Indian origin and Graduate Avani Ahuja received the prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar Award. The honor is one of the college’s highest recognitions for undergraduate engineering students and recognizes academic excellence, leadership and future prospects. While at MIT, Ahuja conducted research in power electronics, robotics, and women’s health technology. She also received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2025. This fall, she will begin a PhD in power electronics at MIT, where she plans to explore applications in healthcare and women’s health research.
Avani Ahuja receives one of MIT’s highest engineering honors
The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is awarded to a senior undergraduate student who demonstrates academic excellence and strong leadership potential in engineering and social fields.The award makes Ahuja one of a select group of MIT students recognized not only for their academic performance but also for their potential to make significant contributions to the engineering profession.Speaking about the honour, Ahuja said: “I am extremely honored and delighted to receive this award. It was a special honor to meet Dean Hammond.”
Help award-winning research
Ahuja’s undergraduate career was marked by research across multiple engineering disciplines.Her recent work in the Coday research group has focused on capacitive wireless power transfer. The technology could eventually be used to wirelessly charge electric vehicles and power implantable medical devices.She also conducted robotics research under the guidance of Professor Sangbae Kim, whose laboratory is known for advanced legged and bionic robots.Ahuja describes research as one of the defining aspects of her experience at MIT.“My most significant experiences at MIT include participating in research, whether it was women’s health research under Professor Canan Dagdeviren, robotics research at the MIT Media Lab under Professor Sangbae Kim, or power electronics research under Professor Samantha Coday.”Her ability to work in health care technology, robotics, and electrical engineering has helped her become one of MIT’s most accomplished undergraduate researchers.
Her work in women’s health technology
One of Ahuja’s areas of greatest interest is women’s health research.She collaborates with Professor Canan Dagdeviren of the MIT Media Lab to contribute to projects focused on women in medical technology.Her research includes work on wearable breast ultrasound patches designed to make breast cancer screening more accessible, according to MIT.This experience inspired her long-term goal of applying engineering innovation to healthcare challenges.“I hope to one day apply power electronics to women’s health research after completing my PhD,” she said.
Goldwater scholarship added to her growing list of accomplishments
Prior to receiving the Henry Ford II Scholar Award, Ahuja was selected as a 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholar.This scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards in the United States in science, engineering, and mathematics. Only a few hundred students nationwide are selected each year.This recognition highlights her research achievements and her potential as a future engineer and researcher.
What’s next for Avani Ahuja
This fall, Ahuja will continue her studies as a doctoral student in power electronics in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.Her future work will focus on power electronics while exploring opportunities to apply these technologies to healthcare and medical devices.She has also expressed interest in pursuing a long-term career in research and academia.
Life outside the laboratory
In addition to her engineering studies, Ahuja is actively involved in campus life through programs such as MIT Ohms MIT LIVE and even line dancing classes.“I also really enjoy being involved in extracurricular activities on campus, whether it’s participating in MIT Ohms through MIT LIVE or line dancing classes in the Student Center,” she said.Ahuja also minored in gender studies and credits professors Hafsa Alam and Marla Gubar for broadening her horizons.“As a Gender Studies minor, I have to thank Professors Hafsa Arain and Marah Gubar for providing amazing WGS and CMS courses that truly changed my perspective on the world around me.”
The mentors who shaped her journey
Ahuja credits several mentors and faculty members for supporting her during her time at MIT.She thanked Professors Samantha Coday, Maria Yang and Canan Dagdeviren as well as graduate students Colin Marcus and Sara Fernandez and Associate Dean Kimberly Benard.“I would also like to thank the entire Coday research team for their wonderful support system,” she said.By the time she was ready to begin her Ph.D. program, Ahuja’s accomplishments had already placed her among MIT’s rising young engineers, whose research interests ranged from power electronics robotics to innovations in women’s health care.
