Pradeep Khosla

Pradeep Khosla
Name	Pradeep Khosla
Birth date	1 January 1957
Birth place	Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (B.Tech), Carnegie Mellon University (M.S., Ph.D.)
Known for	Robotics, Cybersecurity, Academic leadership
Occupation	Engineer, University Chancellor
Employer	University of California, San Diego
Title	Chancellor of University of California, San Diego
Spouse	Priya Khosla

Pradeep Khosla is an Indian-American engineer, robotics researcher, and academic leader. He is the eighth Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), a position he has held since 2012. A noted authority in cybersecurity and embedded systems, Khosla previously served as the Dean of the Carnegie Institute of Technology at Carnegie Mellon University.

Early life and education

Pradeep Khosla was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), in the state of Maharashtra, India. He completed his undergraduate education in electrical engineering, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1980. He then moved to the United States for graduate studies, attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At Carnegie Mellon, he earned both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in electrical and computer engineering.

Academic career

Khosla began his academic career as a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He rose through the ranks, becoming a full professor and founding the university's Institute for Complex Engineered Systems. His administrative leadership commenced when he was appointed Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 2004, he was named the Philip and Marsha Dowd Professor of Engineering and, subsequently, the Dean of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, the engineering college at Carnegie Mellon University.

Research and contributions

Khosla's research has significantly advanced the fields of robotics, cybersecurity, and software composition. He co-founded the Cylab at Carnegie Mellon University, a major interdisciplinary research center focused on cyber security and dependability. His work in robotic assembly and sensor-based control has been influential in manufacturing and autonomous systems. He has authored or co-authored over 400 articles in refereed journals and conferences and holds several patents. His research has been supported by agencies including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research.

Leadership at UC San Diego

Appointed in 2012, Pradeep Khosla became the eighth Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego. Under his leadership, UC San Diego launched several major initiatives, including the Strategic Plan and the Campaign for UC San Diego, a multi-billion dollar fundraising effort. He has overseen significant campus expansion, including the construction of the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood and the establishment of the School of Global Policy and Strategy as a standalone school. Khosla has emphasized increasing student access, enhancing interdisciplinary research, and strengthening the university's partnerships with institutions like the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Awards and honors

Khosla has received numerous accolades for his research and leadership. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). His honors include the W. Wallace McDowell Award from the IEEE Computer Society, the George Westinghouse Award from the American Society for Engineering Education, and the Bernard M. Gordon Prize from the National Academy of Engineering. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, by the Government of India.

Personal life

Pradeep Khosla is married to Priya Khosla, and the couple has two children. He maintains strong ties to his alma maters, serving on various advisory boards for the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and Carnegie Mellon University. An advocate for diversity in STEM fields, he has been actively involved in initiatives to support underrepresented students in higher education.

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:American engineers Category:American university and college chancellors Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni Category:Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur alumni Category:University of California, San Diego faculty Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan