About Penny

Vice Chancellor for Research & W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill

Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, serves as the Vice Chancellor for Research at UNC-Chapel Hill. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing UNC-Chapel Hill's $1.2 billion research portfolio, an annual budget of around $100 million, 1,482 employees, and 13 research centers and institutes. She also plays a key role in setting the university’s strategic research priorities and has initiated improvements in research administration and infrastructure, including planning for the new Translational Research Building.

In addition to her role as Vice Chancellor, Dr. Gordon-Larsen has over a decade of experience in academic and scientific administration, primarily at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has directed an NIH-funded research program for more than 20 years and has secured $23.6 million in NIH research funding as principal investigator and another $49.1M as a co-investigator across collaborative team projects.

Dr. Gordon-Larsen is known for her work in developing interdisciplinary research teams and initiatives. She has built robust partnerships across diverse fields and her leadership has contributed to advancing scientific knowledge and improving lives, both in North Carolina and globally.