Winners of the 2026 Demetriades - Tsafka - Kokkalis Prize Announced
The Demetriades - Tsafka - Kokkalis Prize is awarded annually to PhD candidates selected for the best thesis, publication, or discovery in select fields.
Ramon Gao, advised by Professor Harry A. Atwater has received the prize in Nanotechnology or Related Fields. His research explores how lightsail membranes, propelled by laser radiation pressure, could enable fly-by missions to exoplanets within a human lifetime, using multiphysics simulations, nanofabrication, and optomechanical characterization.
Marion Pang, advised by Professor Michael Roukes and Professor Tsui-Fen Chou has received the prize in Biotechnology or Related Fields. Her research focuses on developing high-sensitivity single-cell and spatial proteomics workflows, integrating nanoscale microfluidics, laser capture microdissection, and quantitative mass spectrometry to resolve protein-level heterogeneity across individual cells and tissue regions in diverse biological contexts, from development to disease.
Chris Yeh, advised by Professor Yisong Yue and Professor Adam Wierman has received the prize in Environmentally Benign Renewable Energy Sources. His research focuses on codesigning uncertainty quantification algorithms with decision-making objectives to derive rigorous reliability guarantees for AI systems in real-world energy and sustainability systems.
Claire Chen, Lei Lei, and Jiabao (Sean) Xiao have received the prize in Entrepreneurship or Related Fields for developing Haggle, an AI negotiator built for buyers that provides real-time strategic advice to secure fair deals on everything from everyday retail to high-stakes salary contracts.
