The most notable prizes and awards given to outstanding scientists (and I’m guessing even the less notable awards) are awarded to men more frequently than women. Indeed, an analysis found that from 2016–2020, women received 19% of the world’s 141 most prestigious research awards.
Certain prizes are trying to level the playing field—such as the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize established in 2004 and the Women in Cell Biology (WICB) Awards—by limiting the pool of eligible researchers to women only. But those awards are few in number.
Now, a new award has entered into that category: Sony Group Corporation (Sony) and Nature are proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature, honoring outstanding early to mid-career women researchers who are spearheading breakthroughs for the betterment of society and the planet in the field of technology (science, engineering, and mathematics). The award grants each winner a prize of $250,000 to support and accelerate their technological research.
“We launched this award in March 2024 with the clear aim of supporting more diverse gender representation within the international research community,” said Hiroaki Kitano, CTO of Sony Group Corporation and executive sponsor of the program. “We are very inspired by our honorees, each of them challenging the current state of the art in their fields. We look forward to championing their work, as well as growing the program in the years to come.”
Mid-career winners
Kiana Aran, PhD, professor of bioengineering and medicine at UC San Diego, was selected for her achievements in the field of bioengineering. Aran is investigating the use of fingertip sensors for viral detection, exploring how AI can work with advanced sensor technology to analyze multiple biomarkers and enable early detection of cancer and age-associated neurological diseases.
Best known for pioneering work in the fusion of biology with electronics to enhance precision medicine, she developed a CRISPR-powered electronic chip made from graphene, designed for the rapid detection of genetic diseases and respiratory infections such as COVID-19.
Beyond her research and entrepreneurial ventures, Aran is a vocal advocate for elevating the role of women in technology and leadership through her involvement with multiple organizations including New Voices for National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She has also established a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring women engineers and actively promotes international scientific collaboration to foster a more inclusive and innovative future in the high-tech sector.
The judging panel noted, “Aran’s achievements and vision in the field of bioengineering are impressive with a clear pathway to significant real-world impact for patients.” Aran’s aspiration to be a role model in the semiconductors area, where the representation of women is notably low, was well-received by the panel.
Amanda Randles, PhD, received the award for her innovative research in digital twin technology, which integrates wearable-informed computational models to provide personalized insights into cardiovascular hemodynamics and optimize treatment strategies.
Randles, a computational scientist and biomedical engineer, is known for her contributions to high-performance computing, machine learning, and personalized modeling for disease diagnostics and treatment.
After successfully exploring the use of digital twin technology to guide interventions for heart patients, Randles and team are investigating how this technique can be applied to early intervention for cancer. With this prize, the Randles Lab plans to explore innovative ways of modeling and identifying new therapeutic targets to advance cancer treatment.
Speaking on their decision, the judging panel highlighted that Randles has a “significant impact opportunity in the fascinating space of digital twins,” and that, “her vision of a doctor reviewing digital twin organs to enable proactive intervention is inspiring.”
Early-career winner
Yating Wan, PhD, won this year’s early career prize for her work in silicon photonics. Her research focuses on integrating light sources onto silicon chips for more energy-efficient data communication and information processing.
Leading the Integrated Photonics Lab at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Wan is recognized for her novel integration of “quantum dot” lasers— nanocrystals made from semi-conductor materials—with silicon photonics, demonstrating important progress toward commercial use of photonic chips. With tech industry collaborators working on the same goals, her team is exploring how to deploy the chips in practical, real-world applications, such as optical datacom, sensing, and AI.
Commenting on their decision to award Wan the Early Career prize, the judging panel highlighted that as a rising star in her field, Wan is making “significant contributions to the future of data communications and carries the potential to revolutionize the future of silicon photonic sensors.”
Judges’ commendation recipient
After receiving high-caliber applications from researchers worldwide, the judges’ panel decided to extend a special Judges’ Commendation to Jiawen Li, PhD, biomedical engineer and associate professor at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her ambitious vision in the medical imaging field holds promise to improve healthcare globally. Li’s work combines nanoscale 3D printing with optical fiber technology to create a hair-thin endoscope that cardiologists can use to investigate blood vessels to determine a patient’s risk for a heart attack. This invention can also be used for prevention and personalized treatments.
Li is actively working on commercializing this invention, an important step in bringing this life-saving device to clinical practice. Together with her collaborators, Li is also expanding the multimodal technology’s features to measure data like site-specific temperature and chemical changes, as well as exploring applications in neurology and IVF.
“Women make up less than a third of the world’s workforce in technology-related fields,” noted Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief, Nature. “However, the diversity, creativity, and innovation that women bring to research and technology is essential if we hope to address the most pressing challenges facing the world. Therefore, it is with great pride that we celebrate the inspiring work of Kiana Aran, Amanda Randles, and Yating Wan. Through their commitment to scientific excellence and advocating for women in STEM, this year’s winners stand as perfect examples of role models for the next generation of women considering careers in research and engineering.”
Applications for the next cycle of the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature open on March 6, 2025. To read more about eligibility guidelines, visit https://womenintechnology.sony.com/
To receive a reminder when the next application cycle launches, sign up for the Sony Women in Technology with Nature newsletter: https://natureresearch.formstack.com/forms/women_in_technology_award
