Suresh Garimella

Suresh Garimella
Name	Suresh Garimella
Birth date	29 October 1962
Birth place	Mumbai, India
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Indian Institute of Technology Madras (B.Tech), University of California, Berkeley (M.S.), University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D.)
Occupation	Mechanical Engineer, University president
Known for	Thermal management research, academic leadership
Title	27th President of the University of Vermont
Predecessor	Tom Sullivan
Spouse	Priya Garimella

Suresh Garimella is an Indian-American mechanical engineer and academic administrator, serving as the 27th president of the University of Vermont. A distinguished scholar in heat transfer and microscale and nanoscale engineering, his research has significantly advanced thermal management for electronics and energy conversion. Prior to his presidency, he held prominent leadership and faculty roles at Purdue University, where he directed major research initiatives and served as executive vice president for research and partnerships.

Early life and education

Suresh Garimella was born on October 29, 1962, in Mumbai, India. He completed his undergraduate education in mechanical engineering, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1985. He then moved to the United States for graduate studies, attending the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, he earned both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering, completing his doctorate in 1989 under the guidance of renowned professor Chang-Lin Tien.

Academic career

Garimella began his academic career as an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at Purdue University in 1989. He rose through the academic ranks, becoming a full professor in 1999. At Purdue, he held several key administrative positions, including director of the National Science Foundation-funded Cooling Technologies Research Center and associate vice president for research. His leadership expanded significantly when he was appointed as the university's first executive vice president for research and partnerships in 2010, a role in which he oversaw Purdue Research Foundation activities and fostered collaborations with industry and government agencies like the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.

Research and contributions

Garimella's research is centered on thermal science, particularly heat transfer at the micro- and nanoscale. His work has been foundational in developing innovative cooling solutions for high-power electronics, microprocessors, and photonics devices, addressing critical challenges in thermal management. He has authored over 400 technical publications and holds several patents. His contributions have been applied in sectors ranging from aerospace to renewable energy systems. He is a fellow of several prominent societies, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

University of Vermont presidency

On July 1, 2019, Suresh Garimella was inaugurated as the 27th president of the University of Vermont and its related University of Vermont Health Network. His presidency has focused on enhancing the university's research enterprise, strengthening its land-grant university mission, and fostering economic development in the state of Vermont. Key initiatives under his leadership have included expanding partnerships with IBM and other industries, launching the Bicentennial Scholars Initiative to increase access to education, and navigating the institutional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Garimella has received numerous accolades for his scholarly and leadership work. These include the ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award, the Thermal Management Award from the Semiconductor Research Corporation, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions in the field.

Personal life

Suresh Garimella is married to Priya Garimella, a healthcare professional. The couple has two children. He became a naturalized American citizen. Outside of his professional work, he has expressed a strong commitment to civic engagement and the integration of university research with public service.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:American mechanical engineers Category:University of Vermont Category:Purdue University faculty Category:Indian Institute of Technology Madras alumni Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:National Academy of Engineering members