The State University of New York Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to name Melur K. “Ram” Ramasubramanian as executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost.

Ramasubramanian, who exits the University of Virginia as a senior adviser to President Jim Ryan following more than six years as vice president of research, was hired to drive academic excellence across SUNY, which has the ambitious goal of doubling its research budget.

Throughout his tenure he helped grow UVA’s sponsored research to a record level of $532 million.

“Dr. Ramasubramanian came to our country with few financial resources, but an incredible drive to get the most from his education,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said in announcing the hire. “He is an inspiration to first-generation college students, like himself, and every student taking advantage of what an excellent education at SUNY can provide.”

Ramasubramanian was previously a professor and department chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Clemson University.

Fred Epstein, a professor of biomedical engineering, is serving as UVA’s interim vice president for research as the University searches for a successor to the role.