Dr. Theresa Mayer is the vice president for research at Carnegie Mellon University, supporting the research, creativity, and entrepreneurship that drives its mission and working with partners across the public and private sectors to bring the benefits of this work to all of society. 

Prior to Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Mayer served in executive positions at Purdue University and Virginia Tech, where she played leading roles in enhancing cutting-edge research, building strategic partnerships, and stimulating economic development. Previously, she was a distinguished professor of electrical engineering at Penn State University, where she served as the associate dean for research in engineering and the site director for the NSF National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network.

Dr. Mayer has been an active advocate for the critical role that science, technology, and innovation play in driving economic prosperity and security both nationally and globally through her testimonies before the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, and her service on boards such as the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance, National Defense Industry Association, and others.

She earned her B.S in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech, and M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University.