Prof. Ratnesh Kumar

BT/EE/1987

Prof. Ratnesh Kumar is Barbara and James R. Palmer Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University, USA, where he also serves as a Professor of Computer Science and directs the ESSeNCE (Embedded Software, Sensors, Networks, Cyber-physical and Energy) Lab. An internationally recognised scholar in electrical and computer engineering, he has made significant contributions to research, innovation, education, and service. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to engineering, computing, and alma-mater IIT Kanpur conferred upon him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2022.

Profile

After completing his B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1987, Prof. Kumar earned his M.S. (1989) and Ph.D. (1991) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his academic career at the University of Kentucky, where he served on the faculty from 1991 to 2002 before joining Iowa State University. At Iowa State University, he held the Ruth and Murray J. Harpole Professorship from 2017 to 2021 and has served as the Barbara and James R. Palmer Professor since 2021. He has also held visiting positions at the University of Maryland, NASA Ames Research Center, Applied Research Lab at the Penn State University, Idaho National Laboratory, United Technologies Research Center, and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Prof. Kumar's research area is "ESSeNCE: Embedded Software, Sensors, Networks, Cyberphysical, and Energy", spanning sensors, data analytics, networks, controls, and formal methods for correctness, efficiency, safety, stability, security, resiliency, diagnosability, and prognosability in cyber-physical (hybrid), embedded and real-time systems, model-based software and web services, agri-, bio-, and environmental sensing, wearables, and power grid and energy harvesting.

Prof. Kumar is an elected Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for his distinguished contributions to discrete-event system modelling, control, diagnosis, and applications, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his contributions to discrete-event and cyber-physical systems, embedded software, agri-, bio-, and environmental sensing, and energy harvesting.

Most recently, he was honoured with the Passport to Prosperity Award by the Iowa International Center, which recognises outstanding individuals from Iowa's international community whose leadership, professional achievements, and significant contributions have made a lasting difference in the state. He Co-chaired the inaugural IIT Kanpur Faculty Alumni Collaboration Endeavor (FACE), at Stanford in Oct. 2025, and served as the VP AAIITK 2021-23, where he led many initiatives such as Joint PhD program between IITK and ISU, Almashines Alumni portal, establishing Midwest IITK group and hosting the first IITKaarvan in Chicago in 2022 and repeating that in 2024.

Awards & Honours

• Passport to Prosperity Award by Iowa International Center (2026)
• Co-Chair inaugural IIT Kanpur Faculty Alumni Collaboration Endeavor (FACE), Stanford University, Oct. 2025
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kanpur (2022)
• Outstanding Achievement in Research Award, Iowa State University (2022)
• VP, IITK Alumni Association (2021-2023)
• David R. Boylan Eminent Faculty Award for Research, Iowa State University (2019)
• AAAS Fellow (2018)
• IEEE Fellow (2007)
• Best Paper Award, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (2016)
• IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Lecturer (2015-2021)
• Microelectronics and Computer Development (MCD) Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin (1987-1991)
• Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award, University of Texas at Austin (1991)
• Ratan Swarup Memorial Gold Medal for the Best All-round Student, IIT Kanpur (1987)
• Lalit Narain Das Memorial Gold Medal for the Best Undergraduate Student in Electrical Engineering, IIT Kanpur (1987)
• Proficiency Prize for the Best Project Work in Electrical Engineering, IIT Kanpur (1987)