Obama will confer the award at the White House.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, an Indian American professor at Harvard Medical School, will be presented with the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama.
Jain, who is also the director of tumor biology laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, has a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT-Kanpur. He, along with 16 other winners will receive the honor at a White House ceremony early next month.
The White House on Tuesday described the medals as “our nation’s highest honours for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology.”
Obama said in a statement: “Science and technology are fundamental to solving some of our nation’s biggest challenges.”
He added, “The knowledge produced by these Americans today will carry our country’s legacy of innovation forward and continue to help countless others around the world. Their work is a testament to American ingenuity.”
The annual National Medal of Science award, recognized since 1959, is given to individuals for their contribution to the field of science and engineering.
Jain is regarded as a pioneer in the area of tumour micro-environment and widely recognized for his seminal discoveries in tumor biology, drug delivery, in vivo imaging, bioengineering, and bench-to-bedside translation.
Jain is a mentor of more than 200 master’, doctoral and postdoctoral students from over a dozen branches. As of now he has received 75 awards from institutions and organizations for his contribution to engineering and medical field.
Jain is a member of all three branches of the US National Academies – the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences – and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1 Comment
It is matter of great honour for everyone(Past and present Teachers and Students) associated with Govt Model High School Jabalpur, India that Pass out of 1966 batch Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, an Indian American professor at Harvard Medical School, will be presented with the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama.
Our heartiest congratulations to Dr Rakesh. We all are proud of his being a Modelian.
Our best wishes to him for many more achievements.