WORCESTER—Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has officially appointed Arne Gericke as Dean of Undergraduate Studies, a role he has held on an interim basis since July 1, 2022.
In this position, Gericke will oversee and enhance the quality of WPI’s undergraduate programs, including academic advising, research opportunities, and project-based learning. He will also work to expand access to a WPI education, particularly for community college students.
“Arne avidly champions undergraduate students and emphasizes the crucial role of faculty in both supporting and challenging them,” WPI’s Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Andrew Sears said in a press release. “Not only is Arne passionate about elevating the value, visibility, and quality of project work and research for undergraduate students at WPI, he is also dedicated to expanding access to a WPI education.”
Gericke, a professor and former head of WPI’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been with the university since 2011. His research focuses on lipid-mediated protein functions and their implications for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. He has led teams of researchers at WPI, including undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students.
“Through WPI’s project-based approach to learning, undergraduate students in science, engineering, and business conduct research and design projects rooted in a firm understanding of the societal impact of their endeavors,” Gericke said in the announcement. “I am deeply proud of how this university fosters academic excellence and promotes student success while maintaining a deep focus on providing an immersive experience that keeps well-being, belonging, and community at the core of a WPI education.”
Gericke earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Hamburg in Germany and completed postdoctoral research at Rutgers University and the Max Planck Group for Liquid Crystal Research in Germany. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other agencies, with nearly 70 peer-reviewed publications.
With this appointment, Gericke will continue working with faculty and university leadership to further WPI’s mission of providing a high-quality undergraduate experience.
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