Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, has joined the Board of Trustees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for a four-year term. Dr. Gil leads IBM’s technical community and directs innovation strategies in areas like hybrid cloud, AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing. Under his leadership, IBM became the first company to build programmable quantum computers accessible via the cloud. RPI is the first university to house the IBM Quantum System One. Dr. Gil also co-chairs the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and the International Science Reserve’s Executive Board.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Appoints IBM’s Dr. Darío Gil to Board of Trustees
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has welcomed Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Gil’s four-year term began on January 1, 2024. He will serve on the Academic Affairs and Research Committee and the Administration and Infrastructure Committee.
Dr. Gil is in charge of IBM Research, one of the world’s most significant corporate research labs, which employs over 3,000 researchers. As the 12th director in the lab’s 78-year history, he guides IBM’s technical community, leading innovation strategies in hybrid cloud, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and exploratory science. He also manages the company’s intellectual property strategy and business.
Dr. Gil’s Appointment Welcomed by RPI Board Chair and President
John E. Kelly III, chair of the RPI Board of Trustees and retired IBM Executive Vice President, expressed his delight at Dr. Gil’s appointment. Kelly praised Dr. Gil’s forward-thinking intellect, drive, and ability to get things done, predicting that he would make an exceptional addition to the board.
Martin Schmidt, president of RPI, also welcomed Dr. Gil’s appointment. Schmidt highlighted IBM’s longstanding partnership with RPI and expressed confidence that Dr. Gil would bring innovative thinking to the board, benefiting students and researchers.
Dr. Gil’s Leadership in the Quantum Computing Industry
Dr. Gil is a globally recognized leader in the quantum computing industry. Under his leadership, IBM became the first company to build programmable quantum computers and make them universally available through the cloud. RPI is the first university in the world to house the IBM Quantum System One.
Dr. Gil’s Advocacy for Collaborative Research Models
Dr. Gil is an advocate for collaborative research models. He co-chairs the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, which aims to advance fundamental AI research for the benefit of industry and society. He also co-chairs the Executive Board of the International Science Reserve, a global network of open scientific communities that provides specialized resources to prepare for and help mitigate urgent, complex global challenges.
Dr. Gil’s Service on Various Boards and Councils
Dr. Gil has served on the President’s Council of Science and Technology Advisors and is a current member of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation. He also serves on the President’s Research Council of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the MIT School of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, and the Aspen Global Cybersecurity Group.
In addition, Dr. Gil serves on the boards of the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the New York Academy of Sciences, the New York Hall of Science, and Research!America. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
