The University of Georgia has appointed David B. Berkowitz as its next vice president for research, effective July 1, 2026. Berkowitz is currently the assistant director of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, where he manages a $1.7 billion research portfolio in areas such as astronomy, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, and physics. He also serves as the Elmer H. and Ruby M. Cordes Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Berkowitz has distinguished himself as an exceptional teacher and mentor, a groundbreaking researcher and a visionary leader,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UGA. “I am excited to welcome him to the University of Georgia, and I look forward to working with him to further solidify UGA’s standing as one of the top public research institutions in the nation.”
Before his current NSF role, which began in 2024, Berkowitz spent four years as division director for chemistry at NSF. In that position, he managed grants and infrastructure projects at facilities like Argonne National Laboratory and the NSF National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Berkowitz co-chaired national policy teams including the Sustainable Chemistry Strategy Team and the Sub-Committee on Quantum Information Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. These roles involved collaboration with more than 15 federal agencies to guide policy on emerging scientific fields.
“Dr. Berkowitz is an extraordinary leader with significant experience guiding cutting-edge research, driving policy on critical national priorities and forging successful partnerships,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “He possesses a vision that will propel UGA’s thriving research enterprise forward, expand our innovation ecosystem and maximize our positive impact on the state of Georgia and the nation.”
Berkowitz led Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology at NSF—a cross-directorate initiative that supports advances combining chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, and engineering to transform biotechnology—resulting in partnerships between NIH and NSF. He also helped launch Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics with industrial partners including BASF, Dow, IBM, PepsiCo Inc., and Procter & Gamble.
“It is an honor to join the rich historical tradition at the University of Georgia, the nation’s first state-chartered university,” Berkowitz said. “UGA brims with creative talent, from the arts and humanities to the social, physical and biological sciences. I look forward to collaborating with President Morehead and Provost Ayers to nurture the university’s excellent research ecosystem and to partner with the deans, directors and the outstanding faculty to build upon UGA’s status as a thriving, collaborative research powerhouse.”
At Nebraska–Lincoln’s flagship campus, Berkowitz co-led a drug discovery initiative that secured about $46 million in federal funding—including work on an FDA-approved drug for acute radiation syndrome—and pioneered techniques such as in situ enzymatic screening for chemical discovery.
His honors include being named an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow; election as Chair of the Biocatalysis Gordon Research Conference in 2018; Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2015) and American Chemical Society (2024).
Berkowitz will take over from Chris King who has served as interim vice president for research since July 2024.
“I am grateful for Dr. King’s commitment to the students, staff and faculty that drive UGA’s excellence in research,” Ayers said. “Chris has demonstrated exceptional leadership of the Office of Research, and I join the entire university community in thanking him for his service in this critical role.”
Berkowitz earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Chicago; his doctorate from Harvard University; completed postdoctoral work at Yale through a Merck Fellowship; finalists were identified by a committee co-chaired by Lisa K. Nolan (dean of Veterinary Medicine) and Ron Walcott (vice provost/dean Graduate School), supported by Isaacson Miller executive search firm.
