Academy Announcement

2025 Laureates of the Prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Announced

Three scientists from Israeli universities will each be awarded US$100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research.

Jerusalem, May 6, 2025 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and The New York Academy of Sciences announced today the Laureates of the prestigious 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. This year’s Laureates, who will each receive US$100,000, are:

Yonatan Stelzer, PhD (Life Sciences) – Weizmann Institute of Science – Recognized for breakthroughs in modeling the intricate process of mammalian embryonic development and for advancing our understanding of epigenetics, holding significant promise for regenerative and therapeutic medicine.

Benjamin Palmer, PhD (Chemical Sciences) – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – Recognized for pioneering research on how organisms create crystals, revealing the biological processes underlying their formation and the unique ways they interact with light, leading to the emerging field of organic biomineralization and inspiring sustainable optical materials.

Chaim Garfinkel, PhD (Physical Sciences & Engineering) – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Recognized for advancing our ability to predict climate change on timescales from months to decades, improving weather forecast systems and providing critical insights for climate policy and adaptation strategies.

The Blavatnik Awards recognize outstanding, innovative scientists at the early stages of their careers for their extraordinary achievements as well as their potential for future discoveries. The prizes are awarded to researchers aged 42 and younger for groundbreaking work in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.

The 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel will be conferred at a ceremony in June 2025 at the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are the largest unrestricted prizes available to scientists in Israel aged 42 or younger. Since launching in 2017, scientists honored by the Blavatnik Awards in Israel have received US$2.7 million in prize money. Internationally recognized by the scientific community, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are instrumental in expanding the engagement and recognition of young scientists and providing the support and encouragement needed to drive scientific innovation for the next generation. By the close of 2025, the Blavatnik Awards will have recognized 540 scientists from 120 international research institutions and awarded prizes totaling nearly $20 million.

“The brilliant, young minds we honor with these awards are examples of the enormous ingenuity and creativity that has made Israel a powerhouse of scientific progress,” said Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. “We are proud to celebrate their achievements and to support their continued success.”

Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, said, “We are excited to see international representation in this year’s Laureates with our first Blavatnik Awards Israel Laureate from the UK. This international dimension highlights the global nature of scientific pursuit and collaboration in highly promising and vitally important interdisciplinary fields including epigenetics, biomineralization, and atmospheric science.”

Professor David Harel, President of The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities said, “Today we honor the exceptional achievements of Israel’s very best scientists. This is especially important at the present time, with Israel going through one of its worst periods, exacerbated by unprecedented obstacles for science, both here in Israel and in the US. In this light, we are even more grateful to the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences for our continued partnership in this endeavor. Maintaining Israel’s position at the forefront of global science, which is crucial for its security and economic stability, relies upon supporting and encouraging its scientists. We are proud to honor this year’s Blavatnik Awards Laureates, and we celebrate their innovative breakthroughs with confidence in the far-reaching, positive impact of their achievements on society at large.”

During the nomination period for the 2025 Blavatnik Awards, 36 nominations were received from seven universities across Israel. Members of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council – which includes Nobel Laureates Professors Aaron Ciechanover, David Gross and Sir Richard Roberts, along with former Chairman of the Israel Space Agency, Professor Isaac Ben-Israel – were also invited to submit nominations. Three juries, composed of distinguished leading scientists representing the three disciplinary categories and led by Israel Academy members, selected the 2025 Laureates.

Blavatnik scholars are driving economic growth globally by embarking on new scientific trajectories to pursue high-risk, high-reward scientific research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded 50 companies after receiving the award, six of which are publicly traded and collectively valued at over $12 billion.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists 

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding post-doctoral scientists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards were created to recognize faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States. In 2017, the Awards were further expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the UK and Israel. For updates about the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, please visit www.blavatnikawards.org or follow us on X and Facebook @BlavatnikAwards.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation 

The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides many of the world’s best researchers, scientists and future leaders with the support and funding needed to solve humankind’s greatest challenges. Led by Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed over US$1 billion to more than 250 organizations. See more at www.blavatnikfoundation.org.

About The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities is Israel’s flagship scientific institution. It was established by law in 1961 and acts as a national focal point for Israeli scholarship in all branches of the sciences, social sciences and humanities. The Academy’s membership comprises 152 of Israel’s most distinguished scientists and scholars in its two divisions – the Natural Sciences Division and the Humanities Division. It is tasked with promoting Israeli scientific excellence, advising the government on scientific matters of national interest, publishing scholarly research of lasting merit and maintaining active contact with the broader international scientific and scholarly community. For more information about The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, please visit www.academy.ac.il.

The New York Academy of Sciences and the Leon Levy Foundation Announce the 2025 Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience

New York, NY | April 29, 2025 — The New York Academy of Sciences and the Leon Levy Foundation have announced the 2025 class of Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience, extending a program that has fostered the work of over 180 neuroscience scholars since its launch in 2009.

This distinguished postdoctoral initiative supports outstanding early-career scientists conducting pioneering neuroscience research throughout New York City’s five boroughs. From a highly competitive applicant pool representing more than a dozen institutions citywide, ten scholars have been selected for a three-year fellowship as they continue their path toward becoming independent principal investigators.

