David Hanson, Ph.D.

Dr. Hanson received his PhD in 1999, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he spent 2.5 years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Australian National University. He joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 2002, where his research focuses on physiological, ecological, and energy-related aspects of photosynthesis in plants and algae, particularly elements of the carbon reactions and water relations.

Dr. Hanson has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, and has received multiple major grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, NASA (for research on the International Space Station), and the Economic Development Agency. He regularly collaborates with Sandia National Labs and Los Alamos National Lab, and he has co-founded a start-up (Growvera, Inc.). In addition, he helps UNM students participate in the annual NASA MINDS challenge, leading them to two national grand championships in the first four years.

His role in the Office of the Vice President for research is focused on external relations, building regional coalitions by working with local, state, federal and Tribal governments, along with regional educational and research institutions to find areas of alignment that can attract new resources and contribute to economic development. These efforts also include working to increase industry and private sector engagement with UNM through coordinated workforce training in the region, development of new internship opportunities, increasing industry sponsored research, and supporting IP/tech transfer efforts.