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PraVeeN cHaUdHari
1937–2010
elected in 1988
“For contributions to the field of materials science and engineering
and to the advancement of electronic materials.”
By MerToN c. fleMiNgs
PRAVEEN CHAUDHARI, an innovator in the field of thin
films and high-temperature superconductors, died on January
13, 2010, at his home in Briarcliff Manor, New york. dr.
chaudhari joined iBM in 1966 and became vice-president of
science in 1982. after retiring from iBM in 2003, he became
director of Brookhaven National laboratory, a position he
held until 2006.
Praveen was born on November 30, 1937, in ludhiana,
india, where he lived through the scarring times of the indian
partition and witnessed the bloodshed of the 1947 riots. sent
to boarding school, reputably because of his tendency to go
fishing during school hours, he began his path to a professional
career. in 1961 he received his bachelor’s degree in metallurgy
from the Indian Institute of Technology, in Kharagpur, and
then in 1966 his doctoral degree in metallurgy from the
Massachusetts institute of Technology. His thesis topic, under
advisor Michael Bever, was on irradiation defects in bismuth
telluride.
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46 MeMorial TriBUTes
Praveen then embarked on a 37-year career at iBM research
in yorktown Heights, New york. He quickly became a source
of inspiration to researchers there in many areas of thin-
film physics. He was a crucial contributor to IBM’s product
development activities. during the 1970s, while working with
others, he developed the amorphous gadolinium cobalt films
that were integrated into iBM’s magnetic bubble devices and
later served as the basis for read-write media for the magneto-
optic disk industry. in recognition of that development, he
and his coinvestigators were awarded the National Medal of
Technology in 1995.
appointed vice president of science in 1982, Praveen
shaped the evolution of iBM’s science research programs
in the 1980s while continuing his own productive research
career. during the early years following the high-temperature
superconductivity discovery, he carried out his executive
duties during the day while working in his laboratory in the
evenings. His team made a number of important contributions
to the field, including the growing of yttrium barium copper
oxide crystals with current densities two orders of magnitude
greater than those previously obtained.
in 2003, Praveen retired from iBM and became director of
Brookhaven National laboratory. He put the laboratory on a
firm foundation of stability and growth. His vision led to new
initiatives for the laboratory, including establishment of its
center for functional Nanomaterials. Praveen stepped down
as laboratory director in 2003, joined columbia University
as adjunct professor, and returned to his old laboratory at
iBM in yorktown, where he could often be found running
experiments. He remained active in his research until a few
months before his death.
Praveen was deeply involved in science and technology
policy. He was elected to the National academy of engineering
in 1988. He was co-chairman of the National research council
committee on Materials science and engineering (1985–1989).
This study was the basis of a presidential initiative in advanced
materials and processing programs, announced by the White
House in January 1992. He served on the U.s. National critical
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47
PraVeeN cHaUdHari
Technologies Panel (1992–1993) and advised the government
of india on science and technology policy.
for his achievements, Praveen was honored with a number
of awards. in addition to the National Medal of Technology,
these included the institute of electrical and electronics
engineers Morris N. liebmann Memorial award (1992) for
“the discovery of amorphous magnetic films in magneto-optic
data storage systems,” now the foundation of the worldwide
magnetic-optic disk industry; the american Physical society’s
george e. Pake award (1987) for personal contributions to
science and science management; and the excellence award of
the U.s. Pan asian american chamber of commerce. Praveen
was a fellow of the american academy of arts and sciences
and a member of the National academy of sciences.
Praveen was also a gifted leader who moved easily in the
worlds of science, engineering, and policy. He was quiet but
determined, demanding but understanding. His scientific
and technological enthusiasm was infectious. He remained a
gentleman to the end.
He is survived by his wife, Karin; his son, Ashok; his
daughter, Pia; his sister, Neera sahgal; and his two brothers,
shiv chaudhari and deepak chaudhari.
