Beginning on February 1, 2022, Marilyn J. Cipolla, Ph.D. will become the new Chair of the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Vermont (UVM), ushering in the next stage of growth for the teams of faculty and students working on addressing the world’s most challenging issues.
Cipolla began her career at UVM earning her B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1988. She has been a decorated member of the Larner College of Medicine (LCOM) for nearly 20 years, earning her M.S. and Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology before becoming a Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences with joint appointments in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and in Pharmacology.
An outstanding researcher in brain injury associated with stroke and preeclampsia, Cipolla was recognized, along with only 10 other scientists, for her exceptional achievements during the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2021, receiving the Thomas Willis Lecture Award. Her current research is focused on understanding and treating brain injury during stroke and seizure, especially during hypertension and preeclampsia.
She has published widely, received numerous awards in her field, and has been funded continuously by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1998. In 2015, she was named a UVM University Scholar and the UVM Larner College of Medicine Alumni Association bestowed on her the 2020 Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont and a member of the Firestone Medical Research Building Campaign Committee.
Cipolla’s new appointment as Chair, within the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), will strengthen cross-college connections. Dean of LCOM, Richard L. Page, M.D., said, "Dr. Cipolla is world-renowned scientist and highly respected member of our faculty. I am confident that she will be successful and will bring great value to the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences in this important leadership role."
Cipolla’s leadership in CEMS will bolster the groundbreaking enhancements made to UVM’s Biomedical Engineering degree program during recent years, which include investment in state-of-the-art facilities, curriculum innovation, and unique opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, and design projects related to improving human health. She also will usher in a new phase of development for the Center for Biomedical Innovation—a multi-disciplinary collaboration between CEMS, LCOM, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), and the Grossman School of Business (GSB) that supports and trains inventors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who will bring advanced biomedical technologies to the people of Vermont and the world.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Cipolla will be joining the CEMS leadership team,” said Dr. Linda Schadler, Dean of CEMS. “Her interdisciplinary background, expertise, and collaborative spirit will serve our Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering students and faculty as they design and build tomorrow’s solutions for energy efficiency, sustainability, and worldwide health.”
