Pratim Biswas, a leading Indian American scholar and a renowned aerosol scientist, has been named the inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Engineering Innovation at Vanderbilt University’s West Palm Beach campus.
Biswas, whose work has applications in energy and environmental nanotechnology, solar energy, air quality, medicine, and numerous other fields, will also be the Executive Director for Global Engagement at the Vanderbilt School of Engineering.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay alumnus will hold the Stevenson Chair in Engineering as Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, effective August 16, the university announced.
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.
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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).
Biswas’ “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,” said Krish Roy, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. “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.”
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 IIT, Bombay.
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“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…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.
Biswas is active in many professional societies. He has 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 as also on several boards including that of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation.
He received his PhD from the California Institute of Technology, his MS from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his BTech degree from IIT Bombay.