Nicholas B. Dirks, the Academy’s President and CEO said, “Private funding for postdoctoral researchers has become increasingly vital as federal support for scientific research is cut. This is why we are so grateful to the Leon Levy Foundation for their support of emerging neuroscientists in pursuing innovative and high-risk research across New York City. The Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience program sustains our region’s research pipeline and ensures that young investigators can thrive, ultimately advancing the field of Neuroscience in ways that benefit science and society alike.”

The Scholars program includes both scientific and professional career development opportunities such as invitations to present at scientific scholar meetings, structured mentorship by distinguished senior scientists, and professionally led workshops on grant writing, leadership development, communications, and management skills. The program facilitates networking among cohorts and alumni, data sharing, cross-institutional collaboration, and the annual Leon Levy Scholars symposium held in the spring. The Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience is part of a series of prominent awards and scholarship programs that the Academy and its partners present each year to accomplished early-career and established scientists worldwide. These initiatives, along with education and professional development programs for students and young scientists, reflect the Academy’s broader commitment to strengthening and diversifying the pipeline for skilled and talented scientists globally.

The 2025 Leon Levy Scholars

Eyal Rozenfeld, PhD, NYU Langone Health, Neuroscience Institute

Recognized for: Identifying the neural mechanisms for territory formation in mice.

Matthew Eroglu, PhD, Columbia University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Recognized for: Examining how nervous system specific nuclear structure supports neural function.

Veronika Kondev, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Recognized for: Identifying the neurobiological mechanisms underlying substance use disorder, with a focus on relapse behavior.

Yuta Mabuchi, PhD, Columbia University, The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute

Recognized for: Studying the molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying species-specific differences in parental behavior using Peromyscus (deer mice).

Ece Sakalar, PhD, New York University, Center for Neural Science

Recognized for: Deciphering the organization of thalamocortical circuits involved in thinking and decision-making.

Sreejan Kumar, PhD, Columbia University, New York University

Recognized for: Computational modeling of the neural mechanism by which the brain implements flexible, goal-directed behavior.

Aryeh Zolin, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Recognized for: Examining how the pathology that drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease is transmitted between neurons and spreads through neural circuits.

Yuki Haba, PhD, Columbia University, The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute

Recognized for: Investigating the genomic and neurobiological bases of social recognition in the African naked mole-rat.

Francesco Limone, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Institute of Translation Neuroscience

Recognized for: Understanding the disruption of healthy neuron-astrocyte communication in neurodegenerative diseases.

Keshav Balaji Suresh, PhD, Columbia University, The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior

Recognized for: Defining astrocyte-neuron interactions underlying the natural motor skill of birdsong.

About the Leon Levy Foundation

The Leon Levy Foundation advances the humanist values of understanding, appreciation, and preservation through grantmaking guided by the deep and diverse interests of Leon Levy and Shelby White. The Foundation supports work, primarily in New York City, that enhances cultural life, expands knowledge, and encourages exceptional achievement across a broad range of fields.

To learn more, visit: www.leonlevyfoundation.org

New Paper Highlights Urgent Need for “Attention Sanctuaries”

Concern about increasing screen time on mental health calls for creating “digital-free” spaces to mitigate rising levels of anxiety, depression and social isolation.

New York, NY | March 20, 2025 – With more school districts now implementing no cell-phone policies in their classrooms to refocus students’ attention on their schoolwork, a new study by leading scholars Professor D. Graham Burnett of Princeton University and Eve Mitchell of the Strother School of Radical Attention calls for the creation of “attention sanctuaries”.

Their article, “Attention Sanctuaries: Social Practice Guidelines and Emergent Strategies in Attention Activism,” published today in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, explores the profound impact of networked screen media on mental health, particularly among youth. It proposes innovative, community-driven solutions to reclaim our collective focus from the growing crisis of digital distraction and the commodification of human attention.

The authors broadly define an attention sanctuary as a wide range of already existing spaces and places such as libraries, churches, museums and school classrooms. Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Drawing on the latest research and grassroots “Attention Activism”, the authors argue that the pervasive use of digital devices has led to unprecedented erosion of social and civil life, contributing to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

Key Findings and Recommendations:

The Attention Crisis: The article highlights the urgent need to address the harmful effects of the “attention economy,” where human attention is increasingly commodified by tech platforms through addictive design and data extraction, or “Human Fracking.”

Attention Activism: The authors introduce the concept of “attention activism,” a growing movement that seeks to resist the exploitative practices of the digital economy through education, organizing, and the creation of sanctuary spaces.

Attention Sanctuaries: The paper provides a detailed framework for establishing “attention sanctuaries”—spaces where communities can collectively cultivate and protect their attention. These sanctuaries, which can be implemented in schools, workplaces, and homes, are designed to foster meaningful human connection and reflection, free from the distractions of digital devices.

The authors emphasize that addressing the attention crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, combining grassroots activism, policy interventions, and community-driven initiatives. They argue that attention sanctuaries offer a practical and scalable solution to mitigate the negative effects of digital overload, promoting mental well-being and social cohesion.

“This is not just about limiting screen time,” says Burnett. “It’s about a participatory movement to create spaces where we can reconnect with ourselves and each other, free from the constant pull of digital distractions. Attention sanctuaries are a way to reclaim our humanity in an increasingly fragmented world.”

Eve Mitchell adds, “Attention activism is about more than individual self-control—it’s about collective action. By working together to create these sanctuaries, we can build a culture that values and protects our attention as an essential aspect of our individual and shared lives.”

