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{{Infobox scientist
| name = Rangaswamy Srinivasan
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1929|02|28}}
| birth_place = [[Madras, India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = [[United States|U.S.]]
| nationality =
| field = [[Physical chemistry]]
| known_for = Ablative Photodecomposition, [[LASIK]]
| work_institutions = [[IBM Research]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Madras]], [[University of Southern California]]
|doctoral_advisor =
| awards = [[Russ Prize]] {{small|(2011)}}<br>[[National Medal of Technology and Innovation]] {{small|(2012)}}
}}
'''Rangaswamy Srinivasan''' (born February 28, 1929 in [[Madras, India]]<ref name="Braren">{{cite journal|last1=Srinivasan|first1=R.|last2=Braren|first2=Bodil|title=Ultraviolet laser ablation of organic polymers|journal=Chemical Reviews|date=September 1989|volume=89|issue=6|pages=1303–1316|doi=10.1021/cr00096a003}}</ref>) is a physical chemist and inventor with a 30-year career at [[IBM Research]]. He has developed techniques for ablative photodecomposition and used them to contribute to the development of [[LASIK]] eye surgery.

He received the [[National Medal of Technology]] from [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] on February 2, 2013 for his contributions to laser eye surgery.

==Education==
Srinivasan was born in India on February 28, 1929.<ref name="Inventors"/> Srinivasan received both bachelor's and master's degrees in science from the [[University of Madras]], in 1949 and 1950.<ref name="Inventors"/> In 1953 he moved to the United States to attend graduate school. He earned a doctorate in physical chemistry at the [[University of Southern California]] in 1956, studying protein chemistry with chemical kineticist [[Sidney W. Benson]].<ref name="NAE">{{cite web|title=Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasan|url=http://www.nae.edu/67362.aspx|website=National Academy of Engineering|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref> He held postdoctoral positions at the [[California Institute of Technology]] in 1956, and at the [[University of Rochester]] from 1957 to 1961.<ref name="AIP2004"/>

==Career==
Srinivasan has spent a thirty-year career, from 1961 to 1990, at IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. He joined the research staff in 1961, and was promoted to "manager of fundamental photochemical research" in 1963.<ref name="Carow"/> His research group has studied ultraviolet light and its effects on organic matter.<ref name="AIP2004"/>

In 1981, Srinivasan and his coworkers determined that an [[ultraviolet]] [[excimer laser]] could be used to etch designs into polymers. The technique has since been used in the computer industry to drill polymers to create computer circuit boards and ink jet printer nozzles.<ref name="Basting">{{cite book|last1=Basting|first1=D.|last2=Marowsky|first2=G.|title=Excimer laser technology|date=2005|publisher=Springer/Praxis|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-540-26667-9|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hXYe7gSA27UC&pg=PA167|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>

Srinivasan, physicist [[James J. Wynne]] and materials scientist [[Samuel Blum]] speculated that it might also be possible to use excimer lasers on living tissue. On November 27, 1981, Srinivasan experimented with the remains of his family's Thanksgiving turkey, and proved that it was possible to create precisely-etched patterns.<ref name="Carow"/><ref name="Hamm"/><ref name="Quinn">{{cite news|last1=Quinn|first1=Gene|last2=Brachmann|first2=Steve|title=How Thanksgiving Leftovers Lead to the Invention of LASIK|url=http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2014/11/26/how-thanksgiving-leftovers-lead-to-the-invention-of-lasik/id=52188/|accessdate=25 April 2016|work=IPWatchDog|date=November 26, 2014}}</ref> An [[ultraviolet]] [[excimer laser]] pulsed at 193 nm was able to etch living tissue precisely without causing any thermal damage to surrounding area. Srinivasan named the technique Ablative Photodecomposition (APD),<ref name="AIP2004"/> a type of [[Laser ablation]].<ref name="Fouassier">{{cite book|last1=Fouassier|first1=Jean-Pierre|last2=Rabek|first2=Jan F.|title=Lasers in polymer science and technology : applications|date=1989|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton|isbn=978-0849348471|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1pA-PQ9AWIkC&pg=PA265|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>

In 1983, ophthalmic surgeon Stephen Trokel approached Srinivasan about the possibility of using APD for surgery of the [[cornea]]. The collaboration of Srinivasan, Trokel, and [[Bodil Braren]] led to development of [[LASIK]] eye surgery, a technique for reshaping the cornea to correct visual issues such as [[myopia]], [[hyperopia]] and [[astigmatism]]. In 1995, a commercial system for laser refractive surgery was approved by the [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]].<ref name="Hamm">{{cite web|last1=Hamm|first1=Steve|title=How Three IBM Scientists Accomplished the Breakthrough That Led to LASIK Eye Surgery|url=http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2013/02/national-medal-of-technology-and-innovation.html|website=Building a smarter planet|date=February 1, 2013}}</ref>

