Sophia Tang (ENG’27, W’27), a Wharton School student and undergraduate researcher in Penn Engineering, has been named a recipient of the Computer Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award. The award — presented by CRA to recognize exceptional research accomplishments and future leadership potential in computing — is widely regarded as the highest honor for undergraduate computer science students.
Tang conducts research in the lab of Penn Engineering Assistant Professor Pranam Chatterjee, where she develops theoretical foundations for generative artificial intelligence systems applied to biological design. Her work focuses on building machine-learning models that can reason about complex biological systems. Applications range from therapeutic peptide design to unified modeling of protein and cellular dynamics.
“Research is often a nondeterministic path, but receiving this award is a meaningful signal to myself and my family that I’m on the right track,” Tang says. “I’m grateful to the mentors who encouraged me to pursue independent ideas early on, and excited to continue exploring how theoretical machine learning and generative models can unlock new possibilities in biology.”
By Melissa Pappas
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Posted: March 6, 2026
