MIT Engineering Faculty Recognized with Prestigious Awards in Summer 2024

Throughout the year, faculty and researchers are recognized with various prestigious awards that highlight their exceptional contributions to their fields. The MIT School of Engineering periodically showcases the achievements of its community members, including those in academic departments, labs, and centers. Here are some of the notable honorees from Summer 2024:

Leading Figures and National Recognition

Polina Anikeeva, a leading figure in Materials Science and Engineering as well as a professor of brain and cognitive sciences, was named a finalist for the Blavatnik National Awards in the physical sciences and engineering category. These awards represent one of the largest unrestricted scientific prizes in the U.S., aimed at acknowledging promising scientific researchers under 42 years old.

Gabriele Farina, an assistant professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), received an honorable mention for the 2023 Doctoral Dissertation Award, which is given annually to recognize outstanding doctoral research in computer science and engineering.

Pioneering Research and International Accolades

James Fujimoto, Elihu Thomson Professor in Electrical Engineering, was awarded the 2024 Honda Prize for his research group’s pioneering work on optical coherence tomography. This international accolade celebrates significant advancements that pave the way for future innovations in ecotechnology.

Jeehwan Kim, an associate professor straddling Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, was honored in the engineering and technology category during the 2024 Falling Walls Global Call. This global competition seeks cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs and gathers diverse science enthusiasts.

Samuel Madden, Distinguished Professor of Computing and head of computer science in EECS, was presented with the Edgar F Codd Innovations Award. This award recognizes his substantial and enduring contributions to the development and understanding of database systems.

Jelena Notaros, an assistant professor in EECS, earned the 2024 Optica CLEO Highlighted Talk Award as a co-principal investigator. The Optica CLEO Awards Program commends excellence across various sectors within optics and photonics.

Early Career Achievements and Emerging Leaders

Carlos Portela, the Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor in Mechanical Engineering, received the Army Early Career Program Award. This prestigious honor is awarded by the U.S. Army Research Office to promising early-career scientists.

Yogesh Surendranath, Donner Professor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, was recognized as a finalist for the Blavatnik National Awards in chemical sciences, highlighting the significant achievements of young faculty researchers.

Ashia Wilson, an assistant professor in EECS, received the Best Paper Award at the 2024 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT). This interdisciplinary conference brings together scholars from various fields to address emerging challenges related to fairness and accountability.

“These awards celebrate not only individual brilliance but also inspire a collective pursuit of innovation and excellence across disciplines.”