The University of Utah has appointed Kevin Whitty, PhD, as Executive Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Interim Chief Innovation Officer, bringing together research leadership, operational experience and a deep understanding of how discoveries move from fundamental research toward real-world application.
In the role, Whitty will help lead the university’s research and innovation enterprise and oversee its innovation ecosystem, including the Technology Licensing Office and Utah Venture Hub. His appointment supports the U’s continued work to strengthen the pathways connecting research, technology development, industry engagement and commercialization.
“Kevin brings the perspective of a researcher who has spent his career moving complex technologies from fundamental discovery through development and demonstration,” said Erin Rothwell, PhD, senior vice president for research. “He understands what it takes for faculty to advance ambitious work, and that perspective will be invaluable as we strengthen the connections across research operations, innovation and commercialization.”
Research Leadership Grounded in Technology Development
Whitty brings more than three decades of experience developing advanced technologies from fundamental research through pilot-scale demonstration. That experience gives him firsthand perspective on both the opportunities and challenges researchers encounter as they work to move promising ideas through development and toward broader application.
A professor of chemical engineering, Whitty’s research spans energy production, carbon capture, gasification, chemical looping and renewable fuels. His work ranges from fundamental studies of chemical processes to the design and operation of pilot-scale systems.
Whitty directs the University of Utah’s Advanced Energy Systems Research Facility, which houses several pilot-scale systems and supports collaboration with industrial partners. The facility helps bridge the gap between laboratory proof-of-concept and industrial deployment—experience that has shaped Whitty’s approach to research leadership and innovation.
Throughout his career at the U, Whitty has combined research, academic leadership and cross-disciplinary collaboration. His university leadership has included serving as associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, where his responsibilities included supporting the college’s research enterprise and facilitating collaborative research across departments and colleges.
Before joining the University of Utah in 2001, Whitty worked in industry managing research and directing pilot operations for energy technology development companies in Stockholm, Sweden. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University and his master’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from Åbo Akademi University in Finland.
Connecting Research, Operations and Innovation
Whitty’s appointment comes as the University of Utah continues to strengthen the infrastructure that supports research and moves discoveries toward impact. As Executive Associate Vice President for Research Operations, Whitty will strengthen connections across the broader research enterprise as the U continues to expand the scale and impact of its research mission.
His research experience moves technologies from early research through increasingly complex stages of development brings a researcher-centered perspective to that work: strong innovation outcomes depend not only on the discovery itself, but on the systems, expertise, partnerships and operational support surrounding it.
“Research impact depends on more than a great idea. Researchers need the right infrastructure, expertise and partnerships as their work moves forward,” Rothwell said. “Kevin’s leadership will help us create stronger connections across those resources and make it easier for our research community to move promising discoveries toward impact.”