Rowland Named Interim Director of Mississippi State's I2AT

May 17, 2016

By Jim Laird

Story Photo
Zach Rowland (Photo by Russ Houston)
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A senior research administrator is taking the reins of an advanced technology institute at Mississippi State this summer.

Zach Rowland has been named interim director of the Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies, also known as I2AT. The institute offers researchers on and off campus and in industry a wide range of microscopy and microanalysis capabilities, including light, confocal, atomic force and electron, as well as magnetic resonance imaging used in veterinary medicine, cognitive science and medical systems.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to build on the foundation of I2AT and work to enhance the capabilities of MSU research across all the colleges and to broaden the university's capabilities to serve the industries in the region with state-of-the-art microscopy and analytical resources," he said.

Rowland earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi State, is a graduate of Harvard University's Management Development Program, and has an extensive background in the private sector. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, International Society of Optical Engineering, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Civil Air Patrol and Rotary International.

Currently, Rowland serves as deputy director of the university's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.

"Moving forward, we believe that Zach's background with CAVS will help us capitalize on partnering opportunities with industries in our state and region, while continuing to enhance the analytical capabilities for our faculty and students," said David Shaw, Mississippi State's vice president for research and economic development.

"The imaging technology and expertise at I2AT, as well as the world-class work going on at CAVS, are very important resources as our state's economic development efforts continue to see success with advanced manufacturing companies opening or expanding in Mississippi," he said.

Both units fall under the organizational structure of the Institute for Computational Research in Engineering and Science, also known as ICRES — a center of excellence for research, technology and education equipped to address challenges facing the nation's industrial base utilizing high performance computational resources and state-of-the-art analytical tools for modeling, simulation and experimentation.

In addition to CAVS and I2AT, CAVS Extension in Canton and the Institute for Systems Engineering Research in Vicksburg comprise the ICRES portfolio. ICRES is led by Executive Director Roger King, a Giles Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State.

Learn more about I2AT at http://www.i2at.msstate.edu or contact Rowland at 662-325-1607 or zrowland@i2at.msstate.edu. Additional information about the ICRES team of centers and institutes is online at http://www.icres.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi's leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.