NSF Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan Tenders Resignation

On April 24, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan tendered his resignation as Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Earlier this month, NSF announced the termination of 400 grants, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, research on misinformation and disinformation, as well as other areas that did not align with the agency’s new priorities (see related article). His resignation also comes after reports that the White House directed NSF to slash its budget by 55 percent.

During his term at NSF, Dr. Panchanathan, who was nominated to lead the agency by President Trump in 2020, led the agency through many advancements, including the bipartisan Congressional reauthorization of NSF and the establishment of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). In his announcement, Panchanathan wrote: “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Director of NSF for the last five years. I believe I have done all I can to advance the critical mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership.”