David named Samuel Ginn College of Engineering associate dean for research

Allan David has been named associate dean for research for Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, according to an announcement by Dean Mario Eden.

David, the John W. Brown associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, assumes the position effective June 1. He has served as acting associate dean for research since June 1, 2022, when former dean Chris Roberts moved on to become Auburn’s 21st president and then-associate dean for research, Steve Taylor, became interim dean of the college.

“Dr. David has done a tremendous job during the past two years in his role as acting dean of research for the college, and I am thrilled to continue working with him in this permanent role moving forward,” Eden said. “As a college, we have huge aspirations related to our research enterprise, and Dr. David has demonstrated that he has the leadership and forethought to help pave the way to get us there.”

As associate dean for research, David will assist with the college’s strategic planning, budget development, facilities oversight and administration. In collaboration with the dean, David will promote a vibrant research culture by working with department chairs, institute directors and center directors to improve each of their teams’ contribution to the mission of research and scholarship. He will also provide leadership to ensure that processes function effectively for submission of proposals to external sponsors while mentoring, assisting and reviewing proposal development and assisting with technology commercialization activities. Additionally, David will develop and manage research-related policies, research centers and transdisciplinary research within the college, across campus and into industry. He will also play an integral part in developing and implementing the college’s research programs at the Auburn Research Park, the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville and the soon-to-be-built Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station in Orange Beach.

“The past two years serving as acting associate dean of research has been two of the most rewarding years of my career,” David said. “It opened my eyes to just how truly special this college is, and the impact it is making on the world is immense. Our college is made up of faculty and students who are entrepreneurs, groundbreaking researchers and some of the brightest minds in the world who are dedicated to hard work. I look forward to us all working together on innovations and discoveries that will chart our path for the next century.”

David joined the Auburn faculty in 2012, and in 2018 he co-founded Nanoxort — a company that engineers novel contrast agents to equip physicians with the tools to make more accurate disease diagnoses and provide patients with more personalized, effective treatments. He has served as an assistant professor, associate professor and was recently promoted to the rank of full professor.

Prior to moving to Auburn, David served as a postdoctoral fellow and adjunct assistant professor of pharmacy at the University of Michigan. He also served as a technical manager at the Industrial Science and Technology Network and as a thermal systems engineer for Dynatherm Corp.

David earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland in 1997 and 2004, respectively.

Media Contact: Austin Phillips, austinp@auburn.edu, 334-844-2444