NSF Director Resigns to Take Over the Presidency of Carnegie Mellon University. (February 6, 2012)

Subra Suresh assumed the directorship of the US National Science Foundation (NSF) on October 18, 2010. Dr Suresh yesterday tended his resignation effective this coming March 31, i,e, less than 2½ years since his appointment. He will take up his appointment as President at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University , on July 1, 2013.

Following the penultimate paragraph of his introduction (below) to his eight-page letter of resignation Dr Suresh lists the the events and accomplishments that the NSF has accrued during his tenure.

Jeffrey Mervis writing for ScienceInside notes that Dr Suresh: "has paid particular attention to expanding NSF's international footprint, integrating research and education across the foundation, and encouraging NSF-funded scientists to think harder about the commercial potential of their discoveries. He also promoted an approach, dubbed One NSF, that has tried to prod NSF's seven directorates and various program offices to cooperate in jointly funding proposals that span disciplines and tackle important societal problems."

Dr Suresh is the 13th NSF director. Cora Marrett, deputy NSF director is expected to be named acting director while President Obama determines whom he will ask the Senate to confirm as Dr Suresh' replacement.

Note added February 14, 2013: According to this week's Nature: "Suresh earned a reputation at the NSF for promoting interdisciplinary research and international collaborations. He leaves the foundation at a critical time: all government agencies face across-the-board budget cuts on 1 March unless lawmakers resolve a political deadlock over the federal budget. See go.nature.com/noxpds.