Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, and Wei Gao, Professor of Medical Engineering; Investigator, Heritage Medical Research Institute; Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar, have been selected as finalists for the 2024 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists in the categories of Physical Sciences & Engineering and Life Sciences, respectively.
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, established in 2007, recognize exceptional young scientists across the life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and chemistry, providing critical support to innovative research that addresses global challenges.
Anandkumar is recognized for her pioneering work in machine learning, specifically in developing methods to handle and analyze large-scale data. Her research focuses on making machine learning models more efficient and scalable by using mathematical techniques that can process massive datasets quickly. One of her key contributions is in the development and analysis of tensor algorithms-mathematical tools that simplify complex data into manageable components and optimize the performance of machine learning models. These methods have proven effective in a variety of applications, including AI-based weather forecasting, a better understanding of COVID-19, and a system to land drones smoothly in complex turbulence.
"I am thrilled to receive the award and have our foundational work in AI+Science be recognized. I am thankful to my collaborators, my colleagues and the Caltech administration for their support," says Anandkumar, who joined Caltech in 2017 after a distinguished career in both academia and industry. Some of Anandkumar's previous honors in the field of AI include the IEEE Kiyo Tomiyasu Award, and the VentureBeat AI Research Award. She was elected as a 2024 fellow to the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and she was named a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow in the field of computer science.
Wei Gao is recognized for developing advancements in wearable biomolecular sensors, which allow for real-time, non-invasive monitoring and early diagnosis of various health conditions. Recent examples of Gao's work include a smart mask that monitors breath for signs of health, a wearable "electronic skin" that monitors stress response, and a wearable patch that wirelessly monitors estrogen in sweat.
Gao joined Caltech in 2017, and some of his recent honors in the field of medical engineering include being selected as a winner of the Falling Walls 2023 Breakthroughs of the Year, receiving the 2022 US National Academy of Medicine Catalyst Award, and receiving the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award. In 2023, Gao delivered a Watson Lecture highlighting his advances in wearable biosensors for health management.
"Being selected as a finalist for the Blavatnik National Awards is an incredible honor. It represents not only a recognition of my work but also the efforts of my entire team and collaborators who have contributed to our shared vision of advancing biosensing technologies. This acknowledgment inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and to develop solutions that can have a profound impact on health monitoring and patient care," Gao says.
The 2024 Blavatnik National Awards received 331 nominations from 172 institutions across the US, and finalists and winning laureates will be celebrated in a gala ceremony on October 1, 2024, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
