Prabhat Hajela

Prabhat Hajela is the Edward P. Hamilton Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He has held leadership roles including Provost and Vice Provost, overseeing academic strategy and undergraduate programs. His academic journey includes degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (B.Tech, 1977), Iowa State University (MS, 1979), and Stanford University (MS and PhD, 1981–1982). He joined RPI in 1990 and became a full professor in 1992. His research focuses on structural and multidisciplinary optimization, with applications in aerospace systems, composite materials, and uncertainty modeling. Notable contributions include over 300 publications and four co-authored books. Hajela’s administrative leadership includes expanding undergraduate research programs, international collaborations, and the CLASS initiative. He is a Fellow of AIAA, ASME, and AeSI, and received the AIAA Biennial Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award in 2004.

Education:

• B.Tech (Aeronautical Engineering), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (1977)
• MS (Aerospace Engineering), Iowa State University (1979)
• MS (Mechanical Engineering), Stanford University (1981)
• PhD (Aeronautics and Astronautics), Stanford University (1982)

Research Interests: Hajela’s work spans structural optimization, multidisciplinary design, computational mechanics, and aerospace systems. He pioneered methods for reliability-based design, uncertainty quantification, and evolutionary algorithms. His research addresses challenges in composite materials, aeroelasticity, and the integration of artificial intelligence in engineering design. Recent projects include virtual reality in STEM education and adaptive systems for Mars missions.

Key Contributions:

• Developed EVOLVE, a genetic search-based optimization code
• Advanced methodologies for multiscale composite analysis and failure prediction
• Contributed to CAN-SPAM legislation as a Congressional Fellow (2003)
• Chaired ASME’s Aerospace Division and served on National Academies panels

Awards and Recognition:

• AIAA Biennial Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award (2004)
• Fellowships: AIAA, ASME, and AeSI
• Recipient of the Boeing-A.D. Welliver Fellowship (1995)

Administrative Impact: Hajela led RPI’s academic innovation, including undergraduate research expansion and the implementation of living-learning communities. His focus on global education and interdisciplinary collaboration has shaped RPI’s strategic vision. Current roles include chairing the NRC Technical Assessment Board for the Army Research Laboratory.