Jim Davis

Jim Davis is Vice Provost IT and Chief Academic Technology Officer, Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC), with broad leadership responsibilities for data and technology solutions in support of UCLA’s research mission and its broadly defined communities engaged in the impacts of digital research and scholarship. 

OARC’s six Research Technology Groups (RTGs) specialize in the areas of advanced data architectures and platforms; statistical methods and data analytics; GIS and visualization; mobile research, cloud and IoT data; research data, web platforms, and web accessibility; and advanced computation and HPC systems. OARC staff is comprised of research scientists, system and policy specialists, operations staff, and the leadership and staff of several public-private partnerships. OARC programs bring together a rich array of scaled R&D capabilities, research data lifecycle support, shared data partnerships, and IT policies. OARC activities are closely linked to UCLA’s Institute for Digital Research and Education (IDRE), which Jim co-sponsors with the Vice Chancellor of Research and Creative Activities.

OARC is also program home to two key external public-private partnerships. Jim has program oversight and is vice chair of the Governance Board for DOE’s Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII), the 9th national Manufacturing USA Institute to be awarded. OARC is program sponsor of Innovate@UCLA (formerly IS Associates), a partnership of the IT leadership from 40 companies in Southern California engaged in research exchanges and professional development programs in IT leadership for executives, women in technology, young professionals, and students.

Jim is a Professor in UCLA’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering where he does research and consults extensively on AI, machine learning, intelligent systems, monitoring/control, and data/modeling systems across manufacturing industries including chemicals, refining, paper, packaging, metals, and glass. Jim was formerly the CIO at UCLA and The Ohio State University, and was Board Chair of the Corporation of Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC). He has past work experience with Amoco Chemicals. He is Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and is currently on the Board of Governors of the Manufacturing Leadership Council.