Ram Ramaswamy obtained the B Sc (Chemistry) degree from Madras University, the M Sc from IIT Kanpur, and the Ph D from Princeton University. He then worked with R A Marcus at Caltech, Pasadena, as a postdoctoral. On returning to India in 1981, he first joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai where he was in the Chemical Physics group, and in 1986 he moved to the Jawaharlal Nehru University as one of the first members of the School of Physical Sciences. He continues in this position, and has an additional appointment in the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics.

Academic and Research Achievements: Ramaswamy's research has been at the interface of chemistry and physics, and in recent years, in computational biology as well. His main current interest is in the study of nonlinear dynamics, in the process of synchronization and control, and in the application of these ideas in systems of physical as well as biological interest. He has published about 150 articles that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and books, and has mentored over 15 students for the Ph D degree.

Other Contributions: Ram Ramaswamy has served on the editorial boards of a number of journals, especially Pramana where he is currently the Associate Editor. He has organized several national and international conferences, notably the series of Perspectives in Nonlinear Dynamics.

Awards and Honours: Ram Ramaswamy was awarded the INSA medal for young scientists in 1985, and was elected to the Fellowship of the Indian Academy of Science Bangalore in 1993. He has been an Associate and Senior Associate of the International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, and an International Fellow of the Santa Fe Institute.