Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan serves as the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), leading the agency in its mission to promote scientific advancement and innovation across the United States. Appointed in 2020, he has championed initiatives to enhance STEM education, broaden participation in scientific research, and advance technology development. 

Prior to his role at NSF, Panchanathan held various leadership positions at Arizona State University, where he focused on research, engineering, and technology transfer. His commitment to diversity and inclusion in science and engineering has been a hallmark of his career, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Under his leadership, the NSF continues to drive transformative research and foster partnerships to address pressing societal challenges.

Panch earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Madras in Physics, then received a B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Indian Institue of Science in Bangalore. He completeted his M.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Electrical Engineering, and received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Ottowa in Canada.  Indiaspora is proud to have Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan on our Government Leaders list.