Daniel Acevedo-Feliz, PhD
Partner at Research Engine, bringing close to twenty years of senior leadership experience across research, higher education, government, and industry, with deep expertise in translating strategic ambition into robust operating models, sustainable financial frameworks, and high-performing institutions.
Biography
Daniel is a senior research-infrastructure and operations executive with nearly two decades of experience designing, building, and transforming complex scientific environments at institutional and national scale. His career spans world-class universities and multi- national R&D organizations, operating at the intersection of science, infrastructure, governance, and strategy.
He spent over fifteen years at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), one of the world’s most ambitious research universities. As Director of Core Labs, reporting to the Vice-President for Research, Daniel led more than 260 professionals across 12 advanced laboratories, including nanofabrication, supercomputing, genomics, analytical chemistry, oceanography, advanced manufacturing, and scientific visualization. His remit covered strategic planning, organizational design, budget stewardship, health and safety, talent development, equipment lifecycle management, and strategic partnerships.
Daniel is recognized for translating scientific ambition into operationally robust, scalable research infrastructure. He has led large-scale organizational transformations, restructuring laboratory systems to improve autonomy, accountability, and collaboration, while maintaining continuity of service. He introduced integrated, data-driven operating models that strengthened financial transparency and decision-making across complex research portfolios.
He has also led through periods of high complexity and risk, including serving as Interim Director of KAUST’s Supercomputing Core Lab during the installation of a flagship∼ $100M system, restoring governance and stakeholder confidence while ensuring successful delivery. Across his career, he has overseen the commissioning of advanced scientific facilities, consistently delivering on time and
within budget.
Daniel is a trusted partner to senior leadership, policymakers, and industry, with extensive experience negotiating long-term strategic alliances, leading external reviews, and advising on research-infrastructure roadmaps aligned with institutional and national priorities. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Brown University, a BSc in Civil Engineering, and completed executive training in Strategic Management at the University of Oxford. At Research Engine, Daniel helps organizations turn vision into capability, and capability
into lasting scientific, economic, and societal impact.