iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Venkat Venkatasubramanian, the Samuel Ruben-Peter G. Viele Professor of Engineering at Columbia Engineering, has been elected to the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE is one of the highest honors an engineer can receive.
We are thrilled to see the extraordinary achievements of Michal and Venkat recognized by the National Academy of Engineering,” said Columbia Engineering Dean Shih-Fu Chang. “Both are pioneers in their respective fields who have made advancements in some of the most important research areas of our time, from photonics to AI to engineering systems. This well-deserved honor reflects many years of dedication and contribution.”
Venkatasubramanian is among 128 new members and 22 international members announced on February 11. The new inductees will be formally honored at the NAE’s Annual Meeting on October 5, 2025.
An internationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods for process fault diagnosis, process safety, pharmaceutical engineering, and materials design, Venkatasubramanian’s research has had a transformative impact on both academic theory and industrial practice. His pioneering work in AI for chemical engineering has been ahead of its time, setting the stage for widespread developments now recognized in the field.
Venkatasubramanian’s three seminal papers on process fault diagnosis and safety, published in 2003, are among the most-cited papers in the journal Computers & Chemical Engineering. With more than 8,000 citations, these papers have become a gold standard in the field. His 2019 paper on AI in chemical engineering is the most-cited paper in the AIChE Journal over the last 20 years. Additionally, his book, How Much Inequality is Fair? Mathematical Principles of a Moral, Optimal, and Stable Capitalist Society, was published by Columbia University Press in 2017.
His contributions to process systems engineering earned him the Computing in Chemical Engineering Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in 2009. In 2011, he was named a fellow of AIChE, and in 2024, he received the William H. Walker Award, AIChE’s most prestigious honor, for his groundbreaking work in AI for chemical engineering.
Venkatasubramanian’s election to the NAE further underscores his lasting influence on the fields of engineering and AI, recognizing his exceptional career and transformative impact on both research and industry.
(Photo courtesy: www.engineering.columbia.edu)
