University of Wisconsin–Madison
Photo of Krishnan Suresh

Krishnan Suresh

PhD

Mead Witter Foundation Professor of Mechanical Engineering

ksuresh@wisc.edu

(608) 262-3594

2059 Mechanical Engineering Building
1513 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Photo of Krishnan Suresh

Biography

Professor Suresh’s primary research interests are in topology optimization, design for additive manufacturing, computational mechanics, and high-performance computing.  He is the director of Engineering Representations and Simulation Laboratory (ERSL) and co-director of the Wisconsin Applied Computing Center. ERSL’s research is supported by NSF, DOE, Sandia National Labs, Autodesk, and Air Force Research Lab. Prof. Suresh is a member of “Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society” and “The American Society of Mechanical Engineers”.

Professional Appointments

  • 2009-Present
    Professor
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • 2003-2008
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • 2001-2002
    Engineering Manager
    Mechatronics Group, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Philadelphia
  • 1998-2001
    Senior Mechanical Engineer
    Mechatronics Group, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Philadelphia

Visiting Positions

  • 09/13-12/13
    Visiting Scientist
    Air Force Research Lab, Dayton, OH
  • 06/11-08/11
    Visiting Scientist
    Office of Naval Research, Washington, DC
  • 09/09-05/10
    Visiting Professor
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Education & Training

  • Ph.D. 1998
    Mechanical Engineering
    Cornell University
  • M.S. 1995
    Mechanical Engineering
    Cornell University
  • M.S.1992
    Manufacturing Engineering
    University of California, Los Angeles
  • B.Tech.1990
    Mechanical Engineering
    Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Honors & Awards

  • 2024
    ASME CIE Excellence in Research Award
  • 2023
    Mead Witter Foundation Professor
  • 2018
    James G. Woodburn Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
    – A College of Engineering award recognizing contributions to undergraduate teaching.
  • 2017
    Philip and Jean Myers Chaired Professorship
    A College of Engineering award recognizing contributions to research.
  • 2017
    ASME Fellow
    – The ASME Committee of Past Presidents confers the Fellow grade of membership on worthy candidates to recognize their outstanding engineering achievements.
  • 2015
    LEED Scholar Engineering Professor
    – This award is given to a faculty who has had a positive impact on a student enrolled in Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity (LEED) Scholars Program.
  • 2014
    ASME Innovative Design & Simulation Challenge Award (Faculty advisor)
    – Prof. Krishnan Suresh received the faculty advisor award for the topology optimization work presented by his student (Alex Buehler) during the ASME’s inaugural Innovative Design Simulation Challenge (IDSC).
  • 2013
    Subject Matter Expert Award
    – Prof. Krishnan Suresh received this award from the Wright Patterson Airforce Base (Dayton, OH) to conduct research on topology optimization of wing structures.
  • 2012
    University Housing Honorary Lecturer Award
    University Housing residents at UW-Madison nominate outstanding classroom instructors for this award each semester.
  • 2012
    Pi-Tau-Sigma Teaching Excellence Award (Runner-up)
    – Pi Tau Sigma is an international honor society comprising of top Juniors and Seniors in Mechanical Engineering; their members nominate outstanding instructors for this award each year.
  • 2009
    Best paper award, ASME IDETC/CIE Conference
    – Prof. Krishnan Suresh and his graduate student Vikalp Mishra won the CIE-AMS Best Paper Award for their work on “Efficient Analysis of 3-D Plates via Algebraic Reduction.”
  • 2007
    NSF CAREER Award
    – Prof. Krishnan Suresh received the NSF CAREER Award for his proposed research on “Next-Generation Shape Optimization of Geometrically Complex Artifacts.”
  • 2006
    Best paper award, ASME IDETC/CIE Conference- Prof. Krishnan Suresh was a co-author for the paper titled “Parametric and Topological Control in Shape Optimization” that won the CIE Best Paper Award.