Christopher Fox Named Associate Dean for Research at USU College of Engineering

The College of Engineering at Utah State University has appointed Christopher Fox as the new associate dean for research.

A proud USU alumnus, Fox joins USU from The Access to Advanced Health Institute in Seattle, where he served as senior vice president of formulations. His appointment will take effect on April 28.

“After a comprehensive, nationwide search, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Christopher Fox as the new associate dean for research,” says David Jones, dean of the College of Engineering. “His extensive industry experience and leadership in research make him the right choice for this important role. Dr. Fox’s expertise will be instrumental in advancing the College of Engineering’s research initiatives, and we are confident that his vision and dedication will help us achieve even greater success in innovation and discovery.”

Throughout his distinguished career, Fox has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional service, contributing to over 25 roles. Among these are serving on the Industry Advisory Board in the Department of Biological Engineering at USU since 2017 and reviewing for the Swiss National Science Foundation in 2024.

“I am excited and honored to join the College of Engineering at USU to lead the research enterprise,” Fox said. “I look forward to working with the exceptional faculty, staff and students to strengthen and expand the college’s research initiatives.”

Fox earned his Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s in biological engineering from USU. After completing his Ph.D., he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle.

Fox has authored 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 16 other publications. He holds 14 patents or pending patent applications and has delivered 81 presentations. His work has earned a total of 8,657 citations and broad press coverage, a testament to the significant impact of his research.

Beyond his research, he has extensive experience mentoring and teaching, having supervised interns, research associates and postdoctoral scientists. He has served as an affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington's Department of Global Health and mentored World Health Organization training fellows from Bangladesh and Nigeria. In particular, he has championed vaccine research and manufacturing capacity building efforts in Brazil, India, Mexico, Romania and South Africa.

As associate dean of research, Fox will bring a wealth of experience in both academia and industry. His leadership in vaccine development and research management will be invaluable in advancing the College of Engineering’s research enterprise.