Mridul Gautam, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Innovation
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
w88 online casino betting, Reno
President, w88 online casino betting Research and Innovation Corporation
mgautam@unr.edu| (775) 848-2427 (M)
Mridul Gautam is an experienced administrator and a highly accomplished researcher and educator with more than 36 years of experience in top ranked higher education institutions in the country. As Vice President for Research and Innovation and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the w88 online casino betting, Reno, Dr. Gautam leads the articulation and implementation of a shared vision for world-class research, creative and scholarly works, discovery, innovation and commercialization, and the corresponding commitment to grow the institution’s capacity as a high-impact land-grant university and an economic cornerstone for w88 online casino betting. As the Founding President of w88 online casino betting Research and Innovation Corporation, and the architect of w88 online casino betting Center for Applied Research and the w88 online casino betting, Reno Innevation Center, he has helped spark and build a dynamic research-based innovation ecosystem in northern w88 online casino betting. As a member of the University’s President’s Leadership Team and Budget Advisory Committee, Dr. Gautam advises on major policy issues and addresses state and national issues of compelling interest to the University community.
His service as a senior leader contributes to a dynamic time for the University as it continues to achieve record levels of research productivity, engagement, faculty achievement, undergraduate and graduate enrollment, retention, and graduation. As he leads Research & Innovation, Dr. Gautam’s collaborative nature has encouraged university-wide stakeholders to maintain a steady focus on supporting the University’s commitment to ensuring access and affordability, leading-edge student experience, engagement and closing the achievement gap. Given his own heritage and background, Dr. Gautam’s career has been focused on ensuring access and success of all students and faculty regardless of their background.
His leadership style is undergirded by his core values of integrity, pursuit of excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and accountability, and his career is best characterized by the teams he has built. A successful strategist with considerable financial acumen and a long-standing commitment to transparent budgeting practices, he has ensured sustained growth and excellence at the institution.
Through his responsive, persistent and transparent communications with all stakeholders he has supercharged the intimate relationship between a land-grant research university-based R&D and its role in improving people’s lives. As a leader in w88 online casino betting’s higher education system, he has demonstrated creative energy and encouraged a larger holistic view that connects the University’s faculty members, staff, students, and organizations with their communities. Working with w88 online casino betting System of Higher Education (NSHE) leadership, thought leaders in the sciences, engineering and humanities, community leaders, policy makers, and captains of industry, he has demonstrated his commitment to aligning w88 online casino betting’s research universities, government and industry with statewide economic goals, and ensuring economic resiliency in a way that encourages and sustains inclusive, healthy, and vibrant communities. Dr. Gautam has been an integral leader in the development and promotion of the University’s regional and state-wide research and innovation ecosystem that fosters the growth of jobs in the state; thus, encouraging retention of our graduates within the state.
He guides the Research & Innovation (R&I) division by enabling the professional careers and competitiveness of faculty and supporting the institution’s capacity as an R1 doctoral university with very high research activity, as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. In January 2020, the University achieved the Carnegie Community Engaged University classification. In 2019, two years ahead of schedule, the University achieved almost all goals and metrics for research, discovery, innovation and infrastructure that were laid out in the University's Strategic Plan 2015-2021. The credit goes to the inspired effort on part of all stakeholders – internal and external – who supported and helped build new and bold partnerships, and continually responded and adapted to the dynamic changes taking place in our current environment. Today, research expenditures have more than doubled to 2 million, and the number of postdocs and research faculty has also more than doubled since the day Dr. Gautam joined the w88 online casino betting, Reno in late 2013. At his previous institution, West Virginia University (WVU), he helped lay the foundation and the structure that led to its achievement of the Carnegie R1 classification after he moved to w88 online casino betting.
