Shyam Gollakota, a computer science professor at the University of Washington and founder of a health tech startup in Seattle, was awarded $100,000 as one of six researchers recognized by the Infosys Science Foundation. The award, organized by the charitable arm of Indian company Infosys, acknowledged Gollakota in the field of engineering and computer science. Although he was surprised to receive the award, Gollakota’s research covers a wide range of areas such as wireless technology, battery-free devices, WiFi sensing, medical diagnostics, and more. He leads the Mobile Intelligence Lab at the University of Washington and has co-founded two startups focusing on health tech.
One of Gollakota’s startups, Sound Life Sciences, developed an app for monitoring breathing that was acquired by Google in 2022. He is also the co-founder of Wavely Diagnostics, a company that uses a smartphone app to detect ear infections. Recently, Gollakota has been working on a headphone prototype that uses artificial intelligence to create a “sound bubble” and can determine the distance of each sound source in a room. He plans to utilize the award money from the Infosys Prize to help commercialize this technology. Gollakota believes that by creating a symbiosis between humans, hardware, and AI, they can develop advanced capabilities like sound bubbles that have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people with hearing loss.
The Infosys Prize, established in 2008, is awarded to Indian researchers and innovators in various fields including economics, engineering & computer science, humanities & social science, life sciences, mathematical sciences, and physical sciences. Researchers based outside of India are required to spend 30 days at a host institute in India. Previously, the award for computer science was given to a U.S. recipient in 2020. Starting this year, the Infosys Prize is limited to winners under 40 years of age, highlighting the achievements of younger researchers and innovators in their respective fields.
Gollakota’s work on creating cutting-edge technologies that integrate AI with hardware has garnered recognition in the scientific community, leading to his selection for the Infosys Prize. His focus on developing innovative solutions for healthcare through startups like Sound Life Sciences and Wavely Diagnostics demonstrates his commitment to using technology to improve people’s lives. By advancing research in areas such as wireless tech, medical diagnostics, and AI-powered headphones, Gollakota continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fields of engineering and computer science.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Gollakota also leads the Mobile Intelligence Lab at the University of Washington, where he mentors students and researchers in exploring new ideas and technologies. His contributions to academia and industry have cemented his reputation as a leading figure in the field of computer science. Through his research and innovative projects, Gollakota is dedicated to creating solutions that address real-world challenges and improve the well-being of individuals around the world. The award from the Infosys Prize recognizes his significant contributions to the field and his potential to continue driving impactful change through his work.
