MIT dean tapped to lead NSF

Word on the street this weekend was that the White House has identified its pick to take over the NSF from Arden Bement Jr. From ScienceInsider

NSF logoScienceInsider has learned that Subra Suresh, 53, has been tapped by the White House to replace Arden Bement Jr., who announced last month that he would be stepping down before his 6-year term ends in November. The Indian-born Suresh has been dean since 2007; he came to MIT in 1993 and was chair of the department of materials science and engineering before becoming dean.

I’ve heard the same thing from my own friends who travel in those circles (or know people who do). Suresh is a an active researcher in nanobiomechanics, which will be a nice change from the senior administrators who have run the agency in recent years.