Subra Suresh, the dean of the engineering school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, has been tapped by the White House to lead the $7 billion National Science Foundation. A mechanical engineer who later became interested in materials science and biology, Suresh has done pioneering work studying the biomechanics of blood cells under the influence of diseases like malaria. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be one of the highest ranking Indian-Americans ever to serve in an administration.

Suresh, 54, studied at Indian Institute of Technology in Madras before earning his PhD at MIT in 1981. As first reported by Science magazine, Subra’s name was leaked way back in March but the White House hadn’t confirmed his nomination until Thursday. Arden Bement, the head of the foundation since 2004, stepped down last week. Until Suresh is confirmed, the NSF will be led by acting director Cora Marrett.