New Science - a look back at 2024
Hi everyone! Long time no see… New Science wants to wish you a (belated) Happy New Year!
We’re incredibly fortunate to have the support of so many minds who share our vision of building new institutions of science. 2024 was a particularly exciting time for us. Here’s a look at what we were up to last year, and some of our intentions for 2025 (and beyond)…
🧠 Fellows
We had 10 new fellows in 2024…
1. Seyone Chithrananda (ML & Proteomics)
Seyone Chithrananda is an undergrad at UC Berkeley studying computer science and bioengineering. His research focuses on computational tools for designing and interpreting biological systems, working on projects like protein evolution and RNA design. He also co-organized the BioML seminar series and led Machine Learning at Berkeley’s research committee, mentoring young researchers and fostering a strong ML community.
2. Katya Osipova (Evolution & Genomics)
Ekaterina Osipova is an evolutionary biologist and postdoc at Harvard University, studying how evolution shapes extreme animal phenotypes. Her research focuses on metabolic and behavioral adaptations, such as how birds evolved to consume large amounts of sugar without adverse health effects, uncovering insights relevant to human diseases.
She combines computational approaches with experiments, exploring topics like positive selection, gene loss, and metabolic adaptations in species like hummingbirds.
3. Samarth Jajoo (ML & Proteomics)
Samarth Jajoo is an undergrad at UC Berkeley studying a mix of computer science, cognitive science, and molecular biology. He works on projects at the intersection of machine learning and biology, developing high-throughput methods for protein engineering and modeling protein conformations.
Samarth has previously worked on tele-operated robotics at Prosper and protein design at Popvax. He’s also contributed to programming education and built tools and side projects blending creativity and utility,
4. Mike Ferguson (Developmental Biology & Tissue Engineering)
Mike Ferguson is an interdisciplinary biologist and engineer dedicated to pioneering advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. By combining insights from stem cell biology, developmental biology and engineering, he focuses on growing human tissues using developmental biology-inspired approaches rather than assembling them artificially.
His innovative work on microfluidic blood vessel technology represents a step toward creating replacement human tissues—and potentially even organs—in the future.
5. Joshua Bauchner (History of Science)
Joshua Bachner is a writer and editor specializing in the history of psychology and physiology. He consults with science and tech businesses on idea generation and systematization, drawing lessons from the history of science. Joshua has written on topics ranging from the scientific importance of walking to modernist housing, and has extensive editorial experience working with authors, museums, and publishers.
6. Theia Vogel (Multi-agent AI & ML Interpretability). In collaboration with Prime Intellect who generously provided compute credits for her research.
Theia Vogel is a programmer and computational linguist working at SecureDNA, developing a system to screen DNA synthesis orders for hazardous material. They are passionate about various side projects including compilers, natural language processing, fiction, and game development. Notable projects include “sortes alearum” (a simulator for an ancient Anatolian oracle), “GPTed” (semantic spellchecking with GPT-3), and various games on vgel.itch.io.
7. Max Shirokawa (Atomic Physics & Open Science)
Max Shirokawa is a graduate student at MIT, working on open source hardware for atomic physics at OpenQuantum. Previously, he has held roles as a research scientist at NTT Research and lead threat investigator at Dropbox, as well as a research intern at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
8. Andy Kong (Human Implants)
Andy Kong is an independent researcher focused on human augmentation, computational photography, and personal informatics. Currently engaged in a “Year of Output,” Andy is passionate about exploring new sensations, training his senses, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with advanced technology. His work combines innovation with a deep interest in challenging existing beliefs and creating transformative technologies.
9. Suspended Reason (Cultural History)
Suspended Reason is an independent researcher and essayist exploring topics like language games, dramaturgy, predictive processing, and cognitive aesthetics. Their work connects philosophy, fashion, and the inexact sciences, with influences from Bourdieu, Schelling, and Goffman. They run the Not Nathing press and the research community Pfeilstorch, focusing on cultural and intellectual intersections.
10. Michael Domarkas (Organoids, Neuroscience, and AI)
Michael Domarkas is a high school student in London researching organoid growth control and computational modeling of membrane electrical simulations. Longer-term, he hopes to combat Alzheimer’s and enhance human intelligence by improving synaptic plasticity.
🗞️ Some 2024 updates on our past fellows and grantees
Adam Green (2022 grantee) has started a biotech company — Markov Bio — working on interpretable biological simulators.
Isaak Freeman (2022 grantee) has become a graduate student in the Boyden Lab at MIT.
Adam Strandberg (2022 grantee) has become a graduate student in the Needleman Lab at Harvard.
Julie Chen (2022 fellow) got the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
Avadhoot Jadhav (2022 fellow) has become a graduate student at Karolinska Institutet.
James Heathers (2022 grantee) was featured in Retraction Watch with his work on science integrity.
Nora Belrose (2023 grantee) was featured in Vox’s Future Perfect 50 list.
Kevin Liu (2023 grantee) has joined OpenAI to work on AGI Preparedness.
Finally, Niko McCarty — our former Head of Media — was featured in Vox’s Future Perfect 50 list, alongside Nora Belrose, got Forbes 30 under 30, and has been driving Asimov Press as its Editor-in-Chief from strength to strength, making it the single best popular biology publication out there.
✍ Publishing
2024 writings on metascience and education from Alexey….
📣 Future
It’s thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors that New Science continues to support exciting projects and thinkers. In 2025, we plan to collaborate with even more brilliant researchers, helping them to push the boundaries of modern science, all towards the ultimate goal of building new institutions of basic science.
If you are interested in taking on a philanthropic role at NS, we’d love to hear from you! Please visit our donation page here or reach out to me directly at alexey@newscience.org.