University of Arizona names new senior vp for research, innovation

University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella announced a new senior vice president for research and innovation to oversee the UA’s “approximately $1 billion in research activity” and to lead the commercialization arm of the university.

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, University of Oklahoma vice president for research and partnerships for more than five years, was appointed to the open position, the UA announced Tuesday.

He was one of four finalists in the UA’s search and will start at the UA on Nov. 11. He will be paid $460,000 a year.

Garimella, a former University of Vermont president who took over the UA helm on Oct. 1, previously worked with Díaz de la Rubia at Purdue University, the news release says.

The search process, which was started during previous UA President Robert C. Robbins’ tenure, was overseen by a search committee of 16 members representing faculty, staff and students, chaired by Dr. Michael Abecassis, dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Díaz de la Rubia succeeds Elliott Cheu, who served as UA interim senior vice president for research and innovation, after Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell left, in addition to being associate vice president for university research institutes.

Cantwell, the previous vice president for research and innovation since 2019, left in May 2023 to become president of Utah State University. Cantwell received an annual UA salary of $454,230.

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According to Tuesday’s news release, Díaz de la Rubia drove a 65% increase in funded research from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2024 on the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus through a “strategic vision that advanced research, creative and commercialization activity.” During his career in academia, government and the private sector, Díaz de la Rubia has authored about 150 peer-reviewed articles and conference proceedings.

“The University of Arizona’s reputation is thanks to the work of our faculty, staff and students. Their contributions to our record of research excellence and to the transformation of new ideas into tangible benefits drive our impact throughout Arizona and the world,” Garimella said in a written statement. “Dr. Díaz de la Rubia has also spent his career pursuing such a mission with great success, and I’m truly looking forward to welcoming him to our community.”

De la Rubia, a materials scientist and engineer with three decades of advanced research, held leadership positions at Deloitte and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and at Purdue. He also has been active in public policy through his work on “boards of several state and national associations, government institutes and private sector organizations, including the Defense Science Board.”

He was quoted in the news release: “I have deep respect and admiration for the land-grant mission, particularly the focus on applying research advancements to benefit society, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with faculty, staff and students, and Arizona’s diverse communities in that work.”

He has a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in physics from the State University of New York.

“This position provides an opportunity for a proven leader to create transformational impact at one of the nation’s leading research universities,” said Abecassis, the search committee chair. “Tomás is an exceptional scientist and research administrator. His proven ability to work closely with faculty and students to build and strengthen partnerships among academia, government and the private sector will be key factors to expand the university’s research enterprise.”

Regents Professor of astronomy Marcia Rieke, who served on the search committee, said she was impressed with Díaz de la Rubia’s connections with funding groups in Washington, D.C., which she stated as “important to continued research endeavors.”