Announcing the Stellar Blavatnik National Awards Finalists
Thirty-one of the nation’s rising stars in science and engineering will compete for three National Laureate Awards in the categories of Chemistry, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Life Sciences
Published May 29, 2019
In its 13th year, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists today announced the the thirty-one 2019 National Finalists who were selected from an unprecedented 343 nominations of outstanding faculty-rank scientists and engineers from 169 academic and research centers across 44 U.S. states — a record year in all three categories.
Three National Laureates, will be chosen from these 31 Finalists and announced on June 26, 2019. Each of the three 2019 National Laureates will win $250,000 — the world’s largest unrestricted prize for early career scientists.
This year’s Finalists have made cutting-edge discoveries that include new findings on the inner workings of the microbiome, cells, DNA, RNA and viruses; creating new classes of materials through inventions in materials science and nanoscience; identifying predictors for improving crop yields; new chemical imaging and synthesis techniques; novel 2D and 3D polymer design and other radical advances that can impact energy storage, water purification, and next generation electronics.
“The 2019 Blavatnik National Finalists are part of a growing global community of inventive thinkers and rare problem-solvers that will help define the future.”
“The goal of the awards is to help solve the world’s greatest scientific and technological challenges by supporting outstanding young scientists and engineers,” said Len Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and member of the President’s Council of the New York Academy of Sciences. “Acknowledging, encouraging, and funding stellar scientists early in their careers, provides them with the confidence and freedom to channel their energy and creativity into ground-breaking discoveries that benefit society as a whole.”
“The 2019 Blavatnik National Finalists are part of a growing global community of inventive thinkers and rare problem-solvers that will help define the future,” said Ellis Rubinstein, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council. “These 31 Finalists are a diverse group of scientists and engineers, who are paving the way for new methodologies and ideas that will impact the world on a macro and micro scale. From preserving endangered animal species and reducing our carbon footprint, to designing new sustainable materials and therapeutics, their research is forward thinking and groundbreaking.”
The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in the United States in 2007, and administered by the New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding regional scientific talent in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Blavatnik National Awards were launched in 2014 and, in 2017, the Awards were expanded to young scientists in the United Kingdom and Israel. By the close of 2019, the Blavatnik Awards will have conferred prizes totaling over $8.4 million to 285 outstanding young scientists and engineers from more than 44 countries, representing 35 scientific and engineering disciplines.
To learn more about the 2019 Blavatnik National Finalists and other honorees, please visit the Blavatnik website here and follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @BlavatnikAwards.