Amit Varma

Amit Varma, the Karl H. Kettelhut Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of Bowen Laboratory at Purdue University, has established himself as a leading authority in steel-concrete composite structures through his groundbreaking research and innovations. After earning his BS from IIT-Bombay (1994), MS from the University of Oklahoma (1996), and PhD from Lehigh University (2001), he has dedicated over two decades to advancing structural engineering, particularly in extreme loading conditions. His fundamental research in steel-concrete composite structures has revolutionized the field, leading to the development of critical design provisions that are now incorporated into major AISC specifications governing building and nuclear facility construction worldwide. His expertise spans seismic behavior, fire resistance, blast protection, and missile impact loading, with his research directly influencing the design and construction standards for safety-related nuclear facilities and commercial buildings across the globe. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the AISC Special Achievement Award (2017, 2020) and the ASCE Shortridge Hardesty Award (2019), while his leadership roles in key industry committees continue to shape the future of structural engineering standards