Rider W. Foley
· Associate Professor Director, Policy Internship ProgramVerifiedUniversity of Virginia · Engineering and Society
Active 1970–2025
About
Dr. Rider W. Foley is an associate professor in the science, technology & society program in the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on wicked problems that arise at the intersection of society and technology. He is the principal investigator at the University of Virginia on the ‘4C Project’ on Cultivating Cultures of Ethical STEM education with colleagues from Notre Dame, Xavier University, and St. Mary’s College. Additionally, he is the co-leader of the ‘Nano and the City’ thematic research cluster for the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University. Rider is also a Research Collaborator with the Sustainability Science Education program at the Biodesign Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Arizona State University, a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of New Hampshire. Before earning his doctorate, he worked for a decade in consulting and emergency response for Triumvirate Environmental Inc.
Research topics
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Social Science
- Public relations
- Medical education
- Medicine
- Psychology
- Demography
- Epistemology
- Pedagogy
- Engineering ethics
- Public administration
- Law
- Engineering management
- Political economy
- Geography
- Economics
- Mechanical engineering
- Economic growth
Selected publications
A MODULAR IMMUNE CELL ENGINEERING PLATFORM FOR THERANOSTIC APPLICATIONS IN ONCOLOGY
Cytotherapy · 2025-04-30
articleMental Models, Industrial Sectors, and Regulation
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingThree Myths of Regional Innovation
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingThe Man, the Myth, the Entrepreneur
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingThe Myths of Regional Innovation
2025-06-23
book1st authorCorrespondingBillions of dollars, Euros, yen, and yuan in public funds are spent annually to promote innovation in metropolitan regions, attempting to transform the economy by attracting technology-based companies and supporting small startups to secure high-paying jobs. The impacts of those investments are typically assessed in terms of economic growth, venture capital, and jobs. Regional innovation is assessed with financial measures that do not account for the distribution of wealth, nor do they evaluate if innovation addresses broader sustainability concerns. This book draws on evidence from 144 interviews with civic leaders in three urban regions—Atlanta, Phoenix, and the Twin Cities—to illuminate three commonly accepted but flawed myths about innovation that misdirect policymakers and civic leaders and perpetuate the idea that innovation is solely about economic growth. This book offers evidence of the social networks, labor divisions, and conditions enabling innovation to dispel those three myths and propose more nuanced and realistic ways of thinking about regional innovation. This book is not an argument against innovation. Rather, it critically reflects upon investments in innovation and showcases laudable efforts to create a livable and sustainable city. The book offers a novel method to assess the processes and outcomes of innovation in a manner that can complement economic approaches. The author lays bare the human values that motivate city staff, corporate officers, and academic partners and highlights the efforts of organizations that often remain underappreciated. The evidence presented in this book puts forward a means to assess if (and how) innovation contributes to an equitable and sustainable future or if it perpetuates injustices and economic stratification. The Myths of Regional Innovation will appeal to scholars across broad fields, including innovation studies, technology management, entrepreneurship, economic development, and public policy.
Sustainability and Responsible Innovation
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingAssessing Regional Innovation with Sustainability and Responsible Innovation
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingAssets to Build Regional Innovation Strategies
2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding2025-06-23
book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
Recent grants
Frequent coauthors
- 17 shared
Arnim Wiek
University of Freiburg
- 17 shared
Kathryn Neeley
American Society For Engineering Education
- 16 shared
Rebecca Jun
University of Virginia
- 16 shared
Andrew Li
American Society For Engineering Education
- 10 shared
Araba Dennis
Purdue University System
- 9 shared
Rachel Sinclair
University of Virginia
- 8 shared
David H. Guston
Institute for the Future
- 6 shared
Michael J. Bernstein
Austrian Institute of Technology
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Rider W. Foley
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup