3 Indian American researchers among Blavatnik National Awards finalists

Three Indian American scientists are among the 15 finalists for the 2024 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, which honor exceptional contributions across various  scientific fields.

The three Indian finalists are Sohini Ramachandran, PhD, Brown University (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology) in Life sciences, Yogesh Surendranath, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Inorganic & Solid-State Chemistry) in chemical sciences, and Anima Anandkumar, PhD, California Institute of Technology (Computer Science) in Physical Sciences & Engineering.

Ramachandran, established quantitative methods that reveal the causes and consequences of human genetic variation while advancing the goal of personalized medicine for all.

“The human genome is an incredible text, revealing both our shared humanity and the interplay between genes and environments in shaping human traits,” she stated.

READ: Indian American Shruti Puri named finalist for Blavatnik scientists award (September 24, 2020)

Surendranath developed a molecular-level understanding of how charges arrange at electrified surfaces, like battery electrodes, and new chemical reactions to decarbonize fuel and chemical synthesis.

Born in Bangalore, India, Surendranath moved to the US when he was three years old. His research advances sustainable chemical processes.

Anandkumar Made ground-breaking advancements in AI to address practical scientific challenges, drastically accelerating simulation of complex phenomena like weather forecasting, scientific simulations, engineering design and scientific discovery.

“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,” she said.

Established in 2007 by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and independently administered by The New York Academy of  Sciences, the awards celebrate exceptional young researchers addressing global challenges. Finalists will each receive $15,000.

READ: Indian American Shruti Naik wins prestigious Blavatnik Young Scientists award (September 5, 2018)

The 2024 Laureates and Finalists and the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards Laureates and Finalists will be celebrated in a gala ceremony on Oct 1, 2024, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The Blavatnik National Awards received 331 nominations from 172 institutions in 43 US states, from which it drew a shortlist of 15 Finalists. Nominees must be faculty-level scientific researchers, 42 years of age or younger.

Caption: Three Indian American finalists (L to R) Sohini Ramachandran, Yogesh Surendranath, Anima Anandkumar