Rate My Professor Sethuraman Panchanathan

Sethuraman Panchanathan is University Professor of Technology and Innovation and Foundation Chair in Computing and Augmented Intelligence in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at Arizona State University. He holds faculty appointments in Computer Science since 1997. Panchanathan earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Ottawa in 1989, where his thesis was nominated for the Governor General's Gold Medal, M.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1986, B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore in 1984, and B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Madras in 1981. His research specializations include human-centered multimedia computing, ubiquitous computing environments for enhancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities, and haptic user interfaces. He is Founding Director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing and Senior Global Futures Scientist at ASU.

Panchanathan's career includes serving as the 15th Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation from June 2020 to April 2025, where he launched the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate, 27 AI institutes, and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot. At ASU, he was Executive Vice President of the Knowledge Enterprise and Chief Research and Innovation Officer from 2016 to 2020, Dean of the School of Computing and Informatics from 2007 to 2011, and Foundation Chair Professor of Computing and Informatics. Previously, he was Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa from 1994 to 1997. He has received the Padma Shri Award from the Republic of India in 2025, honorary doctorates from universities including University of Ottawa, Northeastern University, and University of Connecticut in 2024-2025, membership in the National Academy of Engineering, and fellowships from IEEE, ACM, AAAS, SPIE, National Academy of Inventors, and Canadian Academy of Engineering. Panchanathan is author of nearly 500 peer-reviewed publications and holds several patents. His contributions have advanced research innovation, strategic partnerships, AI, quantum technologies, and accessibility technologies, positioning ASU as a leader in knowledge enterprise development.