The authors call for increased collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to develop strategies that address the root causes of the attention crisis.

Abstract

While scientific consensus on the nature and extent of the harms attributable to increased use of networked screen media remains elusive, widespread expressions of acute concern among first-responders to the commodified-attention crisis (teachers, therapists, caregivers) should not be overlooked. This paper reviews a series of emergent strategies of collective attention activism, rooted in social practices of community action, deliberation, and consensus-building, and aimed at the creation of novel sanctuaries for the cultivation of new shared norms and habits regarding digital devices. Evidence suggests that such attention sanctuaries (and the formalization of the conventions for convening such spaces) will play an increasingly important role in addressing/mitigating the public health-and-welfare dimensions of societal-scale digital platforms. A copy of the full paper may be downloaded here.

About Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences is a 200+ year-old multidisciplinary journal publishing research in all areas of science. Each issue advances our understanding of the natural, social, and physical world by presenting novel and thought-provoking original research, reviews, and expert opinions. We encourage cross disciplinary submissions, with particular interest in neuroscience, organismal biology, material sciences, cell and molecular biology, psychology, medicine, quantum science, renewable energy, and climate science. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.

About the Authors

D. Graham Burnett is a professor at Princeton University and a leading voice in the study of attention and its role in contemporary society. Eve Mitchell is a psychotherapist and a facilitator at the Strother School of Radical Attention, an innovative institution dedicated to exploring the science, history, and practice of attention.

Contacts

Peter Schmidt – peter@sustainedattention.net
Donica Bettanin – donica@sustainedattention.net

Britain’s brightest young scientists named at Blavatnik Awards gala, each winning £100,000 (US$126,000) prize

Laureates honored at The Orangery, Kensington Palace

LONDON—March 4, 2025—The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences are proud to announce the 2025 Laureates of the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK.

As the largest unrestricted prize for UK scientists under the age of 42, the Blavatnik Awards celebrate Britain’s greatest young minds in their fields. This year, the three Laureates—each awarded £100,000 (US$126,000) in unrestricted funds—were chosen from a shortlist of nine finalists, representing some of the brightest young scientific minds across the UK.

Among them, the three Laureates are tackling some of the most complex and pressing issues in science and society: infant mortality, green manufacturing and predicting long-term climate change.

Tonight’s prize-giving gala at The Orangery, Kensington Palace highlighted the growing impact of regional universities in driving scientific breakthroughs.

The winners of this year’s Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists (UK) are:

Life Sciences Laureate: Prof. Christopher Stewart (Newcastle University): Christopher leads a laboratory where groundbreaking research on microbiome-based therapies for pre-natal infant mortality is already making a life-saving impact.
Chemical Sciences Laureate: Prof. Liam Ball (University of Nottingham): Liam has transformed green manufacturing on an industrial scale, developing safer and more efficient methods of producing pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals with minimal environmental impact.
Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate: Prof. Benjamin Mills (University of Leeds): Benjamin is transforming our understanding of climate change on earth and in space with revolutionary methods to predict long-term climate change. His research not only uncovers Earth’s climate history over billions of years, but also how other planets might evolve to support life.

“We created the Blavatnik Awards to honor promising scientists, early in their careers, where unrestricted financial support and public recognition will give them the confidence to take bold risks in their scientific research that address the world’s most complex and urgent scientific challenges,” said Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

The Ceremony

The announcement was made at a black-tie gala, held this evening at The Orangery at Kensington Palace, hosted by Len and Emily Blavatnik and presented by Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London. Each Laureate shared their prize-winning research with the country’s leading figures in research, academia, business and the arts.

In his opening remarks, Professor Shitij Kapur, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London and internationally renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist, told this year’s honorees: “As pioneers in your fields – your voices count. And in your own way, taking your own steps, as King’s graduate Bishop Desmond Tutu says, ‘you can change the world.’ And that is what we will hear about tonight – how your science is changing the world.”

In his ceremony remarks, Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, commented on the program’s magnitude: “Since their inception, the Awards, administered by our Academy, have received close to 7,500 applications from over 450 research institutions across the US, the UK, and Israel. Over these 18 years, the Blavatnik Awards have recognized 540 scientists from 120 research institutions, a testament to the program’s growing international reach.”

Among the distinguished guests were 2014 Nobel Prize Laureate, Prof. John O’Keefe from University College London (UCL); 2019 Nobel Prize Laureate, Didier Queloz from the University of Cambridge and ETH Zurich; American-British business leader, Lady Lynn de Rothschild and Lord Maurice Saatchi; Former CEO of British Petroleum, Lord John Browne; President-Elect of the Royal Society of Medicine, Prof. Gillian Leng; Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, Prof. Evelyn Welch; President and Provost of UCL, Dr. Michael Spence; and Physicist and Chairman of the Giant Magellan Telescope, Dr. Walter Massey.

The Blavatnik Awards

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are the most substantial unrestricted awards available to UK scientists under the age of 42. Since their establishment, the Awards have recognized over 70 honorees from more than 100 research institutions. To date, the Blavatnik Awards have contributed more than £3.1 million (US$3.9 million) to UK research.

Blavatnik Awards honorees have gone on to found 50 companies, with six now publicly traded, collectively valued at over $12 billion. In total, Blavatnik Scholars have been granted over 7,300 patents. By the end of 2025, the Blavatnik Awards will have awarded nearly $20 million in prizes across their global counterparts in the UK, US, and Israel.

