Nara Parameswaran retires after 25-year career in biomedical research at MSU

August 27, 2026

After more than 25 years at Michigan State University, Nara Parameswaran, PhD, MS, BVSc, will be retiring on December 1. He has served as senior associate dean for research since 2023, and previously as associate dean for faculty affairs, among other leadership positions throughout his tenure. On December 2, he will join Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science as executive vice president for research.  

Under Nara’s leadership, the College of Human Medicine has seen tremendous growth in our research impact. His work bolstered the college’s research services, improving the quality and quantity of awards, while also fostering collaboration and mentorship among scientists.  

Nara has been an integral part of the growth in our college over the past decade. In particular, he played a key leadership role in expanding the research mission with our statewide partners, especially with Corewell Health/Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Henry Ford Health. He has been a great partner with chairs in recruiting faculty to our college, including the expansion of research-intensive faculty to the Grand Rapids Innovation Park and public health research statewide. Nara has built strong relationships with chairs and many of our community partners, including Corewell Health, Henry Ford Health, Mary Free Bed, Trinity Health, Pine Rest, Van Andel Institute, to foster and enhance collaborative research. 

Beyond his administrative work, Nara serves as professor in the Department of Physiology, starting as assistant professor when he joined us in 2006. Throughout his career, he has supported junior faculty through active participation in mentorship programs and strengthened faculty mentoring in the college. In 2018, he received the Outstanding Faculty Award/Distinguished Faculty Award.  

Nara has worked tirelessly throughout the recent cuts in federal research funding to help our college navigate grant terminations, changes to research infrastructure and threats to the next generation of scientists.  

In this transition period, Jack Lipton, PhD, will serve as senior associate dean for research in an interim capacity beginning December 2. Dr. Lipton is the founding chair of the Department of Translational Neuroscience and was appointed associate dean for research analytics in 2024. In this role, he works with other department chairs and university research office to implement data-driven approaches to strengthen our research mission.