Dr. Rupa Iyer is the inaugural Vice President of Research, Innovation and Economic Development and Professor of Biology at Tarleton State University and is leading the planning, implementation, and oversight for a university-wide strategic initiative to expand sponsored research and innovation and promote partnerships to stimulate economic development. During her tenure, she has implemented cohesive collaboration and communication strategies to engage internal and external stakeholders to organize the Division from ground up. She has brokered new partnerships to successfully increase new funding, large funding and led creation of new research strengths, developed tools to enhance faculty research, capture research expenditures. In the last 3 years, Tarleton State consistently increased research expenditures and HERD rankings in her history. Iyer led the creation of the first EDA funded Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in North Texas to support rural entrepreneurs. She has also led the creation of two new institutes, The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Institute (TAMUS -Fort Worth) and the Institute for Rural Research and Economic development, both to support regional innovation ecosystems and drive economic development through research, especially in underserved communities.

Dr. Iyer is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Gulf Coast/Houston chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) gave Dr. Iyer its Outstanding Women in Science Award in recognition of her leadership, mentoring and commitment to STEM education, research and careers. Dr. Iyer was a Fulbright Specialist to Morocco where she was responsible for advising on implementing academic and research programs. She was Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) between 2017-2019. Dr. Iyer currently serves on the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), Council on Research (COR) Executive Committee, NSF’s 2 advisory committees, Committee for Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering (CEOSE), a congressionally mandated committee and advisory committee for Environmental Research and Education (AC-ERE), and on the North Central Economic Development District Board (NCTEDD).

Prior to joining Tarleton, she was the Founding Director of Biotechnology programs, Professor, and Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Houston. She generated millions of dollars in state and federal funding to create and implement the first accredited biotechnology program in the country by The Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). She has received the University of Houston’s highest teaching honor, the Distinguished Leadership in Teaching award.

Iyer is committed to broadening participation and access to enhance STEM skills for her students and professional growth for faculty. She integrated her disciplinary research and evidence-based approach to STEM education to develop research-based academic programs. The cost-effective approach is providing a global platform to solve problems in environmental contamination and enhance STEM education.

Dr. Iyer received her Ph. D from Michigan State University and conducted her postdoctoral studies at the M.D Anderson Cancer Research Center, Houston, TX. Her research is in soil microbiome exposure and adaptation to xenobiotic compounds, and its implications and applications in biotechnology.