Pradeep Sharma is the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor and Dean of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2000, following a Master’s degree in the same field from the same institution. Before joining the University of Houston in 2004, Dr. Sharma worked as a research scientist at General Electric R&D in Schenectady, NY, where he focused on materials science and mechanical systems.
As an academic leader, Dr. Sharma has held several prestigious positions at the University of Houston, including the M.D. Anderson Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Bill Cook Endowed Assistant and Associate Professorships in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has played a key role in shaping the Cullen College of Engineering’s direction, now serving as its Dean. His research expertise spans continuum mechanics of solids, theoretical and computational materials science, and a variety of interdisciplinary fields.
Dr. Sharma is widely recognized as a leader in his field, with notable achievements including election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2022. His honors include the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Melville Medal, the James R. Rice Medal, the ASME Daniel Drucker Medal, and the Cozzarelli Prize from the National Academy of Sciences in 2024. He has also received the Thomas J.R. Hughes Young Investigator Award, the Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research, and the Fulbright Fellowship.
A Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Dr. Sharma serves in key editorial positions, including as Chief Editor of the ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics and as an associate editor for the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids and other high-impact journals.
Dr. Sharma’s influence extends beyond academia into leadership roles in professional organizations. He has served on the executive committees of both the ASME Applied Mechanics Division and the Society of Engineering Science. He played a key role in establishing the Eshelby Mechanics Award to recognize emerging young faculty in mechanics. His commitment to advancing the field is matched by a passion for mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers, ensuring continued growth and innovation within engineering science.