Gabe Kwong, assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory, and a researcher in the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, is one of only 82 people selected to participate at the 2017 US Frontiers of Engineering symposium.

The symposium, organized by the National Academy of Engineering, gathers what the academy calls “exceptional” engineers from 30 to 45 years old to facilitate “cross-disciplinary exchange and promote the transfer of new techniques and approaches across fields in order to sustain and build U.S. innovative capacity.”

“The Frontiers of Engineering program brings together a particularly talented group of young engineers whose early-careers span different technical areas, perspectives and experiences,” said NAE President C. D. Mote, Jr. “But when they come together in this program, their mutual excitement is palpable, and a process of creating long-term benefits to society is often initiated.”

It’s a highly competitive and prestigious invitation, according to the National Academy of Engineering news release about the event.

“It is a privilege to be selected to join the Frontiers of Engineering Symposium,” said Kwong. “I am excited about the opportunity to interact with the brightest young minds within the engineering community, and exchange ideas across seemingly disparate disciplines.”

For 2017, the symposium will focus on the latest advances in four areas: mega-tall buildings and other future places of work, unraveling the complexity of the brain, energy strategies to power our future, and machines that teach themselves.

Kwong’s own research program is conducted at the interface of engineering and immunology. He and his multidisciplinary team develop nanotechnologies that interact with immune cells, enabling new applications in biomedical diagnostics and cell-based therapies. He has ten issued or pending patents and has launched one startup company.

“I often remind my lab that as bioengineers, we need to develop fluency in multiple academic languages before we can begin to innovate solutions to the most important problems in society” said Kwong. “I aim to bring my unique background in the physical and life sciences, and entrepreneurship to the fold.”

Invited participants for 2017 include three Georgia Tech assistant professors, as well as rising stars from organizations like Google, DARPA, 3M, IBM research labs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and others.

The 2017 US Frontiers of Engineering program will be hosted by United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, Conn., September 25-27.

Media Contact:

Walter Rich

Communications Manager

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering