President Biden nominates Indian-American scientist Arti Prabhakar as top science advisor

Washington, June 22

Leading Indian-American scientist Dr Arti Prabhakar has been nominated by Joe Biden as a top science advisor to the US President, a decision hailed by the White House and the Indian-American community as “historic.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Dr Prabhakar would make history as the first woman, immigrant, or person of colour to head Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She will also be the latest highly-qualified professional from the Indian-American community to be named for a key position in the Biden administration.

“Dr Prabhakar is a brilliant and highly-respected engineer and applied physicist and will lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage science, technology, and innovation to expand our possibilities, solve our toughest challenges, and make the impossible possible,” Biden said on Tuesday.

“I share Dr Prabhakar’s belief that America has the most powerful innovation machine the world has ever seen. As the Senate considers her nomination, I am grateful that Dr Alondra Nelson will continue to lead OSTP and Dr Francis Collins will continue to serve as my acting Science Advisor,” he said.

Once confirmed, she would also be Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. In this capacity, Dr Prabhakar will be the President’s Chief Advisor for Science and Technology, a co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and a member of the President’s Cabinet.

Further, if confirmed to lead OSTP, Prabhakar, 63, would become the third Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander to serve in President Biden’s Cabinet, joining Vice President Kamala Harris and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

“Today’s nomination is historic, with Prabhakar being the first woman, immigrant, or person of colour nominated to serve as Senate-confirmed director of OSTP,” the White House said.

Prabhakar has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate before, to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and was the first woman to hold that role. She later served as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the birthplace of breakthrough technologies like stealth aircraft and the Internet.

Indian Americans have welcomed Prabhakar’s nomination.