Best Paper & Best Invention Awards
Each year, the Laboratory recognizes a paper accepted for publication in a major journal and an invention awarded a patent or technology disclosure. The papers are chosen for their technical depth and original thinking, and the inventions are selected for their ingenuity and impact on a real-world problem.
2024 Best Paper Award Recipient
3D Printing of Composite Radiation Shielding for Broad Spectrum Protection of Electronic Systems, written by Avery M. Rosh‐Gorsky, Austin Coon, Devon Beck, Richard P. D'Onofrio, Quinn Binney, Isaiah Queen, Dr. Andrea O. Barney, Robert J. Longton, Dr. Ashley C. Long, Dr. Pascale M. Gouker, Keri A. Ledford, Dr. Melissa A. Smith, and Dr. Bradley P. Duncan, with co-authors Ethan Cascio (Massachusetts General Hospital) and Ksenofon Konomi (University of Massachusetts Lowell), and published in Advanced Materials, vol. 36, no. 33, 2024.
2024 Best Invention Award Recipient
High-Density Fiber-Optic Packaging for Cryogenic Applications, invented by Dr. William J. Nowak Jr., Dr. John D. Cummings Jr., Dr. P. Ben Dixon, Ryan P. Murphy, and Dr. David J. Starling.
Past Recipients
Best Paper Award
2023
A Wide-Area Deep Ocean Floor Mapping System: Design and Sea Tests, written by Paul S. Ryu, David D. Brown, Kevin D. Arsenault, Dr. Byung Gu Cho, and Dr. Andrew I. March, with co-authors Dr. Wael H. Ali, Dr. Aaron Charous, and Prof. Pierre F.J. Lermusiaux, all of MIT, and published in Geomatics, vol. 3, no. 1, 2023, pp. 290–311.
2022
Adversary Safety by Construction in a Language of Cryptographic Protocols, written by Dr. Timothy M. Braje, Dr. Martine M. Kalke, Alice R. Lee (Technische Universität Wien), Andrew Wagner (Northeastern University), Benjamin Kaiser (Princeton University), Daniel Park (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Dr. Robert K. Cunningham (University of Pittsburgh), and Prof. Adam Chlipala (MIT), and published in Proceedings of the 2022 IEEE 35th Computer Security Foundations Symposium, August 2022.
2021
Cavity-enhanced microwave readout of a solid-state spin sensor, written by Erik R. Eisenach, Dr. John F. Barry, Dr. Michael O’Keeffe, Dr. Jennifer M. Schloss, Dr. Matthew H. Steinecker, MIT Prof. Dirk R. Englund, and Dr. Danielle A. Braje, and published in Nature Communications, Volume 12, March 2021.
2020
Operation of an Optical Atomic Clock with a Brillouin Laser Subsystem, written by William Loh, Jules Stuart, David Reens, Colin Bruzewicz, Danielle Braje, John Chiaverini, Paul Juodawlkis, Jeremy Sage, and Robert McConnell, and published in Nature, Volume 588, December 2020.
2019: Discovering the Smallest Observed Near-Earth Objects with the Space Surveillance Telescope
2018: Creating Synthetic Radar Imagery Using Convolutional Neural Networks
2017: Large-Format Geiger-Mode Avalanche Photodiode Arrays and Readout Circuits
2016: Microhydraulic Electrowetting Actuators
2015: Broadband Magnetometry and Temperature Sensing with a Light-Trapping Diamond Waveguide and Multi-Aperture Digital Coherent Combining for Next-Generation Optical Communication Receivers
2014: A Neural Network Retrieval Technique for High-Resolution Profiling of Cloudy Atmospheres
2013: Reciprocity-Enhanced Optical Communication Through Atmospheric Turbulence — Part I: Reciprocity Proofs and Far-Field Power Transfer Optimization and Part II: Communication Architectures and Performance
2012: Enhancing Large Urban Photo Collections with 3D Ladar and GIS Data
2011: Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Therapeutics
2010: High-Pitch Formant Estimation by Exploiting Temporal Change of Pitch
2009: Airspace Encounter Models for Estimating Collision Risk
Best Invention Award
2023
Engineered Substrates for Rapid Advanced Imaging Sensor Development, invented by Dr. Kevin K. Ryu, Dr. Brian F. Aull, Joseph S. Ciampi, Renee D. Lambert, Dr. Christopher W. Leitz, K. Alexander McIntosh, Steven Rabe, Dr. Daniel R. Schuette, and David Volfson.
2022
System and Technique for Influence Estimation on Social Media Networks Using Causal Inference, invented by Dr. Steven T. Smith, Dr. Edward K. Kao, Dr. Danelle C. Shah, and Dr. Olga Simek. The team also includes co-inventor Professor Donald Rubin from Harvard University.
Stretchable Knitted Cell Scaffolds, invented by Dr. Steven R. Gillmer, Erin Doran, Emily Holtzman, and Ariel M. Sandberg. The team also includes co-inventor Professor Ming Guo from MIT.
2021
AI-Guided Ultrasound Intervention Device (AI-GUIDE), invented by Dr. Laura J. Brattain; Dr. Lars A. Gjesteby; Matthew R. Johnson; Dr. Brian A. Telfer; Nancy D. DeLosa; Joshua S. Werblin; Dr. Theodore Pierce, MD; and Dr. Anthony Samir, MD
Ferrimagnetic Oscillator Magnetometer, invented by Dr. John F. Barry, Reed A. Irion, Dr. Daniel K. Freeman, Dr. Matthew H. Steinecker, Jessica J. Kedziora, and Dr. Danielle A. Braje
2020
Electrospray Device and Fabrication Methods, invented by Melissa Smith, Donna-Ruth Yost, Noah Siegel, Daniel Freeman, and Paulo Lozano
2019: Noncontact Laser Ultrasound for Medical Imaging and Elastography; and Timely Randomization Applied to Commodity Executables at Runtime
2018: Advanced DNA Forensics System
2017: Field-Programmable Imaging Array; and Toroidal Propeller
2016: Photonic Integrated Resonant Accelerometer; and Substrate Containing Latent Vaporization Reagents
2015: Rapid and Precise Optically Multiplexed Imaging
2014: Offshore Precipitation Capability
2013: Digital Readout Method and Apparatus (better known as the Digital-Pixel Focal Plane Array)
2012: SHAMROCK: Self-Contained High-Assurance MicRO Crypto and Key-Management Processor
2011: External-Cavity One-Dimensional Multi-wavelength Beam Combining of Two-Dimensional Laser Elements
2010: Liquid Crystal Thermal Imagers
2009: Multi-element Optical Detectors with Sub-wavelength Gaps