At the Fermilab Tevatron he investigated heavy-flavor physics and participated in the CDF experiment Higgs boson searches.

[3] As vice provost, he has been the architect of the "Illinois Commitment" program[4] to offer free tuition and fees to "talented low- to moderate-income students and those who are the first generation to go to college".

[5] He was also the principal investigator on a grant to increase access to science and engineering for low income students,[6] an effort supported by Amazon.

[8] He also founded "ICANEXSEL", a University of Illinois College of Engineering program to engage inner-city Chicago middle and high school students in STEM.

[9][10] In addition, Pitts serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit Chicago Pre-college Science and Engineering Program.