The MIT School of Engineering and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk have announced the launch of a multi-year program to support postdoctoral fellows conducting research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and data science with life sciences. life. He MIT-Novo Nordisk artificial intelligence Postdoctoral Fellows Program will welcome its first cohort of up to 10 postdocs for a two-year period this fall. The program will provide up to $10 million for an annual cohort of up to 10 postdocs for two-year terms.
“Research being conducted at the intersection of ai and life sciences has the potential to transform healthcare as we know it,” said Anantha Chandrakasan, dean of the College of Engineering and Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical and Engineering Engineering. Computing. “I am delighted that the MIT-Novo Nordisk Program supports early-career researchers working in this space.”
The launch of the MIT-Novo Nordisk Program coincides with the celebration of Novo Nordisk’s centennial. The company was founded in 1923 and treated its first patients with insulin, newly discovered in March of that year.
“The use of ai in the healthcare industry presents a huge opportunity to improve the lives of people living with chronic diseases,” said Thomas Senderovitz, senior vice president of data science at Novo Nordisk. “Novo Nordisk is committed to developing new and innovative solutions, and MIT is home to some of the most prominent researchers in this field. “Therefore, we are excited to support postdocs working at the forefront of ai and life sciences.”
The MIT-Novo Nordisk program will support postdocs advancing the use of ai in life sciences and health. Postdocs will join an annual cohort that participates in frequent events and meetings. The group will meet periodically to exchange ideas about their work and discuss ways to amplify their impact.
“We are excited to welcome postdocs working in artificial intelligence, data science, healthcare, and life sciences, research areas of strategic importance across MIT,” adds Chandrakasan.
A central focus of the program will be to offer mentorship and professional development opportunities to postdocs. Fellows will be invited to entrepreneurship-focused workshops that allow them to learn from business founders, venture capitalists, and other business leaders. Fellows will also have the opportunity to receive mentorship from experts in life sciences and data science.
“MIT is always exploring opportunities to innovate and improve the postdoctoral experience,” adds MIT Provost Cynthia Barnhart. “The MIT-Novo Nordisk Program has been carefully designed to present fellows with a wealth of experiences, skill sets, and perspectives that support their professional growth while prioritizing a sense of community with their cohort.”
Angela Belcher, head of the Department of Biological Engineering, the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and Asu Ozdaglar, academic vice dean of the MIT Schwarzman School of Computing and head from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will act as co-faculty leaders of the program.
The new program complements an independent postdoctoral fellowship program at MIT supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation that focuses on enabling technology-2023/”>interdisciplinary research.
