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UVA names Paul Cherukuri as inaugural chief innovation officer
He will lead UVA Innovates, building a University-wide innovation ecosystem, fostering collaboration, and advancing ideas into real-world impact.
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Bhavana P - Thu, 21, Aug 2025
- 13:43 EDT
- 9
Paul Cherukuri / University of Virginia
The University of Virginia has appointed Indian-American entrepreneur Paul Cherukuri as its first chief innovation officer. He succeeds Michael Lenox.
Cherukuri, who has led innovation initiatives at Rice University since 2022, will begin his new role on Oct. 1. He will also hold the Donna and Richard Tadler University professorship in entrepreneurship, pending approval.
Also read: University of Oklahoma names Shishir Shah inaugural AI officer
In his new role, Cherukuri will take charge of UVA Innovates, the pan-university platform launched in 2024 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the student body, faculty, alumni, and community partners.
“I am deeply honored to join the University of Virginia as its first chief innovation officer and Tadler University professor. I look forward to working with faculty, students, alumni, and partners to create an innovation ecosystem that transforms ideas into impact—across Virginia, the nation, and the world,” Cherukuri said.
At Rice, Cherukuri spearheaded projects such as the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, the Woodside-Rice Decarbonization Accelerator, and the Rice Nexus hub to advance biotech, sustainability, and AI-driven startups. He previously directed Rice’s Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, securing nearly $37 million for technology commercialization.
“Paul has deep experience in promoting entrepreneurship and helping faculty develop real-world applications for their research, and I’m excited to welcome him to the University to build on Mike’s excellent foundational work. UVA has fostered creative thinking and innovation for more than 200 years, and Paul will strengthen opportunities for members of our community to translate this work to the marketplace where it will benefit society broadly,” interim executive vice president and provost Brie Gertler said.
A physicist, chemist, and entrepreneur, Cherukuri earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Rice. His career spans academia, start-ups, and industry, including senior roles at Sanofi and co-founding MAReNIR Technologies LLC.
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