Seven UC Berkeley Professors Awarded Research Fellowships

Seven UC Berkeley professors were selected to receive Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowships Friday for their work in sciences, mathematics and economics.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded 118 researchers across the nation who have shown excellence early in their career, giving each a two-year, $50,000 grant to spend for their respective academic interests.

Sanjit A. Seshia, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Noureddine El Karoui, an assistant professor of statistics and Feng Wang, an assistant professor of physics were among the UC Berkeley faculty members winning the fellowship.

Nadarajan Chetty, an associate professor of economics, Diana Bautista, an assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, Yun S. Song, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and statistics and Stefano DellaVigna, an assistant professor of economics were the four other campus recipients of the fellowship.

The foundation has awarded 97 fellowships to UC Berkeley faculty since the award was created in 1955, said campus spokesperson Sarah Yang.

Foundation officials said they were not surprised by the large number of the campus' fellowship winners.

"I am not surprised by the number (who received awards)," said Erica Stella, a fellowship administrator. "Berkeley has always been a strong nominator."

The UC system received a total of 17 awards this year.

Since winners were initially announced on the foundation Web site, many nominees were not immediately aware they had won.

Congratulatory letters will be sent to recipients starting today, Stella said.

Song, one of the fellowship's winners for molecular biology, said he did not originally know he had won.

"It is a great honor for me," he said. "This is a big award in all fields. It is very prestigious."

Song said he applies computer programs and statistical models to study biological environments. He said he will use the money to support his graduate students' tuitions and salaries.

The selection process is conducted by three-person committees, each dedicated to one of seven fields ranging from neuroscience to physics. In order to be considered, a senior faculty member from the researcher's institution must submit a nomination, Stella said.

DellaVigna, who received the prize for economics, said the award indicates Berkeley's excellence in research.

"This is wonderful. This is a big day for Berkeley," he said.

DellaVigna added that he is pleased to be included in UC Berkeley's achievements in economics.

"I feel so lucky to be a part of such an excellent department," he said.

Tags: SLOAN, PROFESSOR