GCEP investigator Jennifer Dionne

Three Stanford researchers are among this year's winners of Sloan Research Fellowships. The fellowships, awarded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, honor outstanding scientists who show promise early in their careers.

GCEP investigator Hemamala Karunadasa

Jennifer A. Dionne, an assistant professor in materials science and engineering; Hemamala Karunadasa, an assistant professor of chemistry, and Percy Liang, an assistant professor of computer science, are among 126 scientists from the U.S. and Canada who will receive $50,000 to further their research.

"The beginning of a one's career is a crucial time in the life of a scientist," Sloan Foundation President Paul L. Joskow said in a press release. Building a lab, attracting funding in an increasingly competitive environment, and securing tenure all depend on doing innovative, original high-quality work and having that work recognized. For more than 50 years the Sloan Foundation has been proud to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary young scientists who are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge."

The fellowships are awarded in chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, neuroscience, ocean sciences, and physics. Candidates must be nominated by their fellow scientists, and winning fellows are selected by an independent panel of senior scholars on the basis of a candidate’s independent research accomplishments, creativity and potential to become a leader in his or her field.

by Elaine Ray on February 24, 2015