Vice Chancellor for Research Transition

Dear colleagues:

Pramod Khargonekar, vice chancellor for research and Distinguished Professor of electrical engineering & computer science, has decided to transition from his role as vice chancellor and return to the faculty effective July 1, 2025. He plans to resume his research and teaching activities centered on systems and control theory, learning and intelligent systems, energy and climate systems, and linkages between research and innovation.

Since joining UC Irvine in 2016, Vice Chancellor Khargonekar has led numerous strategic research growth initiatives, facilitated multidisciplinary team collaborations, developed new organized research units, supported excellence in sponsored research administration and enhanced research compliance and infrastructure. During his tenure, contract and grant funding has increased significantly, from $378 million in 2016-17 to $668 million in 2023-24. Among several new major externally funded research centers, UC Irvine was awarded the Center for Complex and Active Materials by the National Science Foundation as part of its Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers program.

In addition to his work on campus, Vice Chancellor Khargonekar has played foundational leadership roles in several multi-campus research initiatives including the UC National Labs Southern California Hub and the UC Noyce Initiative. He also catalyzed and championed the creation of the Department of Energy funded ARCHES California hydrogen hub. 

A celebration of Vice Chancellor Khargonekar’s remarkable contributions to our community will be held later this academic year. 

A national search for the next vice chancellor for research is beginning and we are pleased to announce the formation of an advisory committee charged with assisting in the search. The committee will be chaired by Magnus Egerstedt, Stacey Nicholas Dean of Engineering and professor of electrical engineering and computer science.

The other members of the advisory committee are:

• Errol Arkilic, chief innovation officer and executive director, UCI Beall Applied Innovation
• Tallie Z. Baram, Distinguished Professor of pediatrics, Donald Bren Professor, and Danette Shepard Chair in Neurological Studies
• Jesse Jackson, professor of art, and associate dean for research and innovation, Claire Trevor School of the Arts
• Qing Nie, Distinguished Professor of mathematics and developmental & cell biology, and UC Presidential Chair
• Krzysztof Palczewski, Distinguished Professor of ophthalmology, Donald Bren Professor, and Irving H. Leopold Chair in Ophthalmology
• Maheswari Senthil, professor of clinical surgery, division chief of surgical oncology, and John Wayne Cancer Foundation Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology
• Ann Springer, principal campus counsel, Office of Campus Counsel
• Julian Thayer, Distinguished Professor of psychological science
• Leslie Thompson, Donald Bren Professor and Chancellor’s Professor of psychiatry & human behavior
• Nalini Venkatasubramanian, professor of computer science
• Jim Weatherall, Chancellor's Professor and chair, Department of Logic & Philosophy of Science
• Di Xu, professor of education

A nationally recognized academic search consultant, Isaacson Miller, has been engaged to assist the committee. All correspondence will be held in the strictest confidence and should be addressed to:

We welcome your participation in this important recruitment. Please join us in thanking Vice Chancellor Khargonekar for his contributions on behalf of our faculty, staff and students.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Howard Gillman

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern