Vice President for Research & Innovation
Prairie View A&M University
Texas A&M University System
Magesh T. Rajan, PhD., PE., MBA.
Vice President for Research & Innovation
Division of Research & Innovation
https://www.pvamu.edu/research
BIO
Dr. Rajan has a unique blend of research and academic leadership experience, coupled with industrial, commercialization, and entrepreneurial experiences over a span of 18 years. Currently, he is the Vice President for the Division of Research & Innovation at Prairie View A&M University, a member of the Texas A&M University System. He oversees PVAMU’s Office of Research Advancement, Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research Compliance/Export Controls, Office of Undergraduate Research, Office of Title-III Programs, Office of Innovation-Commercialization-Entrepreneurship-Economic Development, Office of Research Communications. He serves as the Institutional Official (IO) for AWP, Empowered Official (EC) for PVAMU. He has initiated several signature programs to strengthen the PVAMU’s research and innovation enterprise. Selected initiatives include, RITI: Research & Innovation Training Institute, Faculty-RISE: Research & Innovation for Scholarly Excellence Program for Faculty; Faculty-RISE: Undergraduate Research; Faculty-RISE: Graduate Research; RAPID: Rapid Response Funding Program; ICEED: Innovation-Commercialization-Entrepreneurship-Economic Development, etc.
Dr. Rajan is also a Full Professor of Electrical Engineering. He has been with the Texas A&M University System for over 9 years. Previously, he served in the roles of Hoffert Endowed Chair Professor, Engineering Department Head with Dean responsibilities, Board Director for the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP), Executive Director of Innovation lab, Executive Director of Plasma Engineering Research lab, etc. In these roles, he provided leadership and management for all interdisciplinary research, administrative, academic leadership aspects for faculty, staff, and students, including budgetary, fiscal, and personnel management, as well as building external relationships and fundraising. He has over ten years of entrepreneurial experience in founding and leading three successful technology-based start-up companies and led R&D, commercialization, and economic development efforts. He oversaw several externally sponsored interdisciplinary research projects through DOD, DARPA, NSF, NASA, and other federal agencies and industries, and led interdisciplinary research initiatives, and several educational and broadening participation sponsored programs including LSAMP and McNair programs. He has published two textbooks, five book chapters, and over 100 original research publications.
He received his Ph.D. (U. of Wisconsin-Madison), and MS (U. of Tennessee-Knoxville) degrees in Electrical Engineering, MBA (Texas A&M-CC) in Strategic Management, MLE (Harvard U.) in Management and Leadership in Higher Education. He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the State of Texas, a certified ABET program evaluator, and a six-sigma green belt license holder. He is a Life Member of the Laser Institute of America (LIA) and the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and a senior member of IEEE and the Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (NPSS). He is a recipient of several awards, including the Texas Corpus Christi Person of the Year award and the Texas A&M-CC excellence in research and scholarly activities, research excellence – the wall of fame, outstanding researcher, and excellence in teaching innovation awards. He has led planning, development, and execution of vision and strategic plans resulting in significant faculty research success and overall program growth and national rankings. He has served in several federal and state leveled funding agency panels, including Texas Governor’s Emerging Technology program.