Celebrating the Winners of the Inaugural Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature

The three winners Dr. Kiana Aran (UC San Diego, USA), Dr. Amanda Randles (Duke University, USA), and Dr. Yating Wan (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia) as well as the Judges' Commendation honoree Dr. Jiawen Li (University of Adelaide, Australia) were recognized today at an award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan.

Mid-Career Winners

Dr. Kiana Aran was selected for her achievements in the field of bioengineering. Aran is investigating the use of fingertip sensors for viral detection, exploring how artificial intelligence can work with advanced sensor technology to analyze multiple biomarkers and enable early detection of cancer and age-associated neurological diseases.

Aran, a professor of bioengineering and medicine at UC San Diego, is best known for pioneering work in the fusion of biology with electronics to enhance precision medicine. Among her achievements is the development of 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 that, "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.

Dr. Amanda Randles 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, leads the Randles Lab at Duke University and is known for her contributions to high performance computing, machine learning, and the 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

Dr. Yating Wan 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, Dr. 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 future of data communications and carries 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 Dr. Jiawen Li, whose 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, a biomedical engineer and Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide, Australia, 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.

"We launched this award in March 2024 with the clear aim of supporting more diverse gender representation within the international research community," says 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."

Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief, Nature added:

"Women make up less than a third of the world's workforce in technology related fields. 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 

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