Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs oversees graduate academics and student life for the NYU Abu Dhabi campus. The goal of the office is to create a thriving community at NYUAD for graduate students and postdoctoral associates, coordinating a holistic approach to their training, and serving as a resource for nearly 300 postgraduate researchers and their faculty mentors. The Office partners with academic programs, faculty, staff, and campus organizations across NYU Abu Dhabi to promote excellence in graduate education and postdoctoral training.

The Office currently supports PhD students through the Global PhD Student Fellowship, as well as students in master's programs in Art and Media and Economics. Our team members design strategies for all topics that impact graduate study, including:

• academic governance
• new academic degree proposals
• recruitment and admissions
• funding and benefits
• mentorship
• academic progress
• career preparedness
• residential services
• individual well-being
• student assistantships and TAships
• IDBE programs and initiatives
• visiting graduate students
• alumni services

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs also supports postdoctoral associates by providing services and resources that enhance their research and that provide the skills needed to successfully transition to an academic or non-academic career. The Office fosters a sense of community for postdoctoral associates that prioritizes excellence, collaboration, and wellness.

Sunil Kumar is a mechanical engineer whose scholarly research focuses on the transport of light and thermal radiation, specifically examining how lasers interact with surfaces and scattering media, fire dynamics, thermal-fluid analysis, energy systems, and applied mathematics. Kumar’s publications include over 70 journal articles, over 200 conference papers, one book, 2 research monographs, and 5 patents. He was previously NYUAD Dean of Engineering, and Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. He joined the NYUAD community from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where he was Graduate Dean and Associate Provost, and former head of the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering.

Kumar holds a BTech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; a MS and MA from the State University of New York, Buffalo; and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a Member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists. 

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