Computer sciences, mathematics professors win Sloan Fellowships

Two University of Wisconsin–Madison professors have been selected for Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowships — an honor awarded on a competitive basis to promising young researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Thomas Ristenpart, assistant professor of computer sciences, and Melanie Matchett Wood, assistant professor of mathematics, are among 126 scientists from around the United States who will receive two-year $50,000 fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Ristenpart’s computer security research focuses on cloud computing, cryptography and privacy. Wood’s work is in number theory and algebraic geometry.

“The beginning of one’s career is a crucial time in the life of a scientist. Building a lab, attracting funding in an increasingly competitive environment, and securing tenure all depend on doing innovative, original, high-quality work and having that work recognized,” says Paul L. Joskow, the foundation’s president. “For more than 50 years the Sloan Foundation has been proud to celebrate the achievements of extraordinary young scientists who are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge.”

Sloan Research Fellowships have been awarded since 1955. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York-based not-for-profit philanthropic organization founded in 1934. The foundation makes grants in support of research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and economic performance.