-facilities and research centers.
He is a professor of materials science and engineering, and his research focuses on multifunctional materials, bio-inspired systems and technologies, energy harvesting and storage. Priya has authored or co-authored more than 450 journal papers, more than 60 peer-reviewed proceedings, and holds 10 U.S. patents.
Before becoming associate vice president, Priya served as the Robert E. Hord Jr. Professor of Mechanical Engineering and associate director for research and scholarship in the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science at Virginia Tech.
He received his doctorate in materials engineering from Penn State in 2003. Priya also holds a master of science in metallurgy from the Indian Institute of Science and a bachelor of science degree in math and physics from Allahabad University.