Two Johns Hopkins biomedical engineering researchers—Jean Fan, an assistant professor, and Casey Taylor, an associate professor—are among nearly 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.
Two Hopkins BME researchers receive Presidential Early Career Awards
January 22, 2025
Jean Fan: Developing computational software to understand health at the cellular level
An assistant professor of biomedical engineering and a faculty member in the university’s Center for Computational Biology, Fan was nominated by the National Science Foundation for her research on how molecular and spatial factors shape cellular identity and diversity.
She directs the JEFworks Lab, which develops new open-source computational software for analyzing spatially resolved omics data that can be tailored and applied to diverse biological systems. By creating new tools to analyze these complex data sets, Fan’s lab is shedding light on how molecular variations between cells influence disease progression and prognosis.
Fan is also the founder, director, and lead software developer for the non-profit organization CuSTEMized, which provides personalized STEM picture storybooks to encourage young girls to see themselves as scientists. Her previous accolades include the Forbes 30 Under 30, the Nature Research Award for Inspiring Science, and the NSF CAREER Award.
Casey Taylor: Advancing data-driven approaches to precision medicine
Taylor, associate professor of biomedical engineering and medicine and associate director of the Institute for Computational Medicine, was recognized for her work that brings together biomedical informatics, biomedical data science, and comparative effectiveness research methods to study effective ways to incorporate digital health technologies into clinical research and clinical care, particularly in delivering guidance for genomic medicine practice.
Taylor’s lab, the Translational Informatics Research and Innovation (TIRI) group, is creating and studying solutions to address challenges to translating biomedical data science-informed guidance into use to improve the health of individuals. Her research focuses on areas in precision medicine such as managing patient care after genomic test results, improving chronic disease management, selecting the best drug treatment, and optimizing postpartum care.
Taylor was nominated for the PECASE by the National Institute of Health, which recognized her in 2020 with its award to support early-career genomics investigators, the NHGRI Genomic Innovator Award, and in 2022 with an Award for Excellence in DEIA Mentorship.
Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our nation’s future.
This year’s awardees are employed or funded by 14 participating agencies within the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency, the intelligence community, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution.