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.
2025 A.V. Balakrishnan Early Career Award Recipient
The Viterbi School of Engineering, following the recommendation of the Award’s Committee, is honored to announce Professor Vasilis Syrgkanis of Stanford University as the 2025 winner of the A.V. Balakrishnan Award for Scientific Excellence in Research.
Professor Syrgkanis will present an in-person lecture in October 2025 at the University Park Campus, USC, as part of his acceptance of the award. Please stay tuned for more information regarding the Awards Ceremony.
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.
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.
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 and/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.
2024 A.V. Balakrishnan Research Award Ceremony
Ming Hsieh Boardroom, Ronald Tutor Hall University Park Campus
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024
Honoring the 2024 Research Award recipient, Dr. Earl H. Dowell.
See all of the 2024 Balakrishnan Awards event photos here.
Deadlines for Nomination and References
Early Career Award March 15, odd-numbered years
Research Award March 15, even-numbered years
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