Dr. Syed Bahauddin Alam, assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering (NPRE) in The Grainger College of Engineering, has been named a National AI leader and expert in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s official response to the White House’s Request for Information on the U.S. National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan (2025).
The university’s institutional response, submitted to the Office of Science and Technology Policy by Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis, highlighted UIUC’s long-standing role in shaping the national AI landscape. In the report, Dr. Alam was cited among faculty “already engaged in helping shape future policies and directions for the AI landscape.” This recognition places him alongside a select group of UIUC experts contributing to the broader U.S. AI strategy, including Nancy Amato, Bill Gropp, Klara Nahrstedt, and Anita Nikolich.
Dr. Alam was specifically recognized for his service on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee on AI foundation models and their impact on scientific discovery and innovation. His appointment reflects his growing influence in aligning advanced AI research with high-impact applications in energy, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure.
“Being named in UIUC’s official response to the White House is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Dr. Alam. “It underscores how our research at NPRE and Illinois, integrating AI, nuclear engineering, and cybersecurity, directly contributes to national priorities in science, technology, and security.”
Dr. Alam joins a distinguished list of Illinois faculty cited for national leadership roles, including:
- Nancy Amato (SSCDS), Chair of the Computing Research Association and President of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society,
- Bill Gropp (NCSA), Council Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS),
- Klara Nahrstedt (SSCDS), Advisory Board Member for NSF’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate, and
- Anita Nikolich (SIS), member of the NSF Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure.
UIUC’s recognition of Dr. Alam in its response to the White House RFI reflects the university’s commitment to advancing trustworthy, energy-efficient, and scientifically grounded AI for societal impact.
This article is based on UIUC's official response to the White House Request for Information on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, submitted by Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis.
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