David A. Laude is the interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences effective August 1, 2011.

Laude first joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor of chemistry in September 1987. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of the South, a master’s of science from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of California at Riverside in 1984. He remained at UC Riverside as a postdoctoral fellow until he joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. In 1996 he was promoted to professor. Laude was associate dean for undergraduate education from 1997 until 2010 when he became senior associate dean for academic affairs until his appointment as interim dean in 2011.

Laude's research focuses on analytical mass spectrometry and he is recipient of Beckman Young Investigator and National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Awards. He has published about 100 peer-reviewed articles while supervising the Ph.D.s of more than 20 students. Read more on his Chemistry faculty page.

Since joining the dean’s office his efforts have focused on creation of undergraduate programs to support student success. He was instrumental in the development of the UTeach program, the Texas Interdisciplinary Plan and the Freshman Research Initiative. Among his many teaching awards, he is recipient of the Jean M. Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, the David W. Blunk Memorial Professorship, the Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship and is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He continues to teach the large introductory chemistry class to incoming freshmen.