Pamir Alpay

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor

University of Connecticut

Appointed in October 2025, Pamir Alpay serves as the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at UConn, where he oversees the academic operations of the University’s 14 schools and colleges. He previously served as vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, leading UConn’s $375 million research enterprise. As VP for research, Alpay orchestrated major initiatives designed to build partnerships, secure resources, and expand the research capabilities of the University. He strategically prioritized translational R&D to drive socioeconomic growth and public well-being. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, ASM International, and the American Ceramic Society, and is an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE). Alpay has made important basic and applied research contributions to computational materials design and applications. His research lies at the intersection of materials science, condensed matter physics, and surface chemistry and involves using quantum mechanical models to describe complex phenomena toward the discovery of novel materials for advanced applications. He has over 200 peer-reviewed journal publications and conference proceedings, five invited book chapters, and a book on the physics of functionally graded smart materials. Alpay holds a Ph.D. in materials engineering from the University of Maryland.