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Naren Ramakrishnan elected to Virginia Academy’s 2026 class
Ramakrishnan is the Thomas L. Phillips Professor of Engineering and director of the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 13, Aug 2026
- 03:37 EDT
- 28
Naren Ramakrishnan. / Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.
Naren Ramakrishnan, a University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Virginia Tech, has been elected to the 2026 class of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM), along with six other Virginia Tech faculty members.
Ramakrishnan is the Thomas L. Phillips Professor of Engineering and director of the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. He also leads artificial intelligence and machine learning efforts for the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing.
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His research focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, forecasting, urban analytics, recommender systems, computational epidemiology and visual analytics. His work combines these areas to study complex systems and anticipate emerging events.
Ramakrishnan developed EMBERS, a 24/7 forecasting system sponsored by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity. The system uses open-source data to anticipate events including disease outbreaks, civil unrest and election outcomes.
He has also helped establish interdisciplinary programs connecting data science with public health, urban systems and other societal challenges. Ramakrishnan helped lead Virginia Tech’s 2025 Virginia AI Summit, organized by VASEM to examine opportunities and challenges surrounding artificial intelligence and its role in Virginia’s future.
Ramakrishnan has mentored 36 Ph.D. students and 22 master’s students during his career. His students have received more than 10 Best Paper Awards at leading data mining, artificial intelligence and data science conferences.
His research has received support from government agencies, foundations and companies, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense agencies, Amazon, Boeing, Ford, General Motors and others. His work has also been featured in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Smithsonian Magazine, Popular Science, The Economist and Chronicle of Higher Education.
Ramakrishnan is a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
VASEM brings together leaders in science, engineering and medicine from across Virginia to provide independent expertise on issues important to the commonwealth, foster collaboration and promote research and innovation. Its membership includes individuals affiliated with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and other leaders in their fields.
The other Virginia Tech faculty members elected to the 2026 class are Luiz DaSilva, Stefan Duma, Carla Finkielstein, Lee Learman, Robin McCarley and John Rossmeisl. Their work spans wireless communications, cybersecurity, cancer biology, medical education, drug delivery and comparative oncology.
With the seven new inductees, Virginia Tech’s total VASEM membership has reached 32.
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