The Laureates

Life Sciences Laureate

Microbiologist Christopher Stewart, PhD, Newcastle University, is a pioneer in global health, developing microbiome-based approaches to prevent necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), the leading cause of death in preterm infants. Stewart’s work revealed the role of human breast milk in shaping the gut microbiome in premature infants, by providing abundant sugars that serve as an energy source for beneficial bacterial species. Stewart has also established a novel premature gut organoid model and probiotic strategies to address NEC. This work is changing both local and global clinical practice, including clinical trials to improve infant nutrition and microbial-based therapy for premature infants in low-resource settings. Stewart is the first Blavatnik Awards Laureate from Newcastle University.

Chemical Sciences Laureate

Organic Chemist Liam T. Ball, PhD, University of Nottingham, is transforming chemical synthesis by developing innovative tools for making pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals with reduced environmental impact. Ball’s pioneering work with bismuth, a non-toxic element, has enabled safer and more efficient herbicide development and drug production, including a streamlined process for the anticancer drug golvatinib. Ball has also made advancements in the synthesis of phosphine ligands, a critical tool for speeding up reactions through catalysis, making the process safer and more sustainable. By focusing on understanding reaction mechanisms, Ball’s work drives greener chemical processes, advancing medicine, agriculture, and sustainable manufacturing on an industrial scale.

Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate

Biogeochemist Benjamin J.W. Mills, PhD, University of Leeds, has pioneered advances in Earth Evolution Modelling that has allowed him and his research group to simulate Earth’s climate and surface processes over billions of years in order to understand the ancient history of Earth’s surface environment and our planet’s path to habitability. His techniques have significantly advanced our understanding of the Earth’s atmospheric processes and climate drivers. Mills’ foundational work can be readily applied to simulating the histories of atmospheric oxygen in exoplanets, paving the way for the search for other Earth-like planets. Mills is the first Blavatnik Awards Laureate from the University of Leeds.

All nine honorees, announced prior to the ceremony, were also recognized during the evening’s festivities.

Members of the public interested in learning more about the research of this year’s Laureates and Finalists are welcome to register to attend the free, public symposium: “Imagining the Impossible: UK Scientists Changing Our World,” in-person at the Royal Academy of Medicine on March 5, 2025, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm GMT/ 6:00 am to 11:00 am EST or online. Register HERE.

To follow the progress of the Blavatnik Awards, please visit the Awards’ website (www.blavatnikawards.org) or follow us on Facebook and X (@BlavatnikAwards).

Images from the ceremony and interviews with the Laureates are available upon request:

The New York Academy of Sciences – Media@nyas.org

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists 

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding scientific talent in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards were created to recognize faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States. In 2017, the Awards were further expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the UK and Israel.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation 

The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides many of the world’s best researchers, scientists, and future leaders with the support and funding needed to solve humankind’s greatest challenges. Led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery, and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed over US$1 billion to more than 250 organizations. See more at www.blavatnikfoundation.org.

New Journal Provides Career Advancing Platform for Teen Researchers

The new publication will follow the same rigorous standards as traditional academic journals, and will foster interdisciplinary dialog and thoughtful innovation among emerging changemakers.

New York, NY | January 13, 2025 – Convergence, a new peer reviewed journal launched today by Indigo Research and The New York Academy of Sciences, will provide a platform for aspiring students in the humanities and STEAM, to publish their own work across a variety of genres including academic research, essays and opinion pieces.

Convergence, published in partnership with The New York Academy of Sciences, was founded on the principle that fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and innovation among emerging scholars will enable the development of future STEAM talent, crucial to solving global issues and advancing sustainable development. Convergence will also feature genres that allow students to express themselves to different audiences, building communication skills that are vital for building trust in science and experts in general.

As a double-blind peer-reviewed publication, Convergence will advance the most rigorous academic work produced by young scholars today. Its mission is to promote curiosity, critical thinking, and creative expression among the next generation of scholars and thinkers. Its rigorous standards are designed to ensure that all published research meets the highest standards of scientific inquiry, including ethical considerations, rigorous methodology, and appropriate data analysis techniques.

“The launch of this new journal is another step in the Academy’s mission to advance science by supporting and promoting diverse voices in the sciences,” said Meghan Groome, PhD, Senior Vice President, Education, The New York Academy of Sciences. “Our partnership with the Indigo Research team provides us with the perfect alliance to fulfill a critical need in professional development of young scientists.”

“Until now, the best and brightest high school students have lacked a venue to publish cross-disciplinary research that maintains the standards and practices of a professional academic journal,” said Gabe Gladstein, Founder of Indigo Research. “Working with thousands of these students over the past decade, I’ve seen the remarkable talent and innovation that exists globally in this age group. I’m proud that The New York Academy of Sciences is leading the charge to remove barriers, from age to institutional associations, that have limited access to publication and recognition for far too long. For students, the value of publishing in Convergence will be felt for years to come, activating and evidencing their intellectual curiosity and sparking an investigative passion that will last long into their careers.”

English-language submissions from students under 18 years of age are welcome on a rolling basis. Submissions may cover various disciplines, with particular interest in interdisciplinary work straddling both STEM and humanities topics. This includes Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Law, Politics, Humanities, Philosophy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, and Mathematics. Manuscripts should be between 5,000-10,000 words and formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style. Comprehensive submission requirements are detailed in the submission guidelines.

