McIntosh Named Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development

November 18th, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— University of Missouri Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced today that Mark McIntosh, professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and associate vice chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives, has been named as interim vice chancellor for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development effective immediately.

“I have the utmost confidence in Mark, and I’m very happy that he has accepted this appointment,” Foley said. “He has a wealth of institutional knowledge and has served in roles that provide the critical background necessary to fill this position. I’m looking forward to working with him as we move forward and continue to address issues related to our graduate students as well as increase our research productivity.”

McIntosh began his career at the University of Missouri in 1981. In 1987, he was named the first director of MU’s DNA Core Facility, the first of several core research facilities at the university. In 2004, he was named director of the Research Core Facilities. He also served as director of graduate studies for 14 years in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

“Graduate education and research are critical components of the University of Missouri,” McIntosh said. “Our graduate students provide the engine that drives our research productivity and offer fresh and creative perspectives as they assist our faculty with teaching and research every day here at MU. Additionally, it is vitally important to build and maintain our strong research infrastructure as we continue to recruit and retain top faculty scholars who will help educate the next generation of leaders, educators and scientists.”

His research has focused on bacterial pathogenesis, which is the process by which bacteria infect and cause disease in an organism. More recently, he has worked with the DNA Core facility and MU investigators to study the microorganisms present in mammals and their effect on health and disease.

During his career, McIntosh has received grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the USDA, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Missouri, and the Missouri Life Sciences Research Board.

He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Knox College and his doctorate in microbiology from the University of Texas-Austin. He was a postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry from 1978 to 1981 at the University of California-Berkeley.