On February 5th, Sony Group Corporation and Nature announced the winners of the first "Sony-Nature Tech Women Award." The award aims to recognize outstanding female researchers in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics who are early to mid-career, and who are making groundbreaking advances to improve society and our planet. Each winner will receive a $250,000 prize to support and promote their research.

The three winners are Dr. Kiana Aran from the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Amanda Randles from Duke University, and Dr. Wanyating Wan from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Li Jiawen from the University of Adelaide in Australia received a special commendation from the judging panel. The winners were honored at an award ceremony held in Tokyo, Japan, on the 5th.

Two of the winners are in the mid-career stage. Dr. Kiana Aran was awarded for her achievements in the field of bioengineering. She conducted research on the use of fingertip sensors in virus detection, exploring how artificial intelligence can combine with advanced sensor technology to analyze various biomarkers and enable early detection of cancer and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. As a professor of bioengineering and medicine at the University of California, San Diego, she is best known for pioneering the integration of biology and electronics to enhance precision medicine. Her accomplishments include the development of a graphene-based CRISPR-driven electronic chip for the rapid detection of genetic diseases and respiratory infections. In addition to her research and entrepreneurial work, she is also an active advocate for increasing the role of women in technology and leadership positions through her involvement in organizations like the "New Voices" initiative of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She has also founded a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring female engineers and actively promotes international scientific collaboration to drive a more inclusive and innovative future in the high-tech sector. The judging panel noted, "Aran's achievements and vision in bioengineering are impressive, and she has demonstrated a clear path to having a significant real-world impact for patients." Given the underrepresentation of women in the semiconductor industry, Aran is determined to serve as a role model in the field, which was highly welcomed by the panel.

Dr. Amanda Randles was recognized for her innovative research in the "digital twin" technology. This technology integrates computational models with wearable devices, offering unique insights into cardiovascular hemodynamics and optimizing treatment strategies. As a computational scientist and biomedical engineer, she leads the Randles Lab at Duke University and is renowned for her contributions to high-performance computing, machine learning, and personalized modeling for disease diagnosis and treatment. After successfully exploring the use of digital twin technology to guide interventions for heart disease patients, she and her team are now investigating how this technology can be applied to early cancer intervention. Randles Lab plans to use the prize money to explore innovative methods for modeling and identifying new therapeutic targets to advance cancer treatment. The panel emphasized that Randles "has the opportunity to make a significant impact in the highly promising field of digital twins" and found her vision of enabling proactive interventions by doctors through reviewing digital twin organs inspiring.

Dr. Wanyating Wan, awarded for her early career achievements, was recognized for her work in silicon photonics. Her research focuses on integrating light sources into silicon chips to achieve more energy-efficient data communication and information processing. As the leader of the Integrated Photonics Laboratory at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, she has been recognized for her novel integration of quantum dot lasers (nanocrystals made from semiconductor materials) with silicon photonics, which represents significant progress for photonic chips in commercial applications. As industry collaborators work toward similar goals, her team is exploring how to deploy these chips in practical applications such as optical data communication, sensing, and artificial intelligence. The panel commented that Dr. Wan, a rising star in her field, "is making an important contribution to the future of data communication and has the potential to revolutionize the future of silicon photonic sensors."

In addition, as a special commendation winner, Dr. Li Jiawen received recognition from the judging panel after receiving high-level applications from researchers around the world. She was awarded for her grand vision in medical imaging that is expected to improve global healthcare. Her work combines nano-scale 3D printing with fiber optics technology to create a hair-thin endoscope, which cardiologists can use to examine blood vessels and determine patients' risk of heart attacks. This invention can also be used for disease prevention and personalized treatments. As a biomedical engineer and associate professor at the University of Adelaide, Dr. Li is actively working on commercializing this invention, an important step in bringing this life-saving device into clinical practice. She has also expanded the functionality of this multimodal technology with collaborators, using it to measure temperature and chemical changes at specific sites, and is exploring its applications in neurology and IVF (in vitro fertilization).

"We launched this award in March 2024 with a clear goal – to support and enhance gender representation in the global research community," said Hiroaki Kitano, Chief Technology Officer of Sony Group Corporation and the executive initiator of the project. "The winners are an inspiration to us all; each of them is challenging the status quo in their respective fields. We look forward to supporting their work and growing this initiative in the coming years."

Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature, added: "Women make up less than a third of the workforce in tech-related fields globally. Yet the diversity, creativity, and innovation they bring to science and technology are indispensable if we are to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Therefore, we are extremely proud to honor the inspiring work of Kiana Aran, Amanda Randles, and Wanyating Wan. By striving for scientific excellence and strongly supporting women in STEM, this year’s winners set a great example for the next generation of women considering careers in research and engineering."

The next round of the "Sony-Nature Tech Women Award" will open for applications on March 6, 2025.