Biologist Dan Kiehart Appointed Dean Of Natural Sciences
Replaces Robert Calderbank, who moves on to lead "Big Data" effort
Dan Kiehart, a cell biologist and chair of Duke University's Department of Biology, has been appointed dean of the Natural Sciences Division within Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, effective July 1.
"As a leading cell biologist, Dan Kiehart will bring a wide range of talents to the job: an expansive scientific vision, a clear record of creative problem-solving and an inclusive yet rigorous approach to building faculty excellence and supporting student learning at all levels," said Laurie Patton, dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. "Dan will also work energetically to solidify our growing relationship with the School of Medicine and other key units and institutes at Duke, such as the Pratt School of Engineering, the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Global Health Institute, just to name a few. We are delighted he will be joining our vibrant Arts & Sciences team."
As dean of the natural sciences, Kiehart hopes to address urgent research and teaching infrastructure needs within the departments of physics and mathematics. He also plans to engage all of the natural science departments in new curricular approaches to transform freshman and sophomore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses for Duke students.
"With clear, common goals, we can ensure that all of our introductory science courses show students how different fields and disciplines work together, and we can provide more opportunities for interdisciplinary student experiences," said Kiehart. He cited recently developed gateway courses in biology and chemistry as examples of more responsive and interdisciplinary teaching that can help retain students in STEM fields.
Kiehart has extensive experience cultivating interdisciplinary research. He currently chairs the career development award grant panel of the Human Frontier Science Program, an international program that encourages interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
Kiehart also plans to help strengthen Duke's relationships with academic institutions and industry in the Research Triangle area.
He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal publications. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been a member of several National Institutes of Health study sections, including one he chaired. He currently serves on the council of the American Society for Cell Biology.
He joined Duke's School of Medicine in 1992 as an associate professor of cell biology after serving on the faculty of both The Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University. He became a professor in the Department of Biology in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences in 2000 and was appointed the department's chair in 2007.
Kiehart succeeds Professor Robert Calderbank, who holds appointments in computer science, mathematics and electrical engineering, and who has led the Natural Sciences Division since 2010. Calderbank will become the director of a new Information Initiative (iiD) at Duke.
Patton lauded Calderbank's achievements in recruitment and community building, noting especially how he made it a priority to increase diversity of the faculty and leadership. "There are now three women chairs leading science departments," Patton said, "and over the last three years more than half of our faculty hires in the natural sciences have been women. Robert has consistently recognized the value of faculty diversity in student recruitment, mentoring and retention."
Patton also praised Calderbank's role in guiding Duke's efforts to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and for hiring Carmel Lee as director of research opportunities, a new position that helps large multidisciplinary and multi-institutional groups to develop research proposals and manage grants. She also noted how he funded several teaching and mentoring initiatives in the science departments that have led to new gateway and capstone courses and to better mentoring practices for students and faculty.
"It has been a great privilege to serve as the divisional dean for the Natural Sciences," Calderbank said. "It is Duke faculty who deserve the credit for the runaway success of curricular innovations like the neuroscience major and for the surge in appointments of women faculty and department chairs, but I would like to feel that I played a positive role in these developments."