New York University has appointed Fabio Piano as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), effective immediately.
Piano has served as Interim Vice Chancellor for the past two years and has played a central role in the development of NYUAD since its founding. As the University’s Provost from 2010-2020, he directed the academic launch of NYUAD’s temporary campus, supported the design and transition to its permanent campus on Saadiyat Island, and helped establish its undergraduate and graduate programs.
His appointment comes 16 years after NYUAD opened in 2010 with a vision to become one of the world’s leading research universities, addressing complex challenges of local and global significance. It marks the next phase in the University’s development as a global liberal arts and research institution rooted in Abu Dhabi.
During his tenure as Provost from 2010 to 2020, Piano oversaw the establishment of 24 undergraduate majors across the Arts and Humanities, Engineering, Science, and Social Science divisions. He also helped introduce NYUAD’s global PhD programs and two master’s programs.
As Interim Vice Chancellor, Piano provided outstanding leadership through a period of regional uncertainty, overseeing measures to support the safety and wellbeing of the NYUAD community while maintaining the continuity of the University’s academic and research mission.
“It is a privilege to lead a community that I have been part of since its earliest days. NYU Abu Dhabi was founded on the belief that a university rooted in Abu Dhabi, connected to the world, and committed to excellence in education and research could make a meaningful contribution to society. Over the past 16 years, that vision has been brought to life by our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners. I look forward to working with the entire community to build on that foundation and deepen NYUAD’s contribution to Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the wider world.”
Piano’s relationship with NYU spans more than four decades. He arrived at the University in 1985 as an international undergraduate and went on to earn his BA, MS, MPhil, and PhD from NYU. Following a Damon Runyon – Walter Winchell fellowship at Cornell University, he returned to NYU as a faculty member and continues to teach and conduct research across genomics, systems biology, chemical genetics, and the evolution of development.
A distinguished molecular biologist, Piano co-founded NYU’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology and served as its inaugural Director from 2007 to 2014, returning to the role in 2022. Under his leadership, the Center developed into a leading research hub, helping to recruit and retain pioneering faculty and building a grant portfolio exceeding USD 100 million.
His research examines the genetic and molecular mechanisms that shape living systems, with a focus on systems biology, reproduction, development, metabolism, evolution, and chemical genetics. His work has been published in leading scientific journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell. He has served as principal investigator on grants and fellowships from institutions including the US National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Since opening in 2010, NYUAD has established more than 90 faculty laboratories and projects, produced over 10,000 internationally recognized academic papers, articles, and books, and created and directed more than 880 creative works. Its current student body includes more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. To date, NYUAD has produced 25 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Schwarzman Scholars, 26 Erasmus Mundus Scholars, and 12 Yenching Scholars.