Submitted manuscripts will be reviewed by an editorial board consisting of academic researchers who collectively share decades of experience in publishing and higher education. The editorial board will determine viability for peer review by experts in the related discipline of study. Authors who are selected to move forward with revisions will have one month to implement the recommendations made by the reviewers.

Accepted manuscripts will be copy edited and then reviewed as a complete issue by the editorial board prior to the publication of the journal. As with most academic publications, Convergence Journal has a table of submission fees which are waived in the case of financial need. More information may be found at: Convergence Journal.

Available for interview and comment:

Meghan Groome, PhD
Senior Vice President, Education
The New York Academy of Sciences
media@nyas.org

Mohini Bishnoi
General Manager
Indigo Research
convergencejournal@indigoresearch.org

About Indigo Research

Indigo Research is the premier provider of academic research mentorship for students in high school and college. With a curriculum designed by graduates of Harvard and Oxford, Indigo Research pairs students with a professor, or PhD teaching fellow at a top university to provide one-on-one guidance as they produce exceptional, publishable research, nurturing their intellectual curiosity and enhancing their academic profile in preparation for college, graduate school, and beyond. Please visit us online at: Indigo Research.

The New York Academy of Sciences’ Scientist-in-Residence Program named bronze winner in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards

The Academy’s STEM education programs win an Anthem Award for the second consecutive year.

New York, NY | November 19, 2024 – The New York Academy of Sciences announced that its Scientist-in-Residence program was named a Bronze Anthem Awards winner in the Education, Art, & Culture/ Community Engagement Category (Nonprofit) category in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards. In The Anthem Awards’ most competitive year, Scientist-in-Residence was selected from over 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries worldwide. The Academy’s Junior Academy was named a 2023 Silver Anthem Award Winner, making this the second year in a row that the Academy’s highly regarded education programs have been recognized by the Anthem Awards.

“Now more than ever it is crucial that we turn to science to address the many challenges we face in the 21^st century,” said Nicholas B. Dirks, President and Chief Executive Officer, The New York Academy of Sciences. “Unless we have a steady stream of talented young people who pursue careers in STEM, we run the risk of falling short. The Scientist-in-Residence program leverages the expert guidance of working scientists, turning classrooms into research labs, giving students hands-on learning experiences and access to scientific tools to conduct a year-long science research project. This support helps students appreciate the role of science in our world beyond traditional textbooks while also providing an inspirational entry-point to a gratifying and meaningful career in STEM.”

Entries in the Education, Art and Culture category honors organizations making learning more effective and accessible to students of all backgrounds. Art and Cultural programs may include art for change, healing and connecting communities as well as the preservation of public spaces and landmarks, festivals, and celebrations of historically underrepresented communities.

About Scientist-in-Residence

Since its launch in 2012, Scientist-in-Residence has paired more than 7,000 Pre-K through 12^th grade students with over 150 working scientists. The program was developed in cooperation with the New York City Department of Education and The New York Academy of Sciences and matches scientists with New York City public school teachers to bring scientific inquiry to life in the classroom. By combining their research and pedagogical expertise, each scientist-teacher pair develops and implements a year-long science project that prepares students to engage in authentic research involving data collection and analysis that sparks their interest in STEM learning.

The Scientist-in-Residence program also supports students toward a career in STEM by providing an avenue to find the inspiration that builds their curiosity and connects them with other scientists and STEM-inspired students across New York City. Each year, the Academy hosts a student showcase where group representatives from each class present posters and samples of their work, sharing their findings with fellow students. This event allows students to identify their peers building a support system as they continue their STEM career; it teaches students that success in a research project is not about failure or lack thereof but collecting information that can be shared with others; it also introduces students to scientists from various backgrounds that they may also see as part of their career support system.

“The Winners of this year’s Anthem Awards are truly inspiring and I am honored to help elevate their impact,” said Anthem Awards General Manager, Patricia McLoughlin. “At this moment, there is a lot of uncertainty in our world, but the tireless and extraordinary efforts of the Anthem Awards community provide hope that a better tomorrow is possible. Thank you to everyone doing this work and making an impact.”

About The Anthem Awards

Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity; Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. This season’s partners include Ms. Magazine, The Female Quotient, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, and TheFutureParty. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.

Peter Salovey, PhD, named Chair, Board of Governors of The New York Academy of Sciences

Former president of Yale University to assume leadership role of the Academy’s Board of Governors

New York, NY | November 18, 2024 – Peter Salovey, PhD, a social psychologist and early pioneer in the field of emotional intelligence, has been named as Chair, Board of Governors, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy).

He will oversee the governance of the Academy and its 26 Member board, and work with current President and CEO, Nicholas B. Dirks, on the future of the 200+ year old scientific society and its extensive portfolio of scientific programs. He succeeds the Honorable Jerry MacArthur Hultin, Chair and Co-Founder, Global Futures Group, LLC, who has served in the role since 2019.

Salovey’s scientific/academic credentials are extensive. Prior to joining the Academy, Salovey served as the 23^rd president of Yale University from 2013 to 2024, as well as past provost, Dean of Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Dean of Yale College.

