---
title: "Alan T. Waterman Award"
chunk: 3/4
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_T._Waterman_Award"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:11:21.610466+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

2004
Kristi Anseth
For her research at the interface of biology and engineering, resulting in the design of innovative biomaterials that significantly facilitate tissue engineering and regeneration. 2003
Angelika Amon
For her seminal contributions to understanding how cells orchestrate the segregation of their chromosomes during cell division, the key process of life
2002
Erich Jarvis
For his use of gene expression as a tool to map brain functional systems and to identify parts of the brain involved in perceiving, learning and producing vocal communication. 2001
Vahid Tarokh
For the invention of space-time coding techniques that produce dramatic gains in the spectral efficiency of wireless digital communication systems. 2000
Jennifer A. Doudna
For innovative research that led to the development of a technique that facilitates crystallization of large RNA molecules; for determining the crystal structures of catalytic RNA molecules and an RNA molecule that forms the ribonucleo-protein core of the signal recognition particle; and for deciphering structural features of those molecules that permit a greater understanding of the mechanistic basis of RNA function in both catalysis and protein synthesis. 1999
Chaitan Khosla
For his outstanding work in elucidating the mechanisms of enzyme biocatalysis of polyketides, thereby opening an exciting potential route to new drug discovery. 1998
Christopher C. Cummins
For innovative research in transition-metal activation of small molecules, including the discovery of reactions to cleave nitrogen-nitrogen multiple bonds under mild conditions. His revolutionary approach to chemical reactivity has answered key questions and furthered development in catalyst design and nitrogen fixation. 1997
Eric Allin Cornell
For his leading role in the creation of Bose-Einstein condensation in a gas, and for innovations in the manipulation, trapping and cooling of atoms that led to the realization of this new state of matter. 1996
Robert M. Waymouth
For his seminal contributions to the design of well-defined organometallic catalysts for the synthesis of novel polymers, including chiral cyclopolymers and stereoblock polyolefins. The development of catalysts which change their structure as they work has established a new paradigm in the synthesis of block-polymers. 1995
Matthew P.A. Fisher
For his broad and original contributions to the theory of the quantum dynamics of macroscopic systems and quantum phase transitions, specifically his prediction of a vortex glass phase in high temperature superconductors, his studies of the superconductor-insulator transition and is seminal work on quantum transport in Luttinger liquids. 1994
Gang Tian
For his deep understanding and penetrating insights in the field of complex differential geometry, including his solution of the problem of existence of Kähler-Einstein metrics on complex surfaces, his proof that the moduli space for Kähler-Einstein metrics with zero first Chern class is non-singular, and his proof of the stability of algebraic manifolds by using differential geometric methods. 1993
Deborah L. Penry
For her innovative applications of chemical engineering principles and chemical-reactor theory in analysis of the process of digestion in marine invertebrates, filling an important gap in existing ecological theory dealing with animals strategies for acquiring energy and nutrients. Her research is important to understanding the cycling of materials in the sea—in particular the global carbon cycle and global climate change cycles. 1992
Shrinivas R. Kulkarni
For his major contributions to the understanding of diffuse interstellar medium and the physics and evolution of neutron star pulsars and x-ray binary stars. For his leading role in the discovery of fast pulsars, a major new phenomenon, and in the development of optical and radio spatial interferometry. 1991
Herbert Edelsbrunner
For his pioneering research in computational geometry through which he has made fundamental contributions to the theory of computer science and to discrete mathematics. 1990
Mark E. Davis
For his pioneering work in catalytic materials, catalysis, and reaction engineering, including the first synthesis of a molecular sieve with pores larger than 1 nanometer and the invention of supported aqueous-phase catalysts; each of these accomplishments opens up a new and potentially important area in catalytic science and technology, and also has implications for separations technology and environmental control. 1989
Richard H. Scheller
For his work leading to the development of recombinant DNA technologies, and for his current research which has illuminated cellular and molecular mechanisms used to regulate animal behavior. These basic studies will lead to a better understanding of the molecular basis of brain function and should, in the future, help in the understanding of major psychiatric illnesses. 1988
Peter Schultz
For innovative research at the interface of chemistry and biology, both in the development of new approaches for the study of molecular recognition and catalysis and in the application of these studies to the design of selective biological catalysts. 1987
Lawrence H. Summers
For outstanding contributions to economic research on unemployment, taxation of capital, savings behavior and macroeconomic activity. His work combines powerful analytic insights and imaginative econometric methods aimed at subjects of fundamental National importance. 1986
Edward Witten
For path-opening contributions to the physics of elementary particles and gravity, to the search unification, and to the imaginative pursuit of the implications for cosmology. 1985
Jacqueline Barton
For her imaginative and significant work in bioinorganic chemistry. Her use of small inorganic molecules to recognize and modify DNA sites in very specific ways has led to two major discoveries—enantiomeric selectivity in binding to DNA helices of different handedness, and Z-DNA "punctuation" at the end of genes—with important implications for drug design and for the theory of gene expression. 1984
Harvey Friedman
For his revitalization of the foundations of mathematics, his penetrating investigations into the Godel incompleteness phenomena, and his fundamental contributions to virtually all areas of mathematical logic. 1983
Corey S. Goodman (de)
For his contributions to our understanding of the development of the nervous system. His imaginative choice of model systems and modern technologies are enabling him to discover how individual nerve cells acquire their unique identities and interact with the appropriate cells during embryogenesis. 1982
Richard Axel
For devising a novel procedure for introducing virtually any gene into mammalian cells. Gene transfer now permits the analysis of the mechanisms regulating the expression of genes in an appropriate cellular environment. This information is prerequisite to a rational approach towards gene therapy. 1981
W. Clark Still
For showing that fundamental conformational principles can be used in organic synthesis to describe nonrigid molecular arrays and for the design of chemical reactions which use such arrays to control the three-dimensional structure of flexible molecules. 1980
Roy Schwitters
For his contributions to the understanding of the basic structure of matter through experiments that discovered and explored an entirely new collection of subatomic particles. The experiments led to the interpretation of the new particles as being composed of simpler constituents, possessing a new property of matter. 1979
William Thurston
In recognition of his achievements in introducing revolutionary new geometrical methods in the theory of foliations, function theory and topology. 1978
Richard A. Muller
For his original and innovative research, which has led to important                discoveries and inventions in diverse areas of physics, including                astrophysics, radioisotope dating and optics. 1977
J. William Schopf
For his outstanding research on Precambrian biotas. His work on these delicate and ancient fossil microorganisms will contribute significantly to the knowledge of the origin of life and the evolution of the earliest known biotas of the world.