Dr. Gautam has been a life-long champion of the promise and mission of land-grant research universities. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from a land-grant research institution in India, received his doctorate from a land-grant research university in West Virginia, and has worked for more than 36 years in land-grant research universities. He has strived to ensure that organizations he worked for were focused on the goal of making people’s lives better in the highest traditions of American land-grant institutions of higher education.
w88 online casino betting, Reno
Dr. Gautam is Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. As a Chair of the EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition Board, he is a respected leadership voice that represents over 28 EPSCoR/IDeA states and territories in our nation’s capital. He serves on several additional national committees and boards of directors including Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities' (APLU) Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, APLU Council on Research, the Desert Research Institute Research Park, and he is a member of the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable. In the recent past, he had served on the APLU Research Task Force on Laboratory Safety, and the US EPA Mobile Sources Technology Review Subcommittee.
Dr. Gautam is an internationally recognized researcher and expert in the area of heavy-duty mobile source exhaust emissions, in-use emissions analysis, aerosol sampling, and particulate matter measurement, characterization, and control. He has more than 36 years of experience in initiating and managing large interdisciplinary and multi-institutional programs and has served as a principal investigator and/or co-principal investigator on over million in funded research. Currently, he serves as the Principal Investigator on the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Type 1 Award, and w88 online casino betting Knowledge Fund supported w88 online casino betting Center for Applied Research program. Dr. Gautam has published more than 400 technical articles including refereed journal articles, symposia/published proceedings and published abstracts of papers presented at professional meetings. In addition to having a licensing agreement to his credit, he is a recipient of the Outstanding Aerosol Paper Award through the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award through the Society of Automotive Engineers, and multiple Outstanding Researcher of the Year awards at WVU.
Education
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering – West Virginia University, 1989
- M.Tech., Mechanical Engineering – Indian Institute of Technology, 1984
- B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering – G.B. Pant University, 1982
Leadership Positions
(Present and past)
- University of Nevada, Reno
- Vice President for Research and Innovation
- Budget Advisory Committee – An eight-member group led by the President. The committee made strategic and budgetary decisions for the University.
- Member, President’s Leadership Team
- w88 online casino betting Research and Innovation Corporation
- Founding President
- West Virginia University
- Associate Vice President for Research
- Vice President, WVU Research Corporation
- Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States
- Chair, Board of Directors
- Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
- Member, Executive Committee, Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE)
- Member, Executive Committee, Council on Research (CoR)
- Member, Laboratory Safety Taskforce
- University Economic Development Association
- Member, Board of Directors
- Desert Research Institute Research Park Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors
- w88 online casino betting Institute for Autonomous Systems
- Member, Board of Directors
- Sierra w88 online casino betting University
- Member, Board of Trustees (BoT), and Member, BoT Academic Affairs Committee
- US EPA Clean Air Act Mobile Sources Technology Review Subcommittee
- Member
- Battleborn Fund
- Member, Investment Advisory Committee
- Manufacture w88 online casino betting; formerly w88 online casino betting Industry Excellence
- Member, Advisory Committee
Notable Accomplishments
Summary
- Led the University’s efforts to attain Carnegie R1 Classification in 2018 and again in 2021
- As the Chair, Board of Directors of the EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition, successfully advocated for 20% of NSF budget, amongst several other allocations, to EPSCoR jurisdictions through the CHIPS and Science Act
- The University received, in the same year, the EDA Tech Hubs award, and the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Development award
- Established the w88 online casino betting, Innevation Center (IC)
- Established w88 online casino betting Center for Applied Research (NCAR)
- Together IC and NCAR serve as cornerstones of a dynamic regional innovation ecosystem. The two units have incubated companies that have raised 9 million in venture capital in the past five years, and created more than 800 new jobs
- Established the w88 online casino betting, Reno K-12 Robotics Center in partnership with Tesla in a newly acquired historical building built in 1932
- Founded w88 online casino betting Research and Innovation Corporation, a 501(c )3 charitable organization for commercializing University’s intellectual property
- Established the Pack Research Experience Program (PREP) for freshman with focus on first generation, low-income and BIPOC students
- Established the High-Performance Computing facility
- Resurrected the University’s 2,600-acre Whittle Forest and Wildlife Area.
