Ali Andalibi, PhD
Dr. Ali Andalibi will join CDU as the next Vice Provost for Research, effective September 1, 2024.
Dr. Andalibi brings with him an extensive and distinguished career in research and higher education. He joins CDU from George Mason University (GMU) in Virginia, where he has held multiple leadership roles, including Professor in the School of Systems Biology, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship in the College of Science, Provost’s Fellow for Health Sciences, and Director of the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program.
His previous positions at George Mason included Chief Scientific Officer for the Mason Center for Infectious Disease Research, interim Dean of the College of Science, Scientific Director for the Mason COVID testing laboratory, interim President of the University Research Foundation, and interim Director of the Office of Technology Transfer.
“Dr. Andalibi’s extensive experience in both academia and industry, combined with his commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation, makes him an exceptional fit for CDU,” said Dr. David M. Carlisle, CDU President and CEO. “His leadership will be invaluable in driving our research initiatives forward and enhancing our mission to eliminate health disparities.”
Before his tenure at GMU, Dr. Andalibi’s career included research appointments at various biotech companies and leadership roles such as Director of New Technology and Project Development at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
He has also served as a program director at the National Science Foundation and the National Cancer Institute, and held the roles of Vice President for Research and Chief Scientific Officer at Lundquist Research Institute, and associate vice president for research at both SUNY Stony Brook and the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Andalibi earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from UCLA. He holds robust research credentials, having served as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI on grants from prominent institutions such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of the Navy, the Naval Research Laboratory, NSF, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and NOHR. He has authored forty research papers, five chapters, and numerous abstracts and reviews.
The appointment of Dr. Andalibi follows an extensive national search led by a dedicated Search Committee chaired by Professor Omolola Ogunyemi.
“My thanks as well to all the members of the CDU community who participated in the search through nominations, attendance at candidate presentations, and response to the surveys,” said Dr. Sylvia Manning, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “Their contributions laid the groundwork for a superb appointment.”