NOAA Names New Director of Princeton Laboratory

NOAA has named a new director for one of the world’s premier climate modeling laboratories.

Dr. Venkatachalam Ramaswamy of Lawrenceville, N.J., is the new Director of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, N.J. GFDL develops earth system computer models as well as conducts climate research.

Ramaswamy’s work over the past two decades largely has focused on the natural and human-influenced affects on climate. Ramaswamy, who is known to his colleagues as “Ram,” has been Acting Director of the laboratory since January 2007. He joined the GFDL research staff in 1987 and has served as a senior scientist, group leader of the Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry division, and manager of NOAA’s Climate Research and Modeling Program.

“Throughout his career, Ram has advanced our knowledge of the climate system,” said Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. “As our need for the best climate data grows, we will continue to turn to GFDL for much of that information. Ram’s leadership will guide the laboratory’s direction as new and challenging questions arise.”

A leader in his field, Ramaswamy has authored or co-authored more than 130 peer-reviewed papers and contributed to numerous national and international scientific assessments, including serving as Lead Author or Coordinating Lead Author for each of the assessment reports for the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) since 1992. He was one of more than 120 NOAA scientists who contributed to the 2007 IPCC Working Group 1 and shared in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He has earned a number of other awards, including the Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medals and the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Senior Professional. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union.

Ram holds bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Delhi, India. He earned his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Albany.

November 2008