Siva Sivananthan
Professor Siva Sivananthan | |
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Native name | சிவா சிவானந்தன் |
Alma mater |
Saraswathi Maha Vidyalayam Drieberg College Jaffna Hindu College University of Peradeniya University of Illinois at Chicago |
Occupation | Academic |
Professor Sivalingam Sivananthan (Tamil: சிவலிங்கம் சிவானந்தன்) is an American academic, scientist, businessman and Director of the Microphysics Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Early life and family
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Sivananthan was born in Madduvil South near Chavakachcheri in northern Ceylon.[1] His father was a Tamil scholar from Valvettithurai and his mother was teacher of religion and science.[1] He was educated at Saraswathi Maha Vidyalayam, Drieberg College and Jaffna Hindu College (1968-75).[1][2][3] After school he joined the University of Peradeniya's Science Faculty in 1976, graduating in 1980 with a BS degree in physics.[1][3][4]
Career
After graduating Sivananthan lectured at Eastern University, Sri Lanka before joining the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1982 for post-graduate study.[1] He obtained MSc (1985) and PhD (1988) degrees from the university.[3][4] He is currently a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Microphysics Laboratory at the university's Department of Physics.[4]
Sivananthan entered business in 1998 when he founded EPIR Technologies Inc.[5] Sivananthan is also founder and CEO of Sivananthan Laboratories Inc. based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.[1][2][3]
In May 2013 Sivananthan was awarded the "Champion of Change" (Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Innovators category) by the White House.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "White House honoree pays tribute to his hometown in Jaffna". TamilNet. 2 June 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Makes his mark in the US". Ceylon Today. 31 May 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "Dr.Sivalingam Sivananthan honored as a White House Champion of Change". Jaffna Hindu College.
- 1 2 3 "Sivalingam Sivananthan". University of Illinois at Chicago.
- ↑ Rathee, Aabha (10 March 2011). "After brush with war, scientist joins renewable energy battle". Northwestern University.