Wisconsin Energy Institute affiliate Vatsan Raman has been tapped to oversee research within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

Interim Dean Troy Runge, also a WEI investigator, appointed Raman, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, to the interim role of associate dean for research. The position opened when Runge accepted the interim dean position last month.

The associate dean for research is responsible for research administration and compliance, including leading the staff in the CALS Research Division.

Raman's lab creates advanced technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, computing, and engineering to understand how biological molecules and cells work and engineer them for real-world applications.

“In his time in biochemistry, Vatsan has built many collaborations with university and industry partners," Runge said. “He brings personal experiences with many different funding agencies and organizations, and an interest in supporting other UW–Madison researchers. I am pleased he agreed to take on this interim leadership role.”

Raman's lab takes a use-inspired approach to basic science, combining curiosity about how biological systems work with the goal of solving meaningful societal challenges and has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the United States Department of Agriculture and WARF.

“CALS has an extraordinary culture of curiosity-driven research coupled with a commitment to solving real-world problems,” Raman said. “I’m excited to work with faculty, staff, and departments across the college to strengthen our research enterprise, foster interdisciplinary collaborations and help create an environment where our faculty and trainees can do their very best work.”

Raman received his PhD at the University of Washington, a master’s in chemical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a bachelor’s of engineering at The Baroda University in India. Prior to joining the UW–Madison faculty, he served as a Wyss Technology Development Fellow at Harvard University.

Runge will announce other changes in Dean’s Office roles and responsibilities later in August.