Rolla, Missouri, USA: He is moving to Missouri from Arizona State University, where he most recently held the role of chief science officer within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Missouri University of Science and Technology has named Indian-origin academic Sridhar Seetharaman as the new chair of its Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
His leadership term will officially begin in January 2026 and reflects the institution’s broader strategy to strengthen research in advanced materials and promote environmentally responsible manufacturing.
Seetharaman stated that he has collaborated with Missouri S&T researchers for several years and has consistently valued the impact and rigor of their work. He said stepping into the department’s leadership role is an honor and an opportunity to further elevate its globally respected research and educational efforts.
David Borrok, vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T, said Seetharaman brings a strong combination of technical knowledge and administrative experience that will help guide the department’s next phase of development.
Borrok added that Seetharaman’s background across universities, industry partnerships, and federal programs positions him well to support continued growth and long-term advancement.
Seetharaman’s scholarly work is focused on lowering industrial carbon emissions and improving energy performance, especially in metals production. His research has contributed to practical solutions that reduce environmental impact and support sustainable practices in large-scale manufacturing. He has produced more than 300 academic publications across journals, conferences, and books, and holds three US-issued patents.
His professional achievements have been widely recognized, including receiving the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award, being elected an international member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and earning fellow and distinguished member status from the Association of Iron and Steel Technology.
In addition to his research accomplishments, he serves as a Mercator Fellow with the German Research Foundation, leads the Manufacturing USA Council for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and participates on the US Department of Energy’s Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee.
Before joining Missouri S&T, Seetharaman held senior positions at Arizona State University, including chief science officer for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and chief executive officer of EPIXC, a $140 million public-private program supported by the US Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Since 2023, he has also served as Fulton Professor of Industrial Decarbonization at ASU.
Earlier in his career, he spent several years in leadership and research roles at the Colorado School of Mines between 2017 and 2021. He previously held faculty appointments at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Warwick. His experience also includes service as a senior technology advisor to the US Department of Energy and a joint research faculty role with the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Seetharaman earned his doctorate in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed his undergraduate education in the same discipline at Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology.