Srinivasan has published over 130 scientific papers and holds at least 22 US patents.<ref name="AIP2004"/> A patent application filed by Stephen Trokel in 1992, claiming a LASIK surgery technique as his sole invention, was declared invalid in 2000 by an [[International Trade Commission]] ruling that found that Srinivasan should have been included as a co-author.<ref name="D'Angelo">{{cite book|last1=D'Angelo|first1=John|title=Ethics in science : ethical misconduct in scientific research|date=2012|publisher=Taylor & Francis|location=Boca Raton, Florida|isbn=978-1439840863|pages=79–80|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-LyhOTEzWEkC&pg=PA79}}</ref>

In 1990, Srinivasan formed a consulting company, UVTech Associates.<ref name="AIP2004"/>

==Awards==
{{external media | width = 210px | align = right | headerimage= [[File:Excimer-Laser-MEL80.jpg|210px]] | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJueLVTqnUs 2013 Russ Prize], [[Ohio University]] }}

In 1997, Srinivasan was awarded the [[American Chemical Society]]'s Award for Creative Invention,<ref name="ACScreative">{{cite web|title=ACS Award for Creative Invention|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/national/bytopic/acs-award-for-creative-invention.html|website=American Chemical Society|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref> and the ACS North East Section's Esselen Medal.<ref name="NESACS">{{cite web|title=Gustavus John Esselen Award|url=http://www.nesacs.org/awards/esselen/awards_esselen_recipients.html|website=NESACS|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>

In 1998, Srinivasan was awarded the [[max Delbruck Prize|Max Delbruck Prize in Biological Physics]] by the [[American Physical Society]].<ref name="APS1998">{{cite news|title=1998 Max Delbruck Prize in Biological Physics Recipient|url=https://www.aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/prizerecipient.cfm?first_nm=Rangaswamy&last_nm=Srinivasan&year=1998|accessdate=25 April 2016|work=APS Physics|agency=American Physical Society}}</ref>

In 1999, he was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]].<ref name="NAEMembers">{{cite web|title=Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasan|url=http://www.nae.edu/30498.aspx|website=National Academy of Engineering|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2002, he was inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame.<ref name="Inventors">{{cite web|title=Rangaswamy Srinivasan|url=http://invent.org/inductee-detail/?IID=173|website=National Inventors Hall of Fame|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2004, he received the Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics from the [[American Institute of Physics]].<ref name="AIP2004">{{cite web|title=Rangaswamy Srinivasan|url=https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/industrial-physics-prize/rangaswamy-srinivasan|website=American Institute of Physics|accessdate=25 April 2016|date=2014-09-08}}</ref>

In 2011, Srinivasan, Wynne, and Blum received the Fritz J. and Dolores H. [[Russ Prize]] from [[Ohio University]] and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for their work, "a bioengineering achievement that significantly improves the human condition."<ref name="Carow">{{cite news|last1=Carow|first1=Colleen|title=Trio of scientists to receive 2013 Russ Prize Award is top bioengineering honor in world|url=https://www.ohio.edu/compass/stories/12-13/1/Russ-Prize-2013.cfm|accessdate=25 April 2016|work=Compass|agency=Ohio University|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Srinivasan, Wynne, and Blum were named as recipients of the [[National Medal of Technology and Innovation]].<ref name="Bazaar">{{cite web|title=Hall of famer Srinivasan named for National Medal of Technology|url=http://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2012/12/27/hall-of-famer-srinivasan-named-for-national-medal-of-technology/|website=The American Bazaar|accessdate=December 27, 2012|date=2012-12-27}}</ref> The award was presented on February 1, 2013 by [[President of The United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]], to acknowledge their work with the [[Excimer laser]], leading to the development of [[LASIK]] Surgery.<ref>{{cite web|title=IBM News Release|url=http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/39829.wss|publisher=IBM|accessdate=21 December 2012|date=2012-12-21}}</ref><ref name="Choudhury">{{cite news|last1=Choudhury|first1=Uttara|title=Indian American lasik pioneer wins top inventor award from Obama|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/indian-american-lasik-pioneer-wins-top-inventor-award-from-obama-569040.html|accessdate=25 April 2016|work=F.|date=December 26, 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Srinivasan, Rangaswamy}}
[[Category:Engineers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:Scientists from Chennai]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]

Rangaswamy Srinivasan - Revision history

imported>GoodDay: Intro