Over the course of his nearly 40 years of academic research experience, he investigated the connections among emotion, health communication, and health behavior, with a special focus on emotional intelligence. He played key roles in multiple Yale programs including the Health, Emotion, and Behavior Laboratory, which Former President Salovey founded; the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS; and the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program. He is the author and editor of over a dozen books translated into eleven languages and published hundreds of journal articles and essays. He co-developed a broad framework called “emotional intelligence,” the theory that just as people have a wide range of intellectual abilities, they also have a wide range of measurable emotional skills that profoundly affect their thinking and action.

“Peter Salovey’s stewardship as incoming Chair of the Academy’s Board will be an invaluable asset as we head into a critically important time for science,” said Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO, The New York Academy of Sciences. “In such an unsettled world, we need strong advocacy for continued investment in scientific research and leadership in shaping an enlightened role for science to help solve our global challenges.” 

In addition to teaching and mentoring scores of graduate students, former President Salovey has won the William Clyde DeVane Medal for Distinguished Scholarship and Teaching in Yale College and the Lex Hixon ’63 Prize for Teaching Excellence in the Social Sciences. He has received honorary degrees from the University of Pretoria (2009), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2014), National Tsing Hua University (2014), Harvard University (2015), McGill University (2018), University of Haifa (2018), and Vytautas Magnus University (2019). In 2013, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

“The New York Academy of Sciences and its track record of bringing widely disparate groups together to address global problems are enormously respected,” said Peter Salovey. “I’m looking forward to working with the Academy to continue its influential thought leadership and prominence in supporting the careers of young scientists.”

The New York Academy of Sciences Receives Grant to Connect Young People From Diverse Places and Backgrounds Through Virtual Exchange

A grant from the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will enable the Junior Academy to give young people global collaboration and learning opportunities – without them having to leave their home communities.

New York, NY | November 19, 2024 – Today, the Stevens Initiative announced The New York Academy of Sciences (The Academy) is one of nine schools, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to receive funding to run virtual exchange programs that connect young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa. The New York Academy of Sciences’ Junior Academy will help reach 8,000 young people along with the new J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Grantees, supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“I’m proud to celebrate the addition of nine new grantees to our 2024 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative portfolio today. Over the last year, we have taken great strides to bridge cultural divides and prepare rising generations of global leaders,” said Christine Shiau, Executive Director of the Stevens Initiative. “Everything we do is centered around making transformative global experiences accessible to young people, and that would be impossible without the partnership of these incredible organizations and educational institutions.”

Through virtual exchange, participants build a better understanding of the world around them and develop critical thinking and cultural fluency skills needed to be successful in an ever changing world. It is a powerful tool to reimagine what global learning looks like, how it can be conducted, and how many people participate.

The New York Academy of Sciences’ Junior Academy brings together a passionate community of problem-solvers made up of talented students, STEM experts, and organizations around the world dedicated to designing innovative solutions to global issues. Participants from the Middle East and North Africa and the United States are guided by mentors and have access to world-class STEM learning resources as they work in teams for 10 weeks. Through challenge-based learning, they build their scientific research and critical workforce readiness skills, as well as form dynamic networks to support their journeys to become the next generation of STEM leaders.

“The Junior Academy was initially launched in the 1970s to provide opportunities for students in New York City to work together. Since moving online in 2016, the Junior Academy has developed into a truly global collaboration program. Students from the US and MENA are using STEM and civic engagement to solve real world problems with great success,” said Meghan Groome, PhD, Senior Vice President, Education, at The New York Academy of Sciences.

The Junior Academy is implemented by The New York Academy of Sciences and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute.

More Information

The Stevens Initiative, a program of the Aspen Institute, is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together for dialogue and discovery through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative is building a better tomorrow by championing global citizenship, empowering future leaders, and advancing the field of virtual exchange. Learn more: https://www.stevensinitiative.org.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs. These exchange programs improve foreign relations and strengthen the national security of the United States, support U.S. international leadership, and provide a broad range of domestic benefits by helping break down barriers that often divide us. Visit eca.state.gov.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Maura Daley
Stevens Initiative
maura.daley@aspeninstitute.org

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State
ECA-Press@state.gov

Nine Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholars for the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists Announced

Cutting-edge research includes the study of the human ribosome to combat cancer, interfacing machines with the human brain to better understand neurological characteristics, and decoding the “dark matter” of viral genomes to mitigate viral threats.

New York, NY | September 17, 2024 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the three Laureates and six Finalists of the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. The Awards honor outstanding postdoctoral scientists from academic research institutions across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The Blavatnik Regional Awards jury, consisting of distinguished scientists and engineers, selected one Laureate in each category who will receive a $30,000 unrestricted prize and two Finalists in each category who will be awarded $10,000 each. The three Laureates and six Finalists were chosen out of 134 highly competitive nominations received from 24 academic institutions in the Tri-State area.

The announcement comes during the National Postdoctoral Association’s 15th annual celebration of 2024 National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which recognizes the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to U.S. research and discovery.

The 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winners and Finalists will be honored at the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists Ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79^th Street, on October 1, 2024.

“It is a great pleasure to congratulate and honor our outstanding Laureates and Finalists,” said Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and member of the President’s Council of The New York Academy of Sciences. “Their ongoing research and discoveries will contribute to the global scientific community for years to come.”

“Postdocs help drive research and innovation forward and are catalysts for new scientific ideas and applied technologies,” said Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences. “We are incredibly proud to announce these outstanding postdoctoral honorees of the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards, especially during National Postdoc Appreciation Week — a week dedicated to recognizing the important contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to American research and discovery.”

