Sriram Sundararajan, associate dean for academic affairs, has received the 2024 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Medal.
The medal recognizes Sundararajan’s outstanding accomplishments in broadening participation in engineering.
“Sriram champions innovative initiatives that create an environment where all engineering students, faculty and staff can thrive,“ says W. Samuel Easterling, the James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Dean of Engineering. “His commitment to advancing engineering education has positively impacted every facet of our mission – and, indeed, has positively impacted engineering education across the state and nation.”
As associate dean for academic affairs, Sundararajan oversees the college’s academic programs and faculty affairs. He works with academic departments to create well-prepared, collaborative Cyclone Engineers and an engaging community in and out of the classroom.
Sundararajan has also created new first-year scholarship opportunities, launched degree programs, and led recruitment and career placement programming – opening the door for more students to pursue engineering degrees and enter the engineering workforce.
In addition to serving as associate dean, Sundararajan is a professor of mechanical engineering. His research areas encompass multiscale tribology and engineering education and he has authored over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Throughout his career Sundararajan has led the design and deployment of learning modules for first-year engineering courses, student organizations, faculty and staff committees and more. And he’s designed a graduate course on extending engineering research findings to engage and benefit the public.
Sundararajan was on the leadership team of a 5-year, $20 million National Science Foundation-EPSCoR project to build engineering research and workforce capacity in Iowa. Collaborating with partners at the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, Sundararajan led efforts to engage K-12 students and Iowa communities in STEM outreach and develop strategies to recruit, develop and retain STEM faculty.
Sundararajan was also essential to bringing the first National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program to Iowa State’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. For nine years, the REU offered students from across the country hands-on engineering learning opportunities in Iowa State research labs.
Sundararajan is a Fellow of ASME, and he serves the society as an ABET commissioner and a member of the Tribology Division Executive Committee. Sundararajan has been recognized for teaching and research excellence at Iowa State, and he has held multiple leadership roles in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and at the college level, including associate chair positions and college faculty success advisor.
Sundararajan earned a master’s and a PhD degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in Pilani, India.