Prof. Venkatasubramanian earned his Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering (with a Minor in Theoretical Physics) at Cornell University, M.S. in Physics at Vanderbilt University, and B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Madras, India. Venkat worked as a Research Associate in Artificial Intelligence in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie-Mellon University, taught at Purdue University for 23 years, where he was Reilly Professor of Chemical Engineering, before returning to Columbia in 2011. At Columbia, Venkat directs the research efforts of several graduate students and co-workers in the Complex Resilient Intelligent Systems Laboratory. He is also the founding Co-Director of the Center for Systemic Risks Management, a transdisciplinary center with faculty from a number of departments at Columbia University.

Prof. Venkatasubramanian has published 225+ refereed publications, and delivered over 150 invited lectures and seminars, including 25 keynote/plenary lectures, at various international conferences and institutions all over the world. He authored a three-volume CACHE case study on Knowledge-based Systems for Heuristic Classification Problems in Process Engineering. He also co-authored two books, Advanced Knowledge Representation and Handbook of Diffusion and Thermal Properties of Polymers and Polymer Solutions. Venkat has been the co-editor of two books, Intelligent Systems in Process Engineering and Computer Aided Molecular Design. His most recent book isHow Much Inequality is Fair? Mathematical Principles of a Moral, Optimal, and Stable Capitalist Society. Venkat has chaired or co-chaired over thirty international meetings, conferences, and sessions in process systems engineering. Venkat has been a consultant to several major global corporations and institutions.

Venkat's other interests include comparative theology, classical music, and cricket.