Subra Suresh
Subra Suresh (born 1956 in Chennai, India) is an American materials scientist and academic administrator renowned for advancing the understanding of mechanical behavior in engineering and biological materials.[1][2]
He earned his undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, a master's from Iowa State University, and a Sc.D. from MIT, where he later became a faculty member and Dean of the School of Engineering.[2][3]
Suresh directed the U.S. National Science Foundation from 2010 to 2013, becoming the first Asian-American to lead the agency, during which he launched initiatives like the Innovation Corps to foster entrepreneurship in science.[4][5][6]
Subsequently, he served as the ninth president of Carnegie Mellon University from 2013 to 2017 and as the fourth president of Nanyang Technological University from 2018 to 2022, overseeing expansions in research and global partnerships at both institutions.[7][8]
His contributions include over 300 peer-reviewed publications, multiple books, and 30 patent applications, earning him the National Medal of Science in 2023, the highest U.S. civilian honor for scientific achievement.[6][9]
Currently, Suresh holds positions such as Professor at Large at Brown University and leadership roles in international scientific councils and corporate boards.[5][3]