Indian American professor placed at the National Security Council as Deputy Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology
Lav Varshney, an Indian American professor of engineering, computer science, and neuroscience at the University of Illinois, is among 15 exceptional young leaders chosen for 2022-2023 class of White House Fellows.
Varshney, has been placed at the National Security Council as Deputy Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, President’s Commission on White House Fellows announced Sep 14.
Read: Four Indian Americans win Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (April 13, 2022)
Varshney rom Champaign, Illinois, conducts scholarly research, technological innovation, teaching, and broad public engagement at the university and works with Brookhaven National Laboratory on computing for national security.
“This year’s Fellows advanced through a highly competitive selection process, and they are a remarkably gifted, passionate, and accomplished group,†according to the White House.
“These Fellows bring experience from across the country and from a broad cross-section of professions, including from the private sector, local government, academia, the non-profit sector, medicine, law, and the armed forces,†it said.
Varshney has published widely in core areas of information theory and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as applications in climate, sustainability, food, public health, medicine, creativity, telecommunications, semiconductors, and infrastructure.
As an entrepreneur, he has been chief scientist of startup companies: one using AI to optimize wastewater treatment, another using AI in social music co-creativity platforms, and a third making food systems more resilient and flavorful.
He holds a BS degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell and a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
Founded in 1964, the White House Fellows program offers exceptional young leaders first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government.
Read: Professor Lav Varshney placed at National Security Council through White House Fellows program (September 15, 2022)
Fellows spend a year working with senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking Administration officials, and leave the Administration equipped to serve as better leaders in their communities. Fellowships are awarded on a non-partisan basis.
Applications for the 2023-2024 Fellowship year will be accepted starting Nov 1, 2022. The application link and additional information is available at:Â https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/fellows/apply/.