Six Nigerian researchers have been honored with the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States. This award is the highest recognition given by the US government to exceptional young scientists and engineers.
The Nigerian awardees are:
1. Azeez Butali, Professor at the University of Iowa, recognized for his research in cleft genetics.
2. Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor at Yale University, honored for her work in substance abuse prevention and youth mental health.
3. Eno Ebong, Associate Professor at Northeastern University, recognized for her research on vascular health.
4. Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor at Stanford University, awarded for his work on trustworthy machine-learning models for healthcare and neuroscience.
5. Abidemi Ajiboye, Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University, recognized for his research in brain-computer interface technologies.
6. Oluwatomi Akinlolu, Postdoctoral Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, contributing to cutting-edge scientific research.
The PECASE award was established in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton to recognize individuals who demonstrate innovative research, leadership potential, and commitment to community service. The awardees receive a plaque, citation, and research funding for up to five years.
This achievement highlights the significant contributions of Nigerian researchers to the global scientific community and demonstrates the country’s potential for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
