Kozlowski, Mantena, and Srinivasan Awarded Soros Fellowship for New Americans

PhD students Patryk Kozlowski, Sreekar Mantena, and Swathi R. Srinivasan from Harvard's Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. This merit-based fellowship program, now in its 26th year, honors the achievements and potential of immigrants and children of immigrants across the United States. 

Selected from a competitive pool of 2,617 applicants, Kozlowski, Mantena, and Srinivasan are among 30 individuals to receive this honor, with each recipient allotted up to $90,000 in funding to support their graduate studies. This funding acknowledges their potential to make significant contributions to their respective fields. 

“This year’s class of Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows represents the extraordinary promise of New Americans and the vital role they play in driving innovation, discovery, and progress,” said Craig Harwood, director of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. “We are proud to support these exceptional individuals as they pursue their academic and professional goals.”

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From left to right: Patryk Kozlowski, Sreekar Mantena, and Swathi R. Srinivasan

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Courtesy of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

Patryk Kozlowski, a PhD student in quantum chemistry, has been developing computational tools aimed at accelerating the discovery of materials for next-generation solar panels. Raised in Orange County, California, by Polish immigrant parents, Kozlowski has a profound appreciation for nature and sustainability. His academic journey, marked by overcoming leukemia and a stroke, was supported by revolutionary AI tools like ChatGPT. The fellowship will allow Kozlowski to expand his research in sustainable energy solutions. 

Sreekar Mantena is pursuing a joint MD/PhD in biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School and MIT. Raised in North Carolina by Indian-American parents, Mantena founded the Global Alliance for Medical Innovation and has published extensively on using data science to tackle healthcare disparities. The fellowship empowers Mantena to further integrate machine learning into healthcare delivery, advancing equitable medical innovations. 

Swathi R. Srinivasan is engaged in a PhD program in population health sciences, focusing on the social determinants affecting health outcomes, particularly in substance use and HIV/AIDS populations. Born in Ohio to Indian immigrant parents, Srinivasan combines a keen interest in health equity with public advocacy, having co-founded Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students (HCOPES) to address the growing problem of substance abuse. The fellowship will support her continued efforts in harm reduction and health education for vulnerable communities. 

Since its inception, the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans has provided over $80 million in funding, supporting excellence in a diverse range of fields. This year's program continues its legacy by investing in promising scholars like Kozlowski, Mantena, and Srinivasan. Congratulations to these new fellows from the Harvard Griffin GSAS community! 

The preceding article was conceived, engineered, and edited by Paul Massari. Draft copy generated by GPT 4.0. Information from the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship website was also incorporated into this announcement.