Piper Named Associate Dean for Research

Robert C. Piper, PhD, professor of molecular physiology and biophysics and director of Core Facilities for the Carver College of Medicine, has accepted the position of associate dean for research, effective August 1, 2017. The responsibilities of this position have been performed on an interim basis by executive dean Pat Winokur, MD. In his new role, Piper will collaborate with the Office of the Vice President for Research to develop and maintain a vibrant environment for UI Health Care’s robust research enterprise.   

Piper joined the university in 1997 as an assistant professor of physiology and biophysics, and he has established deep roots in the Carver College of Medicine, assuming the role of director of Core Facilities in 2009. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, followed by a PhD in cell biology and molecular biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Piper completed two postdoctoral fellowships at the Oregon Health Sciences University and at the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

His research focuses on membrane trafficking and protein degradation in lysosomes. He has an impressive record of publications and scholarship in high-impact journals and has been recognized nationally for his contributions to his field. Piper is an excellent scientific and educational leader in the research community. His vision for invigorating the research enterprise, his commitment to leveraging the unique strengths of the college, and his collaborative and accessible leadership style make him a great fit for the position.