Shekhar Bhansali, an internationally recognized distinguished researcher and leader in electrical engineering, has accepted the role of chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering, effective July 1. He will also hold the Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair.
Bhansali comes to Vanderbilt after holding major leadership roles at Florida International University (FIU) and the National Science Foundation. Recognized for his research in sensors, MEMS, and thin films, Bhansali is an accomplished administrator. At FIU, he was Distinguished University Professor and CALA-Lucent Technologies Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering. Previously, he served as division director for the Division of Electrical, Cyber, and Communications Systems at the National Science Foundation, where he administered a budget of $130 million and supervised a large team of program directors and administrative professionals. He also served on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s subcommittee on Semiconductor and Microelectronics Leadership (SML)
Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of the School of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor, said he’s excited about the leadership and experience that Bhansali will bring to the department.
“As we look ahead to growing the School of Engineering’s research excellence and educational impact in electrical and computer engineering Shekhar will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our bold vision,” Roy said. “I look forward to working closely with the department to forge new connections across disciplines, with private industry, and to make Vanderbilt a premier destination for this vital, future-focused area.”
Bhansali said he is honored to take on the role.
“Vanderbilt fosters world-class teaching and groundbreaking interdisciplinary research across engineering, medicine, and the sciences,” he said. “I’m excited to build on this momentum through innovative collaborations with the College of Connected Computing, the School of Medicine, and the College of Arts and Sciences.”
Bhansali received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from RMIT University in Australia. He has served as PI/co-PI on over 70 grants with $95 million in awards. As a mentor, Bhansali has advised 28 postdocs, 30 Ph.Ds., 44 master’s students, and more than 200 undergraduate/high school students. Bhansali is the recipient of numerous mentoring and research awards, including the NSF CAREER Award, Alfred P Jones Mentor of the Year Award, William R Jones Outstanding Mentor Award, and Florida International University’s Top Scholar Award. He is an elected Fellow of AAAS, AIMBE, ECS, IEEE, ISEES, NAI, and IOP.