Eric J. Perreault

  • Vice President for Research, Northwestern University

Eric J. Perreault is a biomedical engineer whose research focuses on understanding the neural and biomechanical factors involved in the control of movement and posture and how these factors are modified following injury or disease. This innovative work has important applications for neuroprosthetic control and rehabilitation following stroke or musculoskeletal injuries. Dr. Perreault was appointed Northwestern’s vice president for research on Sept. 15, 2023. He joined the University faculty in 2002 and has joint appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering, the Feinberg School of Medicine and at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Passionate about both his research and his administrative service, Dr. Perreault is a senior leader who has contributed to Northwestern and his field in numerous ways, notably as associate dean for research administration and oversight at the McCormick School; as chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; as chair of the National Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research; and as president of the International Society for Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. In his McCormick role, he worked with the Office for Research, McCormick research computing and others to advance research development and oversee research administration and safety.

He also is an MPI on NURTURE: Northwestern University Recruitment to Transform Under-Representation and achieve Equity. Funded by a $16 million National Institutes of Health grant, this program’s mission is to accelerate institutional culture change toward inclusive excellence through innovative institutional initiatives in hiring, mentoring, promotion and tenure, evaluation, and institutional accountability to ensure that all faculty can thrive. The program spans Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the Feinberg School of Medicine.

As vice president for research, Dr. Perreault and his senior staff direct a research infrastructure with $1 billion in annual sponsored funding. He oversees a portfolio of expert services and resources delivered by multiple units who work in partnership with Northwestern’s schools and units. This administrative support includes a host of compliance-related expertise as well as management of animal care, laboratory safety, research IT, core facilities, and 35 interdisciplinary University research institutes and centers. Perreault also leads the development and implementation of University-wide strategic plans that support high-impact research efforts.

Dr. Perreault earned his PhD in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering from McGill University.