Governor’s Chair for Advanced Manufacturing
Suresh Babu is a materials scientist who explores the production, design, and performance of transforming materials into parts.
His research helps widen the scope of advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, which is the process of adding successive layers to make a three-dimensional solid object from a digital model.
Babu’s primary responsibilities include innovation in new materials and product designs at the crossroads of additive and traditional manufacturing and provide team leadership in developing strong relationships between academia, national laboratories, and small-, medium- and large-scale industry partners to provide tangible impact to local and national interests.
In 2020, Babu was appointed by President Trump to serve a six-year term on the National Science Board, which helps set the national course for science, technology, and engineering.
In 2022, Babu began serving as senior advisor to the Office of the Provost and Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. In this position, he focuses on strategic investments in research and development and curricular innovations aimed at preparing a 21st-century STEM workforce.
Babu is the former director of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education at the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. He also serves in the UT Tickle College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering as well as the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Bio Pages
Facility Page
Manufacturing Demonstration Facility
In the News
January 2022 Babu Appointed Senior Advisor for Research and STEM Workforce Development Initiatives
August 2021 Department of Defense Extends UT-Led Research Award
April 2020 Babu Nominated by President Trump to National Science Board
December 2018 Suresh Babu to Lead UT-ORNL Bredesen Center
April 2018 UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair to Lead Major Research for US Navy
December 2017 Babu Receives Awards for His Expertise
March 2017 Nature Publishes UT Graduate Student’s Work
December 2016 UTRF Innovation Award Ceremony Honors UT Researchers
April 2016 High School Students Team with UT, ORNL to Produce New Type of Nail
October 2015 Aerojet Rocketdyne, UT, ORNL Take on New Advanced Manufacturing Thrust
January 2015 UT, ORNL Get a LIFT from Manufacturing Innovation Center
January 2015 IACMI: What it Means for UT, ORNL, and East Tennessee
October 2014 ORNL research reveals unique capabilities of 3-D printing
February 2014 UT Part of $140 Million White House Advanced Manufacturing Initiative
February 2014 White House Blog: Manufacturing Innovation Institutes: Putting America at the Forefront of 21st Century Manufacturing
November 2013 Four Faculty Named AAAS Fellows
Appointed
July 2013
Contact Info
Email
UT sbabu@utk.edu
ORNL babuss@ornl.gov
Phone
UT 865-974-5184
ORNL 865-946-1270
Address
UT
407 Dougherty Engineering Building
1512 Middle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-2210