- Established the Little Valley Research Station facility on a newly acquired 38-acre property
- Established the USGS Cooperative Research Unit at the University
- Established the Woodland Restoration Institute at the University
- Total funding increased to 7 million in FY23 from 1.6 in FY13
- Total R&D Expenditures increased to 9 million in FY23 from million in FY13
Research
- w88 online casino betting, Reno has been designated as R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity in 2021 and 2018 by the Carnegie Classification for Institutions of Higher Education
- University received the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement in 2020
- Recently, the University was awarded the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Type-1 Development award, and the Tech Hubs award
- University’s total research expenditures in FY23 increased 117 percent since 2013, from million to an all-time high of 9 million with 634 faculty members
- University’s per capita R&D expenditures are amongst the top 65 for public universities in the country; increased from 3,000/faculty in FY17 to 9,000/faculty in FY23
- Achieved, in FY19 – two years ahead of schedule, every major metric of Theme 2: Discovery in the University’s 2015-2021 Strategic Plan
- Established several multi-disciplinary centers and institutes, in collaboration with faculty and with approvals from the Board of Regents of w88 online casino betting System of Higher Education (NSHE)
- w88 online casino betting Water Innovation Institute
- Global Water Center
- Neurosciences Institute
- The Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology
- Cybersecurity Center
- Ozmen Institute for Global Studies
- w88 online casino betting, Reno Innevation Center
- Center for Drug Use, Equity and Public Policy
- Established w88 online casino betting Center for Applied Research - An applied research and development technology center that serves to enhance the global competitiveness of w88 online casino betting industry by leveraging the physical assets and intellectual expertise at the w88 online casino betting, Reno
- Established the USGS-funded Cooperative Research Center at the University
- Initiating the establishment of a USGS-funded Woodland Restoration Institute at the University
- Established Intelligent Mobility, a state-wide research, development and demonstration program
- EstablishedDimensions, liberal arts and journalism interdisciplinary research and creative activity grants initiative
- Established three new Core Laboratories – Advanced Imaging Core Facility for high spatial and temporal resolution imaging, the High-Performance Computing Facility, the 2,600-acre Whittell Forest and Wild Life Area with a recently acquired 38-acre Research Station (work-in-progress). Restructured and expanded the Bioinformatics, Genomics and Proteomics Core Laboratories; all with full-time directors
- Established Research & Proposal Development Services (RPDS) to support faculty in developing larger multi- disciplinary and/or multi-institutional proposals
- Programs under his leadership have received stellar reviews by regulatory bodies; successive accreditations by accreditation agencies
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Established a new 501(c)3 w88 online casino betting Research and Innovation Corporation and serves as the founding President of the corporation
- Established w88 online casino betting Center for Applied Research (NCAR), a stand-alone R&D technology center focused on enhancing w88 online casino betting’s global competitiveness by aligning industry’s needs with University’s goals
- Established the w88 online casino betting, Reno Innevation Center
- Expanded the Innevation Center building footprint by leasing a building from the City of Reno – The Southside Studio
- As cornerstones of a dynamic regional innovation ecosystem, NCAR and the Innevation Center have engaged with more than 708 companies, agencies and organizations. Startups incubated in the ecosystem have raised more than 9 million in the past five years, created more than 800 new jobs and attracted more than 4 million in grants, contracts, and gifts
Undergraduate and Graduate Education
- The University is following a new strategic plan, Wolf Pack Rising, developed in 2022 and aggressive in each dimension of its mission. Collectively, record levels of undergraduate and graduate enrollment, retention, graduation and diversity are being achieved. Student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1 – the median for land grant universities.
- Conceptualized and supported, along with the University President, w88 online casino betting DRIVE (Doctoral Research in Innovation, Vision and Excellence) program to fund 20 research assistantships per year for doctoral students
- Collaborated with the Dean of Graduate School to enhance recruitment, enrollment and graduation rates of graduate students. Largest increases were in Black/African American, Multiethnic and Hispanic/Latino graduate students – 28%, 22% and 19%, respectively.
