Michael Pollastri

Dr. Michael Pollastri is the senior vice provost and interim leader of Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, where he established the academic and research enterprise over the last six years.

After a decade as a medicinal chemist at Pfizer, he joined Northeastern in 2009 and advanced through leadership roles including department chair and interim dean of the College of Science, before taking the academic helm in Portland when the Roux Institute launched in 2020. As a member of the provost’s office, Mike has contributed to efforts driving Northeastern’s impact beyond Boston. He has championed expansion of research activities into the Global University System, was embedded on Northeastern’s Oakland campus during the acquisition of Mills College, and optimized operations of the Institute for Experiential AI.

In support of the Roux Institute’s mission, he’s transformed academic models through innovative faculty appointments, adapted governance structures, and collaborations to build strategic industry partnerships and research frameworks.

Mike earned his master’s degree in chemistry from Duke University and doctorate in organic chemistry through a pioneering program he developed between Pfizer and Brown University, embodying the industry-academia bridge he now champions.