Jayaraman named chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Following a national search, I’m pleased to share that Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, has been named chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, effective May 1.
Dr. Jayaraman is an outstanding leader and a committed member of the McGovern Medical School faculty, offering strong and steady leadership during her time as interim chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I am pleased to congratulate her on her appointment and look forward to working together as she continues to advance the department.
Dr. Jayaraman has served as interim chair since March 2025. She is also a professor, the John S. Dunn Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Bob and Hazel Casey Chair in Biochemistry, and she serves as co-director of the Center for Membrane Biology.
“I am honored to serve as chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,” Dr. Jayaraman said. “This department has meant a great deal to me, and I’m excited to build on its strong legacy of research excellence and collaboration. I look forward to supporting our faculty and trainees as we continue to advance discovery and innovation.”
Dr. Jayaraman received her Bachelor of Science from Madras University and her Master of Science from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, India. She earned her doctorate from Princeton University in 1995 and completed postdoctoral training at Cornell University.
After serving as an assistant professor at Marquette University, Dr. Jayaraman joined UTHealth Houston in 2002. She has held multiple academic appointments across the institution and was named professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2012. She served as vice chair for research from 2023 to 2025.
Dr. Jayaraman is an internationally recognized leader in biophysics and molecular biology, with numerous honors recognizing her contributions to research and education, including the 2025 President’s Scholar Award and designation as a Biophysical Society Fellow. She is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Her research focuses on the structure and function of membrane proteins, with an emphasis on ligand-gated ion channels such as glutamate receptors. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies, her work has advanced understanding of molecular signaling in the brain.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Jayaraman has trained graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career scientists, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Her leadership has strengthened collaborative research and training programs across the institution.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Jayaraman as chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.