The 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winners in the three award categories are:

Chemical Sciences

Arnaud Vanden-Broeck, Ph.D., nominated by The Rockefeller University
Biochemist and structural biologist Arnaud Vanden-Broeck is leading groundbreaking work in uncovering the intricate processes behind human ribosome assembly, laying the foundation for treating cancers and diseases related to ribosome dysfunction.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi, Ph.D., nominated by Yale University
The work of computer scientist Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi has led to unprecedented advances in creating a “brain-memex”, a system that interfaces computers with the human brain and could fundamentally shift our ability to understand neurological characteristics.

Life Sciences

Shira Weingarten-Gabbay, Ph.D., nominated by The Rockefeller University
Through her research, virologist Shira Weingarten-Gabbay has uncovered thousands of novel microproteins encoded in the “dark matter” of viral genomes, which has exposed previously unknown immune targets for vaccines.

The following postdoctoral researchers have been named Finalists in their respective categories:

Chemical Sciences

Juan D. Jiménez, Ph.D., nominated by Brookhaven National Laboratory
Chemical engineer Juan D. Jiménez is advancing sustainable industrial practices by developing novel catalytic materials that transform greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane into valuable chemical products.

Arthur Neuberger, Ph.D., nominated by Columbia University
As a Professor of Molecular Bioimaging at LMU Munich, Arthur Neuberger conducts pioneering research on TRP channels, which has led to new ways of treating pain, cancer, and skin diseases, as well as deciphering the mechanism of how we sense temperature.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Aavishkar Patel, Ph.D., nominated by the Flatiron Institute
Condensed matter theorist Aavishkar Patel is advancing a new theoretical understanding of “strange metals” and their tendencies towards superconductivity based on how microscopic irregularities in materials modify electron interactions.

Chiara Trovatello, Ph.D., nominated by Columbia University
Nanotechnology materials scientist Chiara Trovatello is developing new nano-engineered material platforms for optical computing, a critical step towards innovative imaging and information processing methods in quantum technologies.

Life Sciences

Nicole J. Lake, Ph.D., nominated by Yale University
Geneticist Nicole J. Lake is developing novel tools to study genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to improve genetic diagnostics for patients with rare diseases.

Amy R. Strom, Ph.D., nominated by Princeton University
Molecular and cellular biologist Amy R. Storm is exploring the organization of biological “condensates” that physically compartmentalize target genes in the cell, influencing the expression of cancer-causing genes.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, initially identified outstanding regional scientific talent among faculty and postdoctoral students in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Blavatnik National Awards, honoring faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States, were first awarded in 2014 and were expanded in 2017 to honor faculty-rank scientists in the United Kingdom and Israel. By the end of 2024, the Blavatnik Awards will have awarded prizes totaling $17.4 million and, to date, has honored over 570 scientists.

Blavatnik Awards scholars are driving economic growth by embarking on new scientific trajectories to pursue high-risk, high-reward scientific research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded 74 companies. After recognition by the Blavatnik Awards, 30% of past honorees obtained a patent or filed a patent application, 75% have started a new research direction, and 11% have started a new collaboration with another Blavatnik Awards honoree. Visit blavatnikawards.org for further information.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation

2024 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Announced

A molecular biologist from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a chemical engineer from UC Berkeley, and an earth scientist from Cornell University are this year’s Laureates.

New York, NY | September 12, 2024 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences named three women scientists as Laureates of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, marking the second time since the launch of the awards ten years ago that all three Laureates are women. Each will receive $250,000, the largest unrestricted scientific prize offered to America’s most promising, faculty-level scientific researchers under 42. Three independent juries – one each for life sciences, chemical sciences, and physical sciences & engineering – composed of some of America’s most distinguished scientists selected the three winning Laureates. An additional 15 Finalists will each receive $15,000.

The 2024 Blavatnik National Awards received 331 nominations from 172 institutions in 43 U.S. states. Nominees must be faculty-level scientific researchers, 42 years of age or younger.

The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists will celebrate the 2024 Laureates and Finalists and the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards Laureates and Finalists in a gala ceremony on October 1, 2024, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The 2024 winning Laureates are:

2024 Laureate in Life Sciences

Cigall Kadoch, Ph.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School & Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

Working to discover and characterize chromatin remodeling complexes, understanding how their disruption leads to human disease, and developing a new class of therapeutics

Healthy cells rely on the intricate collaboration of millions of biological molecules; even minor perturbations in these interactions can lead to diseases like cancer. In a series of groundbreaking studies, Cigall Kadoch has decoded the role of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers—complex molecular machines made up of dozens of interacting proteins—in regulating DNA accessibility and gene expression. The Kadoch Lab also unraveled how disease-causing mutations in these complexes impact their structure and function in an expanding list of diseases that includes cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and immunodeficiencies. Dr. Kadoch has built upon these discoveries to develop novel therapeutics, which are being tested in clinical trials and could revolutionize the treatment of diverse maladies.

2024 Laureate in Chemical Sciences

Markita del Carpio Landry, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (Chemical Engineering)

Pioneering nanoscale chemical tools to address disparate challenges in human health and sustainability

The behavior of chemicals within and between cells of the body still holds many secrets to how life operates. By manipulating these basic chemical interactions of life, using very small particles to uncover new insights and tools for biology, Landry has applied new nanobiotechnology towards a wide range of tasks, from measuring the transfer of chemicals between synapses in the brain to bioengineering plant genetics. Landry’s strategies for applying nanobiotechnology tools are already paving the way for more resilient crops and new treatments for neurological disease ranging from neurodegeneration to autism spectrum disorders.