- Supported efforts to add 141 new GTA positions between 2014 and 2018, and the largest number of doctoral degrees were conferred in FY23 – 189; up from 118 in FY18
- Through pre-college and college programs, undergraduate research programs, a student-to- academic advisor ratio of 350:1, the University’s focus is on teaching and learning, student access, success and closing the achievement gap for first-generation and underserved students.
Undergraduate Research
- Funding for undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activities, in all areas of study, increased almost six-fold in the past five years
- Wolf Pack Discoveries, a highly successful research symposium celebrates student researchers’ curricular and co-curricular achievements
- A new and a highly successful Pack Research Experience Program (PREP) was designed and implemented to directly benefit underrepresented students with an academic standing of freshman or sophomore to support engagement in research very early in their college career
- w88 online casino betting State Undergraduate Research Journal was started in 2014
Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
- Pack Research Experience Program (PREP): A research award directly benefiting historically underrepresented and first-generation students with an academic standing of freshman or sophomore. PREP awards help students develop skills, knowledge, and experience to apply for other opportunities, such as the McNair Scholars Program, and graduate school, with the goal of diversifying the professoriate.
- w88 online casino betting Tribal Academy of Health and Science: A NIH-INBRE funded program designed to assist Native Americans succeed in science and health occupations through mentorship and guidance. The Academy provides culturally relevant support starting as early as high school.
- Partnership with Upward Bound: A program exploring STEAM career opportunities and helping student interns become “makers” in the InNEVation Center’s Makerspace.
Fundraising
- Raised .3 million in philanthropic funds to establish world class core laboratories at the w88 online casino betting, Reno – Proteomics, Genomics, Advanced Imaging, High Performance Computing facility, the w88 online casino betting, Reno Innevation Center, and support equipment and renovation of laboratories to enhance the research infrastructure
- Secured an in-kind donation with a booked value of million – the largest ever in-kind gift to WVU
- Worked with the WVU Provost’s office to define the research focus areas for the million WV Research Trust Fund, which was established by the state Legislature
Federal Relations
- Served as the point person for the w88 online casino betting, Reno on federal relations
- Engaged in federal initiatives resulting in Department of Interior Appropriations of million for a building on a university’s campus that was contaminated with radium
- Facilitated Department of Interior Appropriations in the amount of .6 million to help establish a Cooperative Research Unit at the w88 online casino betting, Reno, and potentially at three other institutions
- Facilitated Department of Interior Appropriations to establish a Woodland Restoration Institute at the w88 online casino betting, Reno
- Facilitated the passage of the Great Basin Climate Adaptation Science Center in the House Appropriations Bill, 2023. The Conference has yet to take place.
- Engaged in the Department of Energy Appropriations of million for the soil-box project at the w88 online casino betting, Reno
- At WVU, worked with the VP Research, and Director of Federal Research Relations to seek federally directed funding for major, new, and existing research initiatives. Provided confidential advice to the VP of Research on the content of the campus briefing book for the University President and Congressional delegation.
- Led the effort to direct Department of Defense appropriations to WVU for US ARDEC and Army Research Laboratory projects, for a total of .8 million
- Testified on behalf of the Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States in front of the House Appropriations Committee - Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee, April 14, 2010
Community Engagement
- Established the K-12 Robotics Center in the Southside Studio with funding in excess of 0,00 from Tesla. Assumed the responsibility of the Robotic Center’s operations.
- Outreach to stakeholders in the community and building relations with the locally, regionally and statewide is paramount
- Established working relationships with City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, EDAWN (Economic Development Authority of Western w88 online casino betting), LVGEA (Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance), GOED (w88 online casino betting Governor’s Office of Economic Development), Community Foundation of Northern w88 online casino betting, w88 online casino betting Museum of Art, Northern w88 online casino betting HOPES, large and medium sized industry in w88 online casino betting, Community Colleges (TMCC, WNC), venture capital firms in the state, and other non-profits
- Awarded the EDAWN Medal
- Appointed as the Honorary Member of the Sierra Angels; one of the two ever appointed as such in Sierra Angels’ 25-year history
- Currently in the seventh year of the Town & Gown event that was started in partnership between Research & Innovation at UNR and Gabelli Funds