I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Aruna Kilaru as Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences.
Dr. Kilaru will continue to serve as Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. However, in her expanded role that begins on August 15, she will begin work to develop a thriving institute or center for innovation that will positively support bioscience-focused growth and opportunity for ETSU students and the region.
In addition to leading and managing a working group that will be charged with creating an institute or center for synthetic biology, she will lead and manage interdisciplinary research and educational grant proposals related to synthetic biology, as well as facilitate interdisciplinary curriculum initiatives and related research and educational programming. Finally, Dr. Kilaru will collaborate with the ETSU Research Corporation in recruitment of industry partners to create additional opportunities at ETSU.
Dr. Kilaru is a renowned expert in her field for her work addressing food insecurity and climate change using agriculture biotechnology. The Tennessee Academy of Sciences presented her with the 2021 Distinguished Scientist Award, and she has also served as an agricultural science advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a term-limited public service professional development program after being selected as a recipient of the Science and Technology Policy Fellowship by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Kilaru is returning to ETSU from the National Science Foundation, where she served as a Program Director in the Directorate of Biological Sciences for the past year. For years, Dr. Kilaru has played on a truly global stage.
I am excited for the work that is already taking place in the SynBio space at the ETSU Research Corporation, and we look forward to continuing to explore global bioeconomy opportunities at ETSU and throughout our region.
Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs