Prof. Ali Akbar Salehi is an Iranian nuclear physicist and politician, born in 1949 in Karbala, Iraq. He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, in 1977, specializing in Resonance Cross-section Interference Effects, Dynamics, Fuel Management, Data Processing, and Energy.

Prof. Salehi has held the position of Full Professor at Sharif University of Technology in Iran, contributing significantly to the academic landscape in nuclear engineering. His illustrious career also encompasses various governmental and academic roles, including Vice-President for Research and Deputy President at the Academy of Sciences of Iran since 2021.

Notably, Salehi served as the Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from 2013 to 2020. Prior to this, he held the positions of Foreign Minister (2010-2013) and Vice President, concurrently heading the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (2009-2010).

His academic leadership extends to serving as the President of Sharif University of Technology in Tehran during two terms (1982-1985, 1989-1993). Salehi's contributions to nuclear science and technology have garnered prestigious awards, including the State National Award for Bravery in 2015 and the Kharazmi First Rank Award in 2014. Recognized as one of the Ten People Who Mattered by Nature in 2015, Ali Akbar Salehi remains a distinguished figure at the intersection of academia, science and diplomacy.