Associate Professor Shwetak Patel is one of three from UW to be honored with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The other two recipients are department collaborators David Masiello, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, and Luke Zettlemoyer, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The award, given to 150 honorees, is the most prestigious honor the U.S. government presents to early career scientists and engineers.
Established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, the award honors researchers for pursuing innovative research while also demonstrating a commitment to community service through community outreach and leadership.
An expert in developing new sensing systems, Shwetak directs the UbiComp Lab at UW. He was nominated for the award by the National Science Foundation for his research to develop sensor systems that are low-cost, easy to use, and enable people to monitor and control energy consumption.
According to the White House announcement, “These early-career scientists are leading the way in our efforts to confront and understand challenges from climate change to our health and wellness,” President Obama said. “We congratulate these accomplished individuals and encourage them to continue to serve as an example of the incredible promise and ingenuity of the American people.”
The honorees will accept their awards at an upcoming ceremony in spring 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to Shwetak, David and Luke!
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