April 7, 2014
To the Carnegie Mellon Community:
I am pleased to announce that Farnam Jahanian will be Carnegie Mellon’s new vice president of research effective September 1, 2014.
Farnam brings to CMU his rich experience as an accomplished computer scientist, successful entrepreneur, and administrative leader with experience in higher education, government, and the private sector.
He is the Edward S. Davidson Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he served as Chair of Computer Science and Engineering from 2007–2011 and as Director of the Software Systems Laboratory from 1997–2000. Since 2011 he has been on leave as assistant director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Click here for more details on Farnam’s background.
Farnam brings to CMU a wealth of expertise and leadership skills not only in supporting and nurturing research within and across disciplines, but also in translating the output of such research into innovative technologies and tools that succeed in the marketplace.
His experience with the full spectrum of the research enterprise, from scientific inquiry driven by curiosity to applied research aligned with national initiatives and global challenges to commercialization of technology, positions him to help in further expanding CMU’s world class innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Strengthening the research enterprise at CMU was the highest priority identified by the faculty during my listening tour this past year. This appointment addresses this priority directly. Farnam is aware and attuned to faculty needs and concerns and will help us respond to the evolving challenges of the research climate in the world today. I very much look forward to working with him as we move forward on our research agenda.
I would like to thank all the members of the search committee, which was co-chaired by Jim Garrett, dean of the College of Engineering, and Amir Rahnamay-Azar, vice president for finance. Their diligence and care has produced an outstanding outcome.
Subra Suresh
President
Carnegie Mellon University