By Keerthi Ramesh
Three Indian American scientists have been named to a key Department of Energy advisory committee tasked with shaping the future of U.S. science and technology policy.
The newly formed Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC) will provide independent guidance on research priorities, emerging technologies and cross-cutting scientific challenges affecting the nation’s energy agenda, according to a DoE release.
The committee’s formation comes at a time when the U.S. government is emphasizing innovation in areas such as fusion energy, quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
Among the 21 members named to the advisory panel are Supratik Guha, Suresh Garimella and A.N. Sreeram, each bringing deep expertise in materials science, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Read: Indian Americans to lead Institute of Medicine of Chicago (January 30, 2026)
Guha, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and a researcher at Argonne National Laboratory, has spent much of his career at the intersection of nanoscience and applied technology. He led Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials and previously spent two decades at IBM Research, where he worked on nanoscale materials and devices.
Garimella, president of the University of Arizona and a mechanical engineer by training, has extensive academic and advisory experience. He has served on the National Science Board, a presidentially appointed body that oversees the National Science Foundation, and held advisory roles with Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. State Department on scientific collaboration.
Sreeram, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Dow, has more than 20 patents to his name and a long career in industrial research. He focuses on accelerating the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into commercial products and has previously served on the White House’s President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Another member of Indian origin is Pushmeet Kohli, a British Indian computer scientist and vice president of science and strategic initiatives at Google DeepMind, where his work centers on machine learning and AI-driven discovery.
Read: Saurabh Gupta named CEO of Indian American run Modern Data Company (January 30, 2026)
Officials said SCAC’s broad mandate includes advising on federal research priorities, facilitating collaboration across national laboratories and universities, and helping the Department anticipate and adapt to new technological trends. The committee is expected to play a strategic role as the U.S. navigates competition in critical fields such as quantum science and climate-related technologies.
DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil, who oversees the Office of Science, emphasized the value of diverse expertise in tackling the department’s mission. “By bringing together leading minds from diverse institutions, we’re forging a collaborative framework that will accelerate the translation of fundamental research into tangible benefits for the American people,” Gil stated.
The appointments reflect both the growing influence of Indian-Americans in U.S. science and the energy department’s push to harness global talent in advancing national research priorities. The advisory committee will serve through January 2028, with its findings informing DOE decisions.
SCAC will be chaired by Persis Drell, professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Stanford University, provost emerita of Stanford, and director emerita of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. It will adopt the core functions of the Office of Science’s six former discretionary advisory committees.