He studies turbulence, nonlinear and statistical physics, astrophysical fluid mechanics, and cryogenic helium.

[2][3] He was the dean of engineering and executive vice provost for science and technology of New York University.

He attended the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where he was awarded a master's degree in 1970 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1975.

[8] Sreenivasan was awarded a Honoris Causa master's degree from Yale University in 1985.

He received an Honoris Causa doctorate from the University of Hyderabad in 2007 and the Romanian Academy in 2008.

[9] In 1979, he joined the faculty at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut as an assistant professor.

[8] In 2002, he joined the University of Maryland, College Park and became director of the Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, which is a part of the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

In 2008, the American Physical Society awarded him the Dwight Nicholson Medal for human outreach.

[19] In November 2012, he was appointed acting president of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University.