Prineha Narang named Moore Inventor Fellow

Prineha Narang, Assistant Professor of Computational Materials Science at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has been named one of five 2018 Moore Inventor Fellows this year by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The Moore Inventor Fellows program supports early-career scientist-inventors working on innovative projects with the potential to bring about significant change. Since its inception in 2016, the foundation has supported early-career scientist-inventors at a critical stage of research, by giving them the resources and freedom to test out their ideas. Each fellow receives a total of $825,000 over three years to drive their invention forward, including $50,000 per year from their home institution.

“Gordon Moore had a deep passion for science and invention," said Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. "It was this purpose and drive that helped fuel the digital revolution and provided part of the rich history of science and invention at the core of Silicon Valley. These young inventors show great promise for creating positive outcomes for future generations.”

Narang, who joined the SEAS faculty in 2017, was chosen for her research pioneering new states of matter created when light interacts with materials. This work merges fundamental concepts in nonequilibrium physics with quantum engineering.

“We’re building a tiny quantum sensor, using novel and previously unexplored interaction mechanisms between light and molecules. I’m in awe of how much we could leverage advances in quantum technologies in our daily lives. The space to intersect with environmental conservation and patient care is massive,” said Narang.

Earlier this year, Narang was named to MIT Technology Review’s 2018 Innovators Under 35 and a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, both in recognition and support of her work in quantum science and engineering.