Campus & Community
Aramont Fellowships advocate for research at the cutting edge of innovation
Projects selected for their potential to drive scientific advancement
Providing a deeper comprehension of the universe. Unveiling a possible layer of gene regulation in human cells. Addressing muscular ailments with implantable neurotechnologies. These represent instances of the studies financed by the Aramont Fellowship Fund for Emerging Science Research, which honors the innovative endeavors of remarkable early-career researchers.
Founded in 2017 through a contribution from the Aramont Charitable Foundation, this award acknowledges revolutionary scientific creativity and exploration by offering essential funding for high-risk, high-reward projects that might not be undertaken otherwise. This year’s group features five scholars leading initiatives with the capability to substantially influence their respective disciplines and foster new discoveries with extensive implications.
“The transformative effect of the Aramont Fund on the awardees’ endeavors and professions is truly motivating,” remarked Vice Provost for Research John Shaw. “Supporting our early-career scholars is crucial for advancing scientific innovation and cultivating the next wave of researchers. We are all eager to witness the accomplishments of the newest cohort.”
Guanhao Huang
“Investigating Gravitational Physics Utilizing Nano-mechanics on a Chip”
The essence of gravity at the quantum realm and the enigmatic characteristics of dark matter represent two of the most significant unresolved inquiries in contemporary physics. Historical advancements have primarily stemmed from extensive international collaborations involving large-scale scientific apparatus, yet a thrilling new methodology is developing: employing nanomechanical devices within university laboratories to investigate these enigmas. In contrast to conventional techniques that depend on laser-controlled single atoms, these diminutive yet comparatively heavy devices—often crafted from materials such as diamonds—function as hyper-sensitive quantum force sensors and sources of gravitational influence. This makes them particularly equipped to delve into novel gravitational effects at minute scales. The majority of existing research concentrates on a limited number of vibrational states, leaving numerous possibilities unexplored, which restricts the capacity for studying gravity. Huang’s ambition is to create ultra-precise sensors by engineering and manipulating these devices at the quantum level across a wide array of vibrational states, which could pave the way for identifying dark matter and gravitational events, offering new perceptions on both microscopic and cosmic scales—all through compact, tabletop experiments conducted within a university environment. His research holds the promise of redefining our understanding of the universe in ways that were previously believed to be feasible only with colossal, billion-dollar facilities.
Giacomo Maddaloni
“Identifying Brain Circuits That Shift Seasonally and Provide Insights into the Seasonal Worsening of Diseases from Neuropsychiatric to Cardiovascular”
Postdoctoral fellow in genetics, Harvard Medical School.
Credit: Ajja Photography
The capacity to anticipate the light-dark cycle of the days and seasons—and to coordinate suitable responses—are essential adaptive strategies observed throughout the animal kingdom and among humans. Disruption of this rhythm can lead to or worsen various diseases. Nevertheless, the neural mechanisms that drive such adaptations remain largely unexplored. Giacomo Maddaloni has conducted research that resulted in the identification of a previously unrecognized brain circuit in mice, along with a form of plasticity essential for synchronizing activity and sleep-wake cycles. As part of this investigation, he found that particular neurons act as initial couriers of day length information in a brain region that regulates numerous behaviors and physiological processes. Maddaloni is now building upon this work by elucidating the molecular identity of these neurons and deciphering how they interpret and disseminate information to coordinate organism-wide responses. His goal is to pinpoint a master brain hub crucial for accurate circadian and seasonal adjustments, alongside molecular and circuit pathways with significant translational therapeutic potential.
Silvi Rouskin
“Revealing Human Riboswitches Through High Throughput Detection and Analysis”
Assistant professor of microbiology, HMS.
Credit: Gretchen Ertl
Riboswitches are dynamic RNA structures regulating various metabolic pathways in simpler organisms. Their absence in humans is likely attributable to the technical challenges of research. Uncovering human riboswitches could unveil new therapeutic avenues for metabolic disorders and reshape our comprehension of gene expression regulation. Silvi Rouskin has already pinpointed promising riboswitch candidates, and her distinctive integration of techniques…of experimental and computational methodologies positions her group advantageously to make this crucial revelation — possibly uncovering an earlier unrecognized tier of gene regulation within human cells. This discovery would bridge a significant gap in our understanding of cellular biology and create new opportunities for medical investigation and pharmaceutical innovation.
Shriya Srinivasan
“Approachable Neurotechnology and Human-Machine Interaction”
Assistant professor of bioengineering, SEAS.
Eliza Grinnell/SEAS
Implantable neurotechnologies offer the potential for treating muscular disorders and are anticipated to transition into consumer technology within the next 10 to 15 years. However, the considerable invasiveness necessary for device implantation will restrict accessibility and worsen disparities in treatment and capabilities. Shriya Srinivasan seeks to render neurotechnology scalable and attainable by designing neurostimulation devices that can be accurately implanted via a single skin injection. Initial prototypes in rats have shown that Srinivasan’s laboratory can detect high-resolution neural signals and stimulate specific muscles for precise motor control. The system can activate muscles to deliver sensory feedback about the movement of a prosthesis or robotic device, enhance strength in weakened muscles, and potentially transmit intricate physical information through the body’s neural processing pathways. The implications of Srinivasan’s initiative are considerable for managing neuromuscular disorders, examining human sensorimotor performance, and progressing consumer technology.
Melanie Weber
“Geometry-aware Foundation Models for Scientific Machine Learning”
Artificial intelligence is transforming scientific inquiry, with foundation models facilitating advances that could tackle issues like climate change or presently untreatable illnesses. Nevertheless, challenges remain: Foundation models necessitate vast amounts of training data and hefty computational resources, creating hurdles when the data is either costly or scarce. For instance, a foundation model intended for weather prediction might require training on millions of data points to yield reliable outcomes. Incorporating data geometry, including symmetries derived from fundamental principles of physics, could greatly minimize the data and resources required by equipping the model with insights it can use to prevent expending resources on exploring scenarios that we know cannot exist. Melanie Weber aspires to create geometry-informed models that harmonize the advantages of existing geometric frameworks and generalized foundation models, resulting in models that are both resource-efficient and relevant across a wide spectrum of scientific challenges.