About Dr. Jim Pfaendtner
Dr. Jim Pfaendtner is North Carolina State University’s executive vice chancellor and provost. He previously served as the Louis Martin-Vega Dean of Engineering at NC State where he led one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive colleges of engineering, comprising more than 12,500 students, 750 faculty and staff, and more than $290 million in annual research expenditures. Under his leadership, the college advanced its national and international reputation for excellence in research, education, and outreach.
Pfaendtner is focused on expanding access to high-quality education, strengthening pathways to student success and fostering a culture of belonging and academic excellence. He is a fierce advocate for student well-being, belonging, and mental health, working to destigmatize mental illness and expand access to resources for students, faculty, and staff.
He joined NC State from the University of Washington, where he served as the Connie and Steve Rogel Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as the university’s first Associate Vice Provost for Research Computing. In these roles he led academic programs, advanced interdisciplinary research initiatives and helped shape institutional strategy in high-performance and data-driven research. While at the University of Washington, he received the university’s highest teaching honor, the Distinguished Teaching Award.
An internationally recognized scholar and researcher, Pfaendtner leads an active research group that uses advanced computer simulations to study macromolecular behavior, particularly protein adsorption at interfaces. He has authored more than 150 research publications, served as principal investigator or co–principal investigator on more than $40 million in federal and industry funding, and advised or co-advised over 20 Ph.D. students. He also served as principal investigator and director of a $4 million interdisciplinary training program at the intersection of molecular science and engineering and machine learning/artificial intelligence.
His contributions to research have been widely recognized. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an elected member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Computational Molecular Science Impact Award.
Pfaendtner earned his B.S. in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University.
Contact
Holladay Hall 102A, Box 7101
NCSU Campus
Raleigh, NC 27695
919.515.7624
provost@ncsu.edu