Dr. Weete joined the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation (ARTF) as its Executive Director on September 1, 2007. The ARTF is responsible for the overall development and operation of the Auburn Research Park located on the Auburn University campus. Dr. Weete’s responsibilities include strategic planning, marketing and communications, budget development and management, overseeing construction projects, and recruiting tenants to the park. He also serves as the liaison for the ARTF with the stakeholders for the research park, i.e., Auburn University, the City of Auburn, and the State of Alabama.

Previously, Dr. Weete served as the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at West Virginia University and President of the West Virginia University Research Corporation. As Vice President, he served on the President’s Cabinet and provided the institution-wide leadership for strategic planning for the research enterprise, and growing the institution’s research programs, including university-centers and institutes.

As President of the WVU Research Corporation, he oversaw budget, personnel, and activities of the WVU Research Office relating to federal compliance, technology transfer, economic development, sponsored programs, and development of the WVU Research Park. He also served as the liaison between the university and West Virginia federal congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. He also served on several corporate boards.

Prior to going to West Virginia University, Dr. Weete served on the faculty and as an administrator at Auburn University. He was a Professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Science and Mathematics. He currently has professor and associate dean emeritus status.

During his tenure at Auburn University, he held invited and visiting professorships at universities in Switzerland and France. He has authored two books, and has numerous other publications in the field of plant and fungal biochemistry and several U.S. and international patents.

He received his BS and MS degrees at Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas and PhD at the University of Houston. He was as a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Baylor College of Medicine and Visiting Scientist at the Lunar Science Institute in Houston, Texas prior to joining the faculty at Auburn University.