NARASIMHAN KASTHURI
WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 8
In a landmark appointment that underscores the growing global influence of Indian-origin scientific leaders, IIT Delhi alumnus Dr Arvind Raman has assumed office as the 18th Director of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the fifth Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, taking charge of one of America’s most strategic scientific institutions at a time when artificial intelligence, quantum technology and semiconductor innovation are reshaping the global economy.
Arvind Raman was sworn in on June 30, 2026, as the fifth under secretary of commerce for standards and technology and the 18th director of the NIST.
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— National Institute of Standards and Technology (@NIST) July 6, 2026
- Indian-origin engineering leader becomes the 18th Director of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and the fifth Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
- Former Purdue Engineering Dean to steer America’s scientific standards ecosystem powering artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology and cybersecurity
- Appointment comes as NIST celebrates its 125th anniversary and sharpens its role in strengthening U.S. technological leadership and industrial competitiveness
- Secretary Howard Lutnick hails Raman’s research and innovation credentials; Raman vows to deepen partnerships with industry, entrepreneurs and academia
- IIT Delhi alumnus brings decades of pioneering research, academic excellence and technology leadership to one of America’s most influential scientific institutions
Dr Raman was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick after receiving confirmation from the U.S. Senate in May.
As one of the world’s oldest and most respected physical science laboratories, NIST plays a pivotal role in developing the measurements, technologies and standards that underpin innovation across sectors ranging from artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. The institution is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Welcoming the appointment, Secretary Lutnick said,
“We are excited to have Dr. Arvind Raman join Commerce as NIST’s new director. His experience in conducting and leading innovative research will be a tremendous asset to the Department of Commerce and help American technology and manufacturing continue to thrive.”
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Raman said, “NIST is one of America’s most important science institutions thanks to its unique mission and the expertise of its employees.”
He added, “I am honored to be nominated to this position by President Trump and Secretary Lutnick, and I look forward to maximizing NIST’s ability to accelerate American innovation through partnerships with industry, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.”
Before taking over at NIST, Raman served as the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering at Purdue University, a position he assumed in February 2023 after more than two decades on the university’s faculty.
Joining Purdue as an assistant professor in 2000, he earned widespread recognition for both teaching and research before being appointed the Robert V. Adams Professor of Engineering in 2012. His research has made significant contributions to atomic force microscopy, human biomechanics and electronics manufacturing, while maintaining longstanding collaborations with NIST researchers in nanotechnology.
Under Raman’s leadership, Purdue Engineering achieved several historic milestones. The college now awards more engineering degrees annually than any other university in the United States, attracts the country’s highest number of engineering applications, and has reduced the average time required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering to less than four years for the first time in its history—all while maintaining a tuition freeze for 14 consecutive years.
Purdue’s engineering research profile also witnessed remarkable growth during his tenure, with its U.S. News research ranking climbing into the nation’s top four in 2026, accompanied by record levels of research funding and philanthropic support.
As Director, Raman will lead NIST’s collaborations with industry, academia and government agencies to develop the technologies, measurement science and standards that drive next-generation American products and services. He will also oversee initiatives to accelerate scientific innovation by advancing AI-enabled research supporting semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Raman has received numerous national and international honours, including the Gustus Larson Memorial Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Keeley Fellowship from the University of Oxford and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. He was named a Purdue University Faculty Scholar in 2008, elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2012 and became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2026.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Raman earned his Bachelor of Technology degree before pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
With Dr Raman at the helm, NIST is expected to play an even more influential role in shaping the scientific standards and technological frameworks that will define the next generation of global innovation, while reinforcing America’s leadership in critical and emerging technologies.
