James Steiner Named Associate Professor of Practice

James Steiner has been promoted to associate professor of practice in the Academy of Integrated Science. Steiner has been a faculty member at Virginia Tech for nine years and has worked with the Academy of Integrated Science since 2018. In that time, he has played a central role in shaping the Science, Technology, and Law (STL) minor program, which he now leads. He also serves as the lead for the division of minor programs within the academy.

In addition to overseeing the STL program, Steiner teaches nearly all of its courses, which include Intellectual Property and Law, Global Aspects of Intellectual Property, and Patent Application Preparation and Prosecution.

A double Hokie, Steiner received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Virginia Tech before earning his law degree at the University of Richmond. He is excited to continue using his interdisciplinary background and passion for law in order to continue guiding students in his new role. Currently, he’s focused on continuing this through his driving role in the creation of Virginia Tech’s new 3+3 program alongside George Mason University, which allows students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in a streamlined pathway. Read more about the 3+3 program here.

Anand Banerjee named collegiate associate professor

Anand Banerjee has been promoted to collegiate associate professor in the Academy of Integrated Science. 

Banerjee has been a faculty member at Virginia Tech for 10 years and joined the Academy of Integrated Science in 2020. Recently, he has taken on a leadership role as program leader for the Integrated Science Curriculum and the academy’s curricular programs division, helping to shape interdisciplinary education for students across the college.

Banerjee’s research focuses on cellular decision-making and the formation of transport vesicles on the cell membrane, combining experimental and computational approaches to uncover the principles underlying these complex biological systems. 

However, Banerjee’s commitment to teaching the next generation is his main focus. He teaches a wide range of courses, including systems biology, mathematical and computational biology, physics, biophysics, and integrated science. Banerjee receives consistently high student evaluations, reflecting his dedication to effective and thorough teaching.