2024 Laureate in Physical Sciences & Engineering

Britney E. Schmidt, Ph.D., Cornell University (Physical Earth Sciences)

Advancing climate science and planetary habitability studies through groundbreaking research on ice-ocean interactions and innovative exploration of Earth’s polar regions and icy planetary bodies

In order to better predict the impact of climate change we must understand the interactions between the Earth’s oceans and ice. Britney E. Schmidt and her team designed, built, and deployed Icefin, a remotely operated vehicle that provides unprecedented insights into Antarctic ice shelf melting and ocean circulation. Schmidt’s work solves key problems in ice dynamics and interaction with the ocean and offers novel comprehensive views of sub-ice environments. Critically, this research shows how interactions between the ice, ocean, and seafloor control how glaciers respond to the warming ocean. Schmidt also applies Earth-based ice studies to solar system icy worlds to further our understanding of extraterrestrial environments. Schmidt’s contributions have earned widespread recognition, including inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

“On behalf of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, I congratulate this year’s outstanding Laureates and Finalists for their exceptional research. They are among the preeminent leaders of the next generation of scientific innovation and discovery,” said Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation and a member of the President’s Council of The New York Academy of Sciences.

Nicholas B. Dirks, president and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, said, “The New York Academy of Sciences has always championed women in science. We are thrilled to celebrate, for the second time in the United States, that all three of the scientists named the 2024 Blavatnik National Awards Laureates are women working in their respective fields to use science to benefit the public good.”

FINALISTS

The following scientists have been named Finalists in their respective categories:

Life Sciences

Wei Gao, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology)
Developed advancements in wearable biomolecular sensors, allowing for continuous, real-time monitoring and early diagnosis of various health conditions without requiring invasive medical procedures.

Kaiyu Guan, Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Agriculture & Animal Sciences)
Developed revolutionary technology to enhance our understanding of agricultural production systems and innovating transformative solutions to achieve co-sustainability of agricultural productivity and environmental quality.

Sergiu Paşca, M.D., Stanford University (Neuroscience & Developmental Biology)
Uncovered transformative and therapeutically relevant insights into the molecular and cellular steps underlying the assembly of the human brain and the mechanisms leading to neuropsychiatric disease.

Sohini Ramachandran, Ph.D., Brown University (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)
Established quantitative methods that reveal the causes and consequences of human genetic variation while advancing the goal of personalized medicine for all.

Christoph A. Thaiss, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (Neuroscience & Immunology)
Made significant advances in decoding the mechanisms by which the communication between environment, body, and brain mediates the impact of lifestyle factors on common human diseases.

Chemical Sciences

Joseph Cotruvo, Jr. Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University (Biochemistry & Structural Biology)
Discovered and engineered biomolecules to sustainably harvest and purify rare metals, which are used in advanced technology, from electronic waste and the environment.

Garret Miyake, Ph.D., Colorado State University (Polymer Chemistry)
Made ground-breaking advances across polymer and organic chemistry, including inventing light-driven synthesis methods, novel plastics that are chemically recyclable, and light-reflecting coatings to reduce energy needs.

David Nagib, Ph.D., The Ohio State University (Organic Chemistry)
Stabilized traditionally unstable molecules, such as carbenes and free radicals, to discover faster, more effective, and previously unknown chemical mechanisms for synthesizing pharmaceuticals.

Yogesh Surendranath, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Inorganic & Solid-State Chemistry)
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.

Wei Xiong, Ph.D., University of California San Diego (Physical Chemistry)
Established the experimental foundations of polariton chemistry, which describes hybrid, excited states of molecules, and engineered photonic cavities to provide better control over chemical reactions.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Anima Anandkumar, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (Computer Science)
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.

Polina Anikeeva, Ph.D.,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Materials Science & Nanotechnology)
Integrated nanomaterials synthesis and electronic device design to develop neurotechnologies, artificial limbs, and soft robotics that advance our understanding and treatment of neurological disorders.

Ivan Z. Corwin, Ph.D., Columbia University (Applied Mathematics)
Expanded “Extreme Diffusion Theory” to model complex physical systems like the growth of tumors, the propagation of nerve signals, and the early spread of pandemics.

Alexey V. Gorshkov, Ph.D., National Institute of Standards and Technology & University of Maryland (Theoretical Physics)
Advanced the design of large interacting quantum systems through pioneering research at the intersection of quantum physics and information science with groundbreaking implications for quantum computers, sensors, and networks.

Maryam Shanechi, Ph.D., University of Southern California (Electrical Engineering)
Pioneered research at the intersection of engineering, AI, and neuroscience to develop advanced neurotechnologies that decode and regulate brain activity for treating brain disorders.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

Blavatnik Awards scholars are driving economic growth by embarking on new scientific trajectories to pursue high-risk, high-reward scientific research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded 72 companies. After recognition by the Blavatnik Awards, 30% of past honorees obtained a patent or filed a patent application, 75% have started a new research direction, and 11% have started a new collaboration with another Blavatnik Awards honoree.

Visit blavatnikawards.org for further information.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation

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