The A.V. ‘Bal’ Balakrishnan Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in the Mathematics of Systems was established by the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) through a generous gift from Mrs. Sophia Balakrishnan honoring the memory of her late husband Professor A. V. ‘Bal’ Balakrishnan, a well-known researcher and Professor in the area of the Mathematics of Systems. There are two awards, an Early Career Award and a Research Award, alternating every other year, with the Early Career Award awarded in odd-numbered years and the Research Award in even-numbered years.
Deadlines for Nomination and References
Early Career Award March 1, odd-numbered years
Research Award March 1, even-numbered years
NOTE: Once you begin filling out this form online you cannot save your progress to finish later. You may download the form as a PDF here to review it beforehand.
Award Areas
Nominees are expected to have made significant contributions in the general area of the Mathematics of Systems which covers a variety of Engineering and Applied Math topics, including but not limited to Controls, Communications, Aerodynamics, Mechanics, Signals, and other related fields. Emphasis will be given on research topic areas in which Professor A.V. ‘Bal’ Balakrishnan worked.
Early Career Award
Given for research work that has been done within 10 years of the awardee’s PhD. The award is based on the work’s potential and promise, as well as the researcher’s career accomplishments or contributions to the field.
The Early Career Award carries an honorarium of $5,000. The Awardee will be required to give a lecture at USC in order to receive the award. The lecture event will be hosted by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
Research Award
This award recognizes outstanding research in any of the aforementioned areas of interest related to Engineering and Applied Math. Also eligible for the award are exceptional researchers in the industry or government.
The Research Award carries an honorarium of $10,000. The Awardee will be required to give a lecture at USC in order to receive the award. The lecture event will be hosted by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
The 2nd Annual A.V. Balakrishnan Awards
Ming Hsieh Boardroom, Ronald Tutor Hall University Park Campus
Tuesday, October 24th, 2023
Honoring the 2023 Early Career Award recipient, Dr. Xudong Chen.
See all of the 2023 Balakrishnan Awards event photos here.
Read about the awards ceremony here.