July 9, 2009
Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, has been awarded a 2009 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers by President Obama.
This award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on young professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers, and comes with five years of significant research funding. Kumar joined the Bioengineering faculty in 2004 with an M.D. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on cellular mechanics and biomaterials, including how a cell’s cytoskeleton governs its structure and senses and may play a role in health and disease.
Every year nine federal departments and agencies nominate recipients for the prestigious award. They choose researchers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for strengthening America’s leadership in science and technology and contributing to the awarding agencies’ missions. Kumar was nominated by the U.S. Department of Defense. Awardees are selected on the basis of two criteria: pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology; and a commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.
Read more at the White House.
Congratulations Sanjay!