Chennai-born computer scientist and engineer Sethuraman Panchanathan has been named the 2026 recipient of the Arthur M. Bueche Award by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE). He is the first Indian American to receive the award in its more than four-decade history.
Panchanathan, a University Professor of Technology and Innovation at Arizona State University (ASU), is being recognised for his leadership in science and technology policy, technological development and collaboration between universities, government and industry.
Born in Chennai in 1961, Panchanathan completed his BSc in Physics from the University of Madras, followed by an engineering degree from IISc and an MTech from IIT Madras. He later earned his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Ottawa in Canada.
He previously served as the 15th director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2020 to 2025. His research has covered areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, multimedia computing and assistive technologies.
The award will be formally presented in October 2026 at the NAE’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Panchanathan also received India’s Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to science and engineering.
News as Reported.
