K Ramamurthy (second from left) from IIT Madras will be the first occupant of the Surendra and Dorothie Shah Chair. Source: IIT Madras
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched the 'Surendra and Dorothie Shah Chair' for encouraging research in the field of Civil Engineering and enabling sustainable construction.
The Chair Professorship is being established with support from Surendra P Shah, a global expert in engineering materials. Surendra Shah currently serves as the presidential distinguished professor, University of Texas, while Dorothie Shah is the founding president of the Indo-American Museum, now called the National Indo-American Museum, in Chicago.
The key areas of research that would be undertaken under the 'Surendra and Dorothie Shah Chair' include materials, structural design and technologies for construction and infrastructure.
At the launch of the initiative in December 2021, Surendra P Shah said, "The decision to choose IIT Madras was easy. As it is well known, IIT Madras is one of the top institutions in India. My association with the institute has been quite long and fruitful."
“One of the developments for which IIT Madras is nationally known is 3D printing with concrete, which is the result of collaboration among Materials, Automation and Construction Management faculty," he added.
As the founding director of NSF Science and Technology Centre for Advanced Cement-Based Materials, Shah led game-changing developments and a network of researchers spreading across the world.
K Ramamurthy, department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, will be the first occupant of the Surendra and Dorothie Shah Chair.
Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, said, "K. Ramamurthy has been a mentor for countless students not just in civil engineering but from all parts of the Institute. It is only fit that he is the first occupant of this Chair. We look forward to the continued association of Prof. Surendra P. Shah and Mrs. Dorothie Shah with IIT Madras.”
K Ramamurthy joined IIT Madras as a lecturer in March, 1992. He was subsequently promoted as assistant professor in June 1994, as associate professor in September, 2000 and then as professor in January, 2004. He was designated as institute chair professor in April, 2020. He is also an alumnus of IIT Madras and has obtained his MS and PhD degrees from here.