Randy Heflin

Responsibilities

Randy Heflin serves as the senior associate vice president for Research and Innovation and assists the senior vice president in both strategic and operational issues for Virginia Tech's research and innovation enterprise. Heflin’s responsibilities include coordinating research development, planning for facilities and infrastructure, and cost-sharing for center-scale proposals. He also provides direct oversight of the Animal Resources and Care, Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance, and Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance administrative units. Heflin is also a professor of physics in the College of Science and an affiliate professor of materials science and engineering.

Background

Heflin’s research focuses on self-assembled organic nanoscale optoelectronic materials and devices, including nonlinear optical materials and devices, optical fiber biosensors, and organic photovoltaics. He has published more than 160 articles, delivered 90 invited presentations, has been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than 50 grants totaling approximately $12 million, holds three patents, and has co-edited two books, including the textbook "Introduction to Nanoscale Science and Technology." Heflin has supervised twenty-one students in the completion of their doctoral degree, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and serves as an editorial board member of the International Journal of Nanoscience.

Previously, he served as the associate dean for research of the College of Science for 2014-22. Heflin also led the division of Nanoscience in the Academy of Integrated Science for 2012-19 and the creation and delivery of the bachelor of science in nanoscience degree program. He co-founded a spin-off company and has served on the technical advisory boards of two other corporations.

Education

Heflin earned a doctorate in physics from University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor of science in physics from the College of William and Mary.