Pratim Biswas, a leading academic leader, member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a renowned aerosol scientist whose work has applications in energy and environmental nanotechnology, solar energy, air quality, medicine, and numerous other fields, has been named the inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Engineering Innovation at Vanderbilt University's West Palm Beach campus. He will also be the Executive Director for Global Engagement at the Vanderbilt School of Engineering.
Biswas will hold the Stevenson Chair in Engineering as Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, effective August 16.
Biswas joins Vanderbilt from the University of Miami, where he served as dean of the College of Engineering. Previously, he was assistant vice chancellor for international programs and chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.
Biswas is a Fellow of organizations that include the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR), Association for Environmental Engineering Science Professors (AEESP), International Aerosol Research Assembly (IARA), and the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Florida (ASEMFL).
"Pratim Biswas brings an exceptional record of academic leadership and scholarly achievement, making him uniquely well-positioned to help shape Vanderbilt Engineering's innovation vision in West Palm Beach," said Krish Roy, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. "His experience in the South Florida ecosystem and his exceptional leadership will accelerate Vanderbilt's engagement with the industries driving growth across the region-from aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech to defense, national security, and the built environment. He will also play a critical role in advancing the AI- and data-driven technologies that are reshaping these sectors and creating new possibilities for innovation and impact."
Biswas's experience leading engineering programs and industry engagement in the South Florida region, coupled with his deep technical expertise, made him a clear choice to lead Vanderbilt's engineering presence at the West Palm Beach campus, in addition to his faculty role in the School of Engineering.
An Accomplished Academic Leader
Aside from his National Academy recognition, Biswas has also received numerous academic honors and awards, including the Fuchs Award, the premier international aerosol award given to a scientist for outstanding contributions in aerosol science and technology; the Ralph White Award from the International Society for Electrostatic Precipitation; and the Cecil Award for exemplary accomplishments in environmental engineering from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award at Washington University in St. Louis and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
"I am excited to lead Vanderbilt's visionary Institute for Engineering Innovation as the university expands into one of the country's most vibrant business environments," Biswas said. "The opportunity to bring together research, education, and industry-and to work with great colleagues at Vanderbilt University-to solve important challenges and create meaningful impact is what drew me to this role, and I look forward to helping build that future."
With 17 patents to his name, Biswas has generated research funding totaling more than $50 million from agencies including NSF, NIH, DOE, as well as from industry. He has co-founded two start-up companies, Applied Particle Technology (APT) and Smart Aerosol Technology (SmArT LLC). Biswas has also served as associate editor of Aerosol Science and Technology and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Aerosol Science.
Over the course of his academic career, Biswas has graduated 65 Ph.D. students and, with them, published the results of his research in more than 500 refereed journal publications, which are well cited. His Ph.D. graduates are renowned scientists and faculty at leading universities worldwide, in industry and government agencies. Biswas is active in many professional societies, including having served as President of the American Association for Aerosol Research and the International Aerosol Research Assembly, a group of more than 15 national aerosol societies. He served on several boards including that of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Heritage Foundation
He received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology, his M.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his B.Tech. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Biswas's wife, Sujata, is a retired schoolteacher. They have two sons, Vivek, who lives in Chicago and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University, and Vikram, who works in finance and lives in New York City.
