Dr. Chris Vanags is an applied scientist and education entrepreneur focused on transforming research into scalable, real-world impact. As Director of the Peabody Research Office at Vanderbilt, he drives strategy for over $200M in sponsored research annually and spearheads cross-sector collaborations that connect university innovation to societal needs. He has led or supported projects backed by NIH, NSF, NASA, USAID, and the U.S. Department of State, securing more than $52M in funding to advance STEM access, workforce development, and environmental health.
With a deep commitment to science translation, Dr. Vanags has launched educational startups and public-private partnerships that reach students, educators, and policymakers globally. His programs—from STEM high schools in Abu Dhabi to K-12 science kits and workforce initiatives in Tennessee—have been adopted by institutions worldwide. Through initiatives like ASCEND, he continues to pioneer data-driven, community-based approaches to tackling complex challenges in health, agriculture, and climate resilience.