Exciting New Faculty Join the School of Science in 2024 | PRIMENEWSNOW

MIT School of Science Welcomes New Faculty in 2024

In 2024, the School of Science at MIT proudly introduced 11 new faculty members, each bringing unique expertise and research interests to the institution.

Exploring Symplectic Topology: Shaoyun Bai

Shaoyun Bai delves into symplectic topology, focusing on the properties of even-dimensional spaces and their two-dimensional surfaces. His work intersects with fields like algebraic geometry and dynamics, developing innovative tools for moduli space counting problems. These tools address classical issues such as the Arnold conjecture and Hamiltonian map periodic points.

Bai completed his undergraduate degree at Tsinghua University in 2017 and earned his PhD from Princeton University in 2022 under John Pardon’s guidance. He has held positions at the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute and Columbia University before joining MIT as an assistant professor in 2024.

Abigail Bodner: Unraveling Ocean Turbulence

Abigail Bodner investigates upper ocean turbulence using advanced techniques like remote sensing and machine learning. Her research examines how small-scale turbulence affects large-scale climate patterns.

Bodner holds a BS and MS from Tel Aviv University and an MS in applied mathematics from Brown University. She completed her PhD in 2021 and was a Simons Society Junior Fellow at NYU before joining MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences in 2024.

Jacopo Borga: Bridging Probability and Combinatorics

Jacopo Borga focuses on probability theory and its ties to combinatorics and mathematical physics. His research includes studying random structures like graphs and permutations, exploring phenomena such as random permutons and Liouville quantum gravity.

Borga earned his degrees from the Università degli Studi di Padova and Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, completing his PhD at Universität Zürich. He was an assistant professor at Stanford before joining MIT in 2024.

Linlin Fan: Decoding Neural Learning and Memory

Linlin Fan aims to understand the neural codes behind learning and memory. Her research focuses on brain circuit learning rules and how memories are encoded, using cutting-edge optical technologies.

Fan completed her PhD at Harvard University after studying at Peking University. She joined MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the Picower Institute in January 2024, following postdoctoral work at Stanford.

Whitney Henry: Investigating Ferroptosis in Cancer

Whitney Henry explores ferroptosis, a form of cell death linked to iron, to understand its role in cancer. Her work focuses on lipid metabolism and iron homeostasis, aiming to manipulate ferroptosis resistance in cancer therapy.

Henry received her bachelor’s from Grambling State University and her PhD from Harvard. She worked at the Whitehead Institute before joining MIT’s Department of Biology in 2024.

Gian Michele Innocenti: Advancing Quantum Chromodynamics

Gian Michele Innocenti is an experimental physicist studying quantum chromodynamics through heavy-ion collisions. He leads the MIT Pixel𝜑 program, developing high-precision detectors for the Electron-Ion Collider.

Innocenti earned his PhD from the University of Turin and joined MIT in 2014 as a postdoc. He became an assistant professor in the Department of Physics in 2024.

Christoph Kehle: Exploring the Universe’s Mysteries

Christoph Kehle focuses on analysis, geometry, and partial differential equations, particularly the Einstein field equations. His research addresses cosmic censorship and black hole dynamics.

Kehle studied at Ludwig Maximilian University and the University of Cambridge, earning his PhD in 2020. He joined MIT’s Department of Mathematics in July 2024.

Aleksandr Logunov: Innovating in Harmonic Analysis

Aleksandr Logunov specializes in harmonic and geometric analysis, solving longstanding problems like Yau’s conjecture. His work focuses on the zeros of partial differential equations.

Logunov completed his PhD at St. Petersburg State University and held positions at Tel Aviv University and Princeton. He joined MIT as a full professor in 2024.

Lyle Nelson: Tracing Earth’s Geological History

Lyle Nelson studies sedimentary geology to understand life’s evolution and environmental changes. His research examines tectonic influences on climate and the evolution of early life.

Nelson earned his degree from Harvard and completed his PhD at Johns Hopkins. He joined MIT’s EAPS faculty in 2024 after teaching at Carleton University.

Sergey Ovchinnikov: Modeling Protein Evolution

Sergey Ovchinnikov uses advanced computational methods to study protein evolution. His work aims to create a unified model of protein changes over time.

Ovchinnikov received his PhD from the University of Washington and was a fellow at Harvard before joining MIT’s Department of Biology in 2024.

Shu-Heng Shao: Unveiling Quantum Field Theories

Shu-Heng Shao explores quantum field theories, focusing on non-invertible symmetries. His research impacts the understanding of quantum matter phases.

Shao earned his PhD from Harvard and was a member at the Institute for Advanced Study. He joined MIT’s Department of Physics in 2024.