Leadership Team
The leadership of UT Southwestern’s basic and translational research enterprise fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration that drives foundational research breakthroughs. Faculty leaders—especially department chairs and center directors—play a critical role in shaping our strategic vision and propelling our research mission forward.
Vice Provost & Dean Basic Research
Professor of Molecular Biology
Before joining UT Southwestern in July 2021, Dr. Joan Conaway was an investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Missouri, where she held the Helen Nelson Distinguished Chair. Her research centers on the molecular mechanisms of gene transcription, with particular emphasis on the regulation of RNA polymerase II. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Conaway provides strategic leadership for the institution’s basic biomedical research enterprise. In this role, she oversees the expansion and coordination of resources that support innovative, high-impact scientific discoveries, helping to ensure that UT Southwestern remains at the forefront of biomedical research.
Associate Dean for Biomedical Research Recruitment & Advancement
Professor of Molecular Biology
Dr. Lin joined UT Southwestern in 1997, where she established her own lab in the Department of Molecular Biology. Her research made significant contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms driving the transition from oocyte to embryo and early cell fate specification. In 2019, she transitioned to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) as a Scientific Officer, where she was instrumental in organizing scientific meetings for HHMI researchers and overseeing candidate selection for prestigious programs such as the Investigator competition and the Hanna Gray Fellowship. In 2023, Dr. Lin returned to UT Southwestern to serve as the Associate Dean for Biomedical Research Recruitment & Advancement. She leads efforts to recruit and support world-class biomedical researchers at all levels, including faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. She also oversees the nomination processes for internal and external awards.
Assistant Dean for Research Development
Professor and Director of Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
Dr. W. Lee Kraus joined UT Southwestern in 2010 and currently serves as Professor and Director of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences. He holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology—where he also serves as Vice Chair for Basic Sciences—and Pharmacology. He is also the Assistant Director for Basic Research at the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to joining UT Southwestern, Dr. Kraus spent a decade on the faculty at Cornell University, serving in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Ithaca, NY, and the Department of Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Dr. Kraus’s research focuses on signal-regulated transcription, chromatin and gene regulation, nuclear receptors, PARPs, and NAD⁺ metabolism and signaling. In 2022, he was appointed the Assistant Dean for Research Development at UT Southwestern. In this role, he leads institutional initiatives to advance faculty research by convening interdisciplinary collaborations and facilitating grant development.
Assistant Dean for Research Support Facilities
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics
Dr. Carlson joined UT Southwestern in 2000 as a research scientist and was appointed to the faculty in 2003. Her research focuses on cardiac dysfunction, burn resuscitation, and sepsis, with a particular emphasis on understanding how the inflammasome mediates the inflammatory response following thermal injury and sepsis-related complications. In 2025, Dr. Carlson assumed the role of Assistant Dean for Research Support Facilities at UT Southwestern. In this capacity, she serves as the principal advisor on core facilities and as a liaison between Core Directors and institutional leadership. Her responsibilities include assessing the needs of core facilities, developing effective strategies to meet those needs, evaluating the quality and value of core services, and reviewing equipment and staffing requirements. She also chairs the UTSW Core Facilities Committee.