Philip E. Bourne

Philip E. Bourne served as the founding dean of the University of Virginia School of Data Science, the University’s 12th school and the newest to be established in its more than 200-year history. A world-renowned biomedical and data science researcher, Bourne authored more than 400 papers and five books, launched four companies, received numerous awards, and was elected as a fellow of multiple scientific societies. According to Google Scholar, he ranked among the 10 most-cited scholars in the history of UVA.

Before joining the University of Virginia, Bourne held several influential leadership roles in science and innovation. He served as the first Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Industrial Alliances at the University of California San Diego and as the first Associate Director for Data Science at the National Institutes of Health, where he helped advance national initiatives in data-driven research.

As founding dean, Bourne led the creation of a new kind of academic enterprise — a “school without walls” — guided by the goals of advancing discovery, sharing knowledge, and making a positive impact on society through collaborative, open, and responsible data science research and education. Established in 2019 through a $120 million founding gift — the largest in UVA history at the time — the School of Data Science was designed to play a leadership role in the global digital future. Under Bourne’s vision, the School emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration across UVA, as well as partnerships with community organizations, industry, government, and nonprofits to apply data science to some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Bourne passed away in 2026, leaving a lasting legacy at the University of Virginia and in the global data science and biomedical research communities. His vision, leadership, and commitment to open, responsible science helped shape the School of Data Science and its mission to practice and teach data science for the common good.