Indira Mysorekar, PhD, named vice dean for research, basic science and graduate studies
Penn State College of Medicine has appointed Indira U. Mysorekar, PhD, as vice dean for research, basic science and graduate studies within the Office of Research, Graduate Studies and Innovation, effective July 1, 2026. She will also be the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Medicine and professor of medicine and cell and biological systems.
Dr. Mysorekar joins the College of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, where she serves as the E.L. Wagner Endowed Professor of Medicine, chief of basic and translational research in the Section of Infectious Diseases, and professor of molecular virology and microbiology. She is a leading basic and translational scientist whose work has advanced understanding of host-pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces, particularly in infectious diseases, women’s health, the maternal-fetal interface and the aging urogenital tract. Over her 18-year research career at both Baylor College of Medicine and Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Mysorekar has built research infrastructure and led interdisciplinary programs supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the March of Dimes.
In her new role as vice dean for research, basic science and graduate studies, Dr. Mysorekar will oversee the College’s basic science research and graduate education enterprise. She will help strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, advance research infrastructure, support graduate and postdoctoral training programs and build stronger connections across foundational science, clinical research and the translational continuum.
“Research excellence depends not only on discovery but also on the people and environments that make innovation possible,” said Karen Kim, MD, MS, dean of Penn State College of Medicine. “Dr. Mysorekar is a nationally recognized researcher, mentor and leader whose experience building interdisciplinary programs and supporting trainees will help further strengthen our basic science research and graduate education programs.”
Dr. Mysorekar is also widely recognized for her leadership in graduate education, postdoctoral training and mentorship. She co-directs a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases T32 training program for postdoctoral and clinical fellows and a National Institute of General Medical Sciences-supported T32 translational research program for graduate students. Dr. Mysorekar is an associate director of a graduate program and leads programs that support fellows and early-career investigators in preparing competitive career development awards. Her contributions to trainee development and mentoring have earned multiple awards recognizing excellence in graduate education and mentorship.
Dr. Mysorekar is a Fellow of The American Academy of Microbiology and currently serves as president of The American Society for Reproductive Immunology. She brings to Penn State a nationally and internationally recognized scientific portfolio, vibrant network of multidisciplinary collaborations, strong record of NIH-supported research, deep experience building research infrastructure and sustained commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her leadership will support the College of Medicine’s continued efforts to strengthen its basic science research enterprise, expand graduate and postdoctoral training, and advance interdisciplinary discovery with translational impact.
Dr. Mysorekar joins the College as it builds on the foundation established by Leslie Parent, MD, who served as vice dean for research and graduate studies.
Throughout her tenure, Dr. Parent helped advance the College’s research portfolio, support graduate education initiatives, and position the institution for continued growth in research and innovation.
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