MIT Professors, Alumnus Honored With 2024 National Medals of Science, Technology

Study in US: The National Medals of Science, and Technology is US' highest award for engineers and scientists.

Four MIT professors and an alumnus were honoured with the 2024 National Medal of Science, and Technology which is the nation’s highest award for engineers and scientists.

The White House statement said, “Four MIT faculty members are among 23 world-class researchers who have been awarded the nation’s highest honours for scientists and innovators.”

Emery Brown and Angela Belcher were awarded the National Medal of Science and Feng Zhang and Paula Hammond ’84, PhD ’93 awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Nergis Mavalvala, dean of MIT’s School of Science commented, “Emery Brown is at the forefront of the Institute’s collaborations among neuroscience, medicine, and patient care. His research has shifted the paradigm for brain monitoring during general anesthesia for surgery. His pioneering approach based on neural oscillations, as opposed to solely monitoring vital signs, promises to revolutionize how anesthesia medications are delivered to patients. Feng Zhang is one of the preeminent researchers in CRISPR technologies that have accelerated the pace of science and engineering, blending entrepreneurship and scientific discovery. These new molecular technologies can modify the cell’s genetic information, engineer vehicles to deliver these tools into the correct cells, and scale to restore organ function. Zhang will apply these life-altering innovations to diseases such as neurodegeneration, immune disorders, and aging.”

MIT Professors Awarded 2024 National Medals of Science, Technology: More Details

Anantha Chandrakasan, dean of the School of Engineering and chief innovation and strategy officer at MIT said, “Angela Belcher and Paula Hammond have made tremendous contributions to science and engineering, and I’m thrilled for each of them to receive this well-deserved recognition. By harnessing the processes of nature, Angela’s innovations have impacted fields from energy to the environment to medicine. Her non-invasive imaging system has improved outcomes for patients diagnosed with many types of cancer. Paula’s pioneering research in nanotechnology helped transform the ways in which we deliver and administer drugs within the body — through her technique, therapeutics can be customized and sent directly to specifically targeted cells, including cancer cells.”

“Two additional MIT alumni also accepted awards: R. Lawrence “Larry” Edwards ’76, a graduate of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and of the Department of Architecture, who is now a professor at the University of Minnesota, received a National Medal of Science for his work in geochemistry. And Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87, a graduate of the Department of Chemical Engineering and current member of the MIT Corporation, accepted one of two National Medals of Technology and Innovation awarded to an organization. These awards went to the biotechnology companies Moderna, which Afeyan co-founded along with Institute Professor Robert Langer, and Pfizer, for their development of vaccines for Covid-19,” says MIT statement.

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