Nirwan Ansari received the B.S.E.E. (summa cum laude, with a perfect gpa) from NJIT, Newark, the M.S.E.E. from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,  and the Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, respectively.

He is Distingusihed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NJIT, where he joined in 1988. He has also assumed various administrative positions including the NJIT Newark College of Engineering's Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. He was a Visiting (Chair) Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tohoku University, National Cheng Kung University, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommuniations, respectively.

He authored with Tao Han with Green Mobile Networks: A Networking Perspective (2017, Wiley-IEEE), with J. Zhang Media Access Control and Resource Allocation for Next Generation Passive Optical Networks (2013, Springer), with E.S.H. Hou Computational Intelligence for Optimization (1997, Springer), and edited with B. Yuhas Neural Networks in Telecommunications (1994, Springer). His current research focuses on green communications and networking, cloud computing, and various aspects of broadband networks and multimedia communications. He has(co-)authored more than 500 technical publications, over 200 in widely cited refereed journals/magazines. For example, one of his works was the sixth most cited article published in the IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, as indicated in the February 2010 EIC's notes. He has guest edited a number of special issues, covering various emerging topics in communications and networking. He was also awarded more than thirty US patents.

He has served on the Editorial Board and Advisory Board of over ten journals, including as a Senior Technical Editor of the IEEE Communications Magazine (2006-2009). He was the founding General Chair of the First IEEE International Conference on Information Technology: Research and Education (ITRE2003), was instrumental, while serving as its Chapter Chair, in rejuvenating the North Jersey Chapter of the IEEE Communications Society (COMSOC), which received the 1996 Chapter of the Year Award and a 2003 Chapter Achievement Award, elected to serve as the Chair of the IEEE North Jersey Section and in the IEEE Region 1 Board of Governors for two terms during 2001-2002, elected to serve as a Member-at-Large of COMSOC Board of Governors (2013-2015), and has/had been serving in various IEEE committees such as IEEE Fellow Committee, Cluster Chair of the IEEE COMSOC Networking Technical Committee Cluster, Chair of IEEE COMSOC Tehnical Committee on Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks, Chair of Steering Committee of IEEE Conference on High Performance Switching and Routing (HPSR), and Chair, TPC Chair, and various leadership roles of numerous international conferences/symposia/workshops. He has frequently been delivering keynote addresses, distinguished lectures, tutorials, and talks. Some of his recognitions include Fellow of the IEEE (Communications Society, Class of 2009), a few best paper awards, IEEE TCGCC Distinguished Technical Achievement Recognition Award (2017), IEEE COMSOC AHSN TC Technical Recognition Award (2016), Purdue University Outstatnding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award (2015), the NCE Excellence in Research Award (2014), the Saul K. Fenster Innovation in Engineering Education Award (2014), the Outstanding Service Recognition Award (2013, COMSOC Ad Hoc and Sensor Network Technical Committee), New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Inventor of the Year Award (2012), Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award (2010), several best paper awards, the NCE Excellence in Teaching Award (2009), IEEE MGA Leadership Award (2008), the NJIT Excellence Teaching Award in Outstanding Professionl Development (2008), IEEE Leadership Award from Princeton/Central Jersey (2007), IEEE Region 1 Award (1999), the NJIT Excellence Teaching Award in Graduate Instruction (1998), and designation as an IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer (2006-2009, two terms).