New York City, NY, USA: In a notable achievement, five Indian scientists working at leading U.S. universities have been honored with the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, one of the most prestigious unrestricted prizes for early-career researchers.
At the U.S. National Awards, two Indian-origin scholars were named Finalists, each receiving $15,000. Yogesh Surendranath, Donner Professor of Science at MIT, was recognized in Chemical Sciences, while Prateek Mittal, Professor at Princeton University, earned the honor in Physical Sciences & Engineering.
The Regional Awards for postdoctoral researchers in the New York tri-state area recognized three more Indian scientists. Veena Padmanaban, postdoctoral fellow at Rockefeller University, was named a Laureate in Life Sciences and awarded $30,000. Ipshita Zutshi, postdoctoral fellow at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Viraj Pandya, postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University, were named Finalists in Life Sciences and Physical Sciences & Engineering, respectively, each receiving $10,000.
“These awards celebrate the brightest young minds shaping the future of science and technology,” said Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries and head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
The 2025 Blavatnik Awards received hundreds of nominations across diverse disciplines. Over 300 nominations for the U.S. national program came from 161 institutions across 42 states. The regional competition drew 36 nominations from universities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Finalists and Laureates were selected after careful evaluation by expert juries from the New York Academy of Sciences and senior faculty of leading institutions.
Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of recognizing emerging researchers, stating, “This year’s finalists and laureates exemplify curiosity, persistence, and the promise of science to address global challenges.”
Since its inception in 2007, the Blavatnik Awards have recognized 540 young scientists and distributed nearly $20 million in prizes. The program now operates in the United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom, making it the world’s largest unrestricted cash award for scientists under 42.
Alongside the Indian honorees, the 2025 awards recognized early-career researchers from the U.S. and internationally. In Israel, Laureates Yonatan Stelzer, Benjamin Palmer, and Chaim Garfinkel were honored in embryonic development, biomineralization, and climate science, each receiving $100,000.
For the Indian scientific community, this recognition highlights their growing global visibility. Scholars like Surendranath and Mittal represent the next generation of leaders in chemical catalysis and secure computing, while postdoctoral researchers Padmanaban, Zutshi, and Pandya demonstrate the emerging talent advancing life sciences and engineering.
“Science knows no borders,” Blavatnik added. “Supporting young scientists worldwide ensures that discovery and innovation continue to improve lives globally.”
