The College

Oludurotimi Adetunji earned a B.S. in Physics and Computer Science from Fisk University, and his Ph.D. in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Brown, Dean Adetunji was Assistant Dean for Natural and Mathematical Sciences at The Ohio State University. During his tenure at Ohio State, Dean Adetunji served as principal investigator on National Science Foundation grants, worked as a physical scientist in the areas of biomaterials and nano-channel glass device/applications at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. 

Oludurotimi Adetunji serves as the Associate Dean of the College for Undergraduate Research and Inclusive Science overseeing the Undergraduate Research Office and its programs including The Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRA), The Research at Brown (RAB) Grant and The Excellence in Research Mentoring Award programs. The Excellence in Research Mentoring Award recognizes Brown faculty members for their excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers, as well as for their promotion, encouragement and training of diverse students in undergraduate research.  Dean Adetunji also serves as Brown’s liaison to the Undergraduate Awards, an international awards program that recognizes student creativity, excellence, and innovative thinking. In addition, he runs the university-wide Summer Research Symposium, Research Elevator Pitch, advises student groups involved in science programs as well as individual students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concentrations. Dean Adetunji has also supervised the Director of the Science Center, directed the Research Impact office and its programs, and served as the Chair of the Brown University Engaged Scholarship and Broader Impacts Joint Committee (2014-2020).

Dean Adetunji chairs the Ivy Plus Undergraduate Research Forum and he is a member of the Leadership Team for Advancing Research Impact in Society, an international organization that advances the societal benefits of scientific research and public engagement with science. He also served as a member of the steering committee of the National Alliance for Broader Impacts and as Co-Chair of the National Alliance for Broader Impacts’ Working Group, which developed the Broader Impacts Guiding Principles and Questions for National Science Foundation Proposals.

Dean Adetunji’s commitment and interest in engaging the public in science through multimedia platforms led to the creation of the Brown University Science Cartoons (SciToons) program.  He directs the SciToons program, which has been featured in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate website and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National DNA Day website and social media platforms.  In May 2018, the program was highlighted in the compendium of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report which focused on the integration of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Higher Education. SciToons have been funded by the National Science Foundation and watched in over 180 countries. The SciToons model has been reported in peer-reviewed journal articles and presented in national and international conferences.