The Tata Center for Technology and Design, part of the MIT Energy Initiative, has named three new fellows this fall to conduct science and technology research with real-world applications in developing countries. The Tata Fellowship provides MIT graduate and PhD students with experiences abroad that inform their ongoing research to catalyze positive social impact in resource-constrained communities. This new cohort is focused on addressing public health and developing cost-effective medical solutions.
Anku Rani
As a PhD student in the MIT Media Lab, Anku Rani is working on human-centered multimodal artificial intelligence (AI). Her research focuses on breaking health-related socio-cultural myths, aiming to replace dangerous traditional remedies with accurate medical information. She is developing AI technologies that adapt medical advice to be culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible for rural Indian villages, using multimodal approaches that modify language, speech, and gestures to ensure health information resonates with local communities.
Madison Reddie
Madison Reddie, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is focusing on increasing global health equity by developing medical devices for low- and middle-income countries. She is currently working with partners in India and East Africa to create a low-cost, non-invasive, consumable-free test for diabetes. This work will help some of the 370 million people with undiagnosed diabetes get treatment and lead longer, healthier lives.
Shrihari Viswanath
Shrihari Viswanath is a PhD student at the MIT Media Lab, exploring solutions for pressing healthcare challenges. Working with Canan Dagdeviren, the LG Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, Viswanath is developing medical sensing and imaging systems rooted in electronic design and signal processing. His current research centers on a cost-effective volumetric (3D) ultrasound imaging platform for operator-independent breast cancer screening. Viswanath hopes that his work can help build a strong network to support future deployment, anticipate potential challenges, and advance solutions that improve accessibility, safeguard privacy, and ultimately reduce breast cancer mortality.