Indian-American academic Vikas Khanna has taken on a new leadership role at the University of Pittsburgh, becoming chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the Swanson School of Engineering. He officially assumed the position on September 1, 2026, following more than a year as interim chair.
Khanna plans to build on the department’s interdisciplinary approach by connecting engineering education and research with fields such as artificial intelligence, public health and computing. One of his priorities will be expanding AI-related learning opportunities while developing new graduate programs that bring together civil and environmental engineering with other disciplines.
“Civil and environmental engineering shapes the systems people rely on every day,” Khanna said, highlighting his focus on strengthening those systems through collaborative education and research.
Khanna joined the University of Pittsburgh faculty in 2010 and was promoted to professor in 2023. He previously served as associate chair for graduate studies from 2017 to 2022, overseeing graduate recruitment, admissions, orientation, academic policies and program development. He has also participated in faculty recruitment and served on committees across the university and engineering school.
His academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Punjab University in India. He later attended The Ohio State University, earning three graduate degrees, including a master’s in applied statistics, a master’s in chemical engineering and a doctorate in chemical engineering.
Khanna’s research focuses on sustainability science and engineering, particularly the environmental effects of emerging technologies and complex systems. His work incorporates systems analysis, life-cycle assessment, optimization and data-driven modeling. His research areas include resource and water recovery, circular economy approaches, resilient infrastructure, and energy and water technologies.
His academic record includes more than 75 peer-reviewed research publications and leadership on collaborative projects that have secured nearly $10 million in external research funding. He has also served as an editor for Resources, Conservation and Recycling since 2017 and held leadership responsibilities with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Sustainable Engineering Forum.
Khanna’s appointment highlights the growing contributions of Indian-origin professionals to research, engineering education and academic leadership in the United States. His new role is expected to further strengthen the University of Pittsburgh’s work at the intersection of engineering, sustainability and emerging technologies.
