UMKC Announces Vice Chancellor for Research

Sumeet Dua will lead growing research enterprise at Kansas City's top public university

Sumeet Dua, Ph.D., will become the new University of Missouri-Kansas City vice chancellor for research on Sept. 9. Since 2002, he served in a number of leadership roles at Louisiana Tech University, where he helped to advance research, grant awards and collaborative efforts.

UMKC has elevated its research enterprise, doubling expenditures from $25 million to $53 million in four years and increasing annual external awards from $36 million to $147 million. With the forward momentum, UMKC aims to be designated a Carnegie Research 1, or R1, university, meaning it has "very high" research activity. It's currently R2 with "high" research activity.

"Dua will be pivotal in strengthening our research enterprise and expanding our impact," said UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D. "His expertise in building partnerships and leading innovative research programs will help propel UMKC research endeavors to new heights, and we look forward to the further growth his leadership will bring to our university."

Most recently, Dua served as executive vice president for research at Louisiana Tech, and under his leadership in the past year, Louisiana Tech's research enterprise saw an 18% increase in annual research expenditures and a 39% increase in federally funded research expenditures.

Dua has also led the university's research operations in the National Cyber Research Park and Louisiana Tech Research Institute, fostering engagement with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense. This aligns well with UMKC's research portfolio, which includes a significant number of defense contracts. This year, UMKC became the first university to partner with U.S. Cyber Command.

"I'm excited to partner with UMKC to continue its strong momentum in research and reach its goal of achieving a Carnegie R1 status," Dua said. "I am eager to work with UMKC's faculty across diverse disciplines and forge strong partnerships and collaborations with government, business and community leaders to accomplish our goals."

Dua also has made significant contributions to academia and industry throughout his career. He has written five books, secured two patents and published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles. His research specialties include data analysis, computational decision support and biomedical imaging.

Dua received a Ph.D. in computer science and an M.S. in systems science from Louisiana State University and A&M College. He earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in Patiala, India.