UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Patrick Drew, professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, has been named associate director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

Drew, who also holds appointments in neurosurgery, biomedical engineering, and biology, previously served as the associate director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute, a multi-campus institute supported by Huck. Drew participates in three intercollege graduate degree programs administered by Huck (neuroscience; integrative and biomedical physiology; and molecular, cellular, andintegrative biosciences) and is a member of three Huck centers — the Center for Molecular Investigation of Neurological Disorders; the Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition; and the Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research.

With his strong background in multiple fields, Drew’s career and activities exemplify Huck’s culture of ambitious, innovative and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

“One of the missions of the Huck Institutes is to support innovative, interdisciplinary research, and I am excited to help facilitate this,” said Drew. “My primary appointment is engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering, but I have collaborators in many colleges and departments. As associate director, I hope to help foster interdisciplinary science at Penn State, particularly in collaborations that involve engineering and medicine.”

Troy Ott, acting director of the Huck Institutes, conveyed that Drew’s outstanding record of interdisciplinary research excellence and science leadership skills kept him top of mind among the Huck leadership team as it chose a new associate director.

“Patrick is one of those people who excels in every role he has here at Penn State,” said Ott. “He is one of our most productive and interdisciplinary scientists, a great teacher and an effective science leader. As associate director, Patrick will contribute to strategic leadership of the Huck, and we will benefit greatly from his collaborations in engineering and at the college of medicine. The entire Huck executive committee is delighted to have Patrick join the leadership team."

Drew received his doctorate in neuroscience from Brandeis University and did postdoctoral work at University of California, San Diego, before joining Penn State in 2010. He has been honored with a Scholar Award from McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience, a Scientist Development Award from the America Heart Association, and has been principal investigator for numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health.