Vasundara V. Varadan

Vasundara Venkatraman Varadan is a professor emeritus at University of Arkansas and a Fellow of SPIE. Her research considerers microwave sensors and new materials for solar panels. She served on the faculty at Pennsylvania State University for 22 years.

Early life and education Varadan studied physics at the University of Kerala and earned her bachelor's degree in 1967. Her sisters studied physics and business. She remained there for her graduate studies and completed her master's degree in 1969. She moved to the University of Illinois for her doctorate, which she defended in 1974.

Research and career In 1974 Varadan joined Cornell University, where she worked on wave propagation and materials science. She moved to Ohio State University in 1977 where she was an associate professor in wave physics and composite materials. She served on the faculty at Pennsylvania State University for over twenty years, working as co-director of the Centre for Electronic Engineering. She was promoted to professor in 1986. In 2002 Varadan was made National Science Foundation Division Director of Electrical & Communications Systems. She moved to the University of Arkansas in 2005, where she served as the Billingsley Chair and distinguished professor.

Varadan's research considered microwaves, wireless sensors and sonar materials. She developed surface acoustic wave sensor to monitor the health of bridges and highways. The sensors can detect flooding, dangerous levels of traffic, cracks and ice formation. The measurements are non-destructive and contactless, and can be operated at high and low temperature.

Selected publications Her publications include the following: