Diverse group of young Yale scientists named Sloan Fellows

Four of Yale’s brightest young scientists were among 118 named today as 2011 Sloan Research Fellows by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The fellowships are meant to encourage “fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise…in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field.”

The two-year fellowships are awarded annually to researchers in science, mathematics, computer science and economics from the U.S. and Canada and include $50,000 in research funding.

“We are very proud to have four of Yale’s outstanding young scientists recognized as Sloan Fellows this year,” said Steven Girvin, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics and Applied Physics and deputy provost for science & technology. “Their work explores a wide range of topics at the frontiers of human knowledge ranging from database architectures to seismology, chemical biology, and neuroscience.”

The Yale winners are:

Daniel Abadi, assistant professor of computer science. Abadi, who has already received prestigious awards for his research, focuses on database system architecture and implementation, cloud computing, and the Semantic Web.

Michael J. Higley, assistant professor of neurobiology. The goal of Higley’s lab is to understand how synaptic connections between brain cells support the processing, storage, and retrieval of information in healthy individuals and during the cognitive decline associated with neuropsychiatric disease. 

Maureen D. Long, assistant professor of geology & geophysics. Long studies the physics of the earth’s interior, specifically the structure and dynamics of subduction systems.

David A. Spiegel, assistant professor of chemistry. Spiegel’s lab develops novel chemical strategies for controlling the human immune system, which can be used to and treat diseases such as cancer, HIV infection and diabetes.

Founded in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan Jr., then president and CEO of General Motors, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation makes grants to support original research and broad-based education related to science, technology, and economic performance, and to improve the quality of American life.