Noureddine Abidi, a longtime champion of cotton fiber science at Texas Tech, has been named Interim Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation, university officials announced earlier this month. The appointment is effective immediately.
Currently serving as the Associate Dean for Research in Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Abidi is a noted leader in textile chemistry and applied research commercialization. In addition to his college-level leadership, he directs the university’s Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute and holds the Leidigh Professorship in the Department of Plant & Soil Science.
“Dr. Abidi brings valuable experience and leadership to this role. His record of scholarship and collaboration have strengthened Texas Tech’s research profile and impact,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec in a statement.
In his new role, Abidi will be charged with advancing the university’s research enterprise, fostering a culture of innovation, and maintaining regulatory compliance. His appointment comes at a time of expanding institutional emphasis on interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships.
“We’re extremely proud for and of Dr. Abidi. His hard work, dedication to Texas Tech, and superior knowledge of research across campus are key reasons for his selection,” said Davis College Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives & Assessment Darren Hudson.
"I am honored and privileged to have been selected to serve Texas Tech in this important role," said Abidi. "I remain committed to advancing research and innovation excellence within the Texas Tech research community."
Last year Abidi was named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, a distinction that underscores his contributions to innovation, patents, and technology commercialization. His research portfolio includes work on antimicrobial and self-cleaning textiles, cellulose-based bioproducts, and cotton fiber development. He has published 169 peer-reviewed papers and holds three approved patents, with more pending. He has generated more than $22M in research grants since joining Texas Tech.
Born in Morocco and educated in Morocco and France, Abidi holds a doctorate in theoretical, physical, and analytical chemistry from the University of Montpellier II. He joined Texas Tech in 1999 as a research associate and has since become a central figure in the college’s push toward applied agricultural innovation.
Among his recent honors are the President’s Innovation Startup Award and the Accelerator Fund Award, both in 2023, and the Discover Natural Fibres Initiative Innovation Award in 2020 for his patented method of converting low-grade cotton into a versatile cellulose gel.
CONTACT: Noureddine Abidi, Associate Dean for Research, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or noureddine.abidi@ttu.edu
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