Parag Chitnis

Dr. Chitnis is the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Wyoming (UW). In this capacity, he leads twenty different units with over 400 faculty, staff, and students associated with them. These include research and innovation administrative offices, ten research centers and institutes, and many economic development offices such as Wyoming SBDC network and Manufacturing Works, Wyoming’s MEP unit. Together, they support and facilitate the research efforts of UW’s faculty, staff, and students; direct the university’s research mission as a public research university; promote the university’s research program with stakeholders; direct technology transfer and commercialization efforts for UW intellectual property; and facilitate synergies with Wyoming industry through economic development and workforce preparation activities. He is also responsible for coordinating UW’s collaborations with community colleges through Wyoming Innovation Partnerships Program and as such works closely with the Wyoming Governor’s Office as well as Wyoming’s economic development and workforce services departments. During his tenure at UW, research expenditures of the university increased by 78% reaching $167 million in FY2024. The University received Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) designation from APLU in 2024 and achieved R1 status in 2025. He is a PI on NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation grant from NSF and represents UW on the governance board of the CO-WY ASCEND Innovation Engine. 

 

Dr. Chitnis joined the University of Wyoming in 2022 from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where he was the Associate director for programs and led an over two-billion-dollar portfolio of research, extension, and education programs in all fields of agricultural sciences and technology. Prior to the USDA, Dr. Chitnis led the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the NSF, where he also served in other capacities, including deputy division director and program director. In his funding agency career, Dr. Chitnis led many science and technology initiatives such as engineering biology and MLAI subcommittees of OSTP, served in several interagency activities such as AI Institutes program, and established collaborations with private and public funding agencies. He also interacted with legislators and stakeholder groups in providing technical assistance and obtaining feedback.

 

Dr. Chitnis’ academic career was spent at Kansas State University (Assistant Professor) and Iowa State University (Associate Professor and Professor). His research spanned many areas of biochemistry including photosynthesis, proteomics, and plant metabolism. He received funding for his research, educational initiatives, and training programs from national, international, and private sources. He has published over 120 papers and mentored over 50 students, postdoctoral fellows, and AAAS fellows. 

 

Dr. Chitnis received PhD in biology from UCLA and MS in Genetics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.