National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan Abruptly Resigns Amid Mass Grant Cuts and Layoffs
- The Trump appointee, who served as the agencyâs head for five years, had more than a year left before the end of his term.
National Science Foundation Director abruptly stepped down from his role yesterday. His resignation comes more than a year before the end of his term, as the agency is grappling with mass grant cuts and layoffs.
]âIt has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Director of NSF for the last five years, Panchanathan said in an all-staff memo. âI believe that I have done all I can to advance the mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership, he added. Calling the current time âa pivotal moment for our nation in terms of global competitiveness,â he noted that âa thoughtful approach to efficiencies and investments is incredibly important.â
Panchanathan was confirmed by the Senate in June 2020 to a six-year term. He previously served as Arizona State Universityâs chief research and innovation officer.
The NSF was established in 1950 and is tasked with evaluating the scientific merit of grant requests and doling out dollars â mostly to universities and other research institutions â to advance scientistsâ understanding of a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence and the fundamental workings of the cosmos.
Brian Stone, the directorâs chief of staff, will lead the agency on an interim basis.
Panchanathan didnât fully explain the reason for his exit. But as Politico noted, âhis departure comes amid a governmentwide downsizing effort that has seen the scientific research funding agency lay off staff, cancel grants and sharply restrict travel.â Several people at NSF also told the publication, that Panchanathan has âalso been juggling those changes while caring for his ailing mother.â
A leader in science, engineering and education with more than three decades of experience, Panchanathan has a distinguished career in both higher education and government. He has designed and built knowledge enterprises that advance research innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, global development and economic growth.
He previously served as the executive vice president of the Arizona State University (ASU) Knowledge Enterprise, where he was also chief research and innovation officer. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU.
Prior to joining NSF, Panchanathan was appointed by the president to serve on the National Science Board, where he was a chair of the Committee on Strategy and a member of the External Engagement and National Science and Engineering Policy committees. Additionally, he was chair of the Council on Research of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and co-chair of the Extreme Innovation Taskforce of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Arizonaâs governor appointed him as senior advisor for science and technology in 2018.
He was the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) MultiMedia magazine He has received numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from prestigious universities, distinguished alumni awards, the Governorâs Innovator of the Year for Academia Award, the Washington Academy of Sciences Distinguished Career Award and the IEEE-USA Public Service Award. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, where he also served as vice president for strategic initiatives. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE and the Society of Optical Engineering.
He is married to Sarada âSoumyaâ Panchanathan, an academic pediatrician and informatician who has taught medical students, pediatric residents and informatics fellows. They have two adult children, Amritha and Roshan.