At Crest & Fest, awarding exceptional research and exceptional community spirit
Haotian Cheng and Ethen Lund were honored Thursday for their outstanding work as graduate students by Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science Dean Jeffrey Brock at the School’s annual Crest & Fest celebration.
The 2025 Henry Prentiss Becton Graduate Prize, which comes with a certificate and $500 and is awarded for exceptional achievement in research, went to Haotian Cheng.
“That's basically the entire alphabet soup of prestigious research funding!” Brock joked in his presentation.
Yale Engineering Dean Jeffrey Brock
Cheng joined Professor Peter Rakich's research group in 2019. Not only did he exceed expectations, he's been described as a "once-in-a-decade talent" with an unusual combination of maturity, intellect, creativity, and vision. Described by his professors as a "theoretical and experimental powerhouse" who can both conceptualize brilliant ideas and bring them to life in the lab, Cheng played a leadership role six different research projects funded by federal agencies, including ARPA-e, NASA, NSF, AFOSR, DARPA, and DoE.
“That's basically the entire alphabet soup of prestigious research funding!” Brock joked in his presentation.
Cheng, who has begun working for Apple as a silicon photonics/optics engineer, has had numerous research breakthroughs during his time at Yale. These include:
- A first-of-its-kind non-magnetic optical isolator that solves a critical problem in integrated photonics. This breakthrough was so significant it was recently published in Nature Photonics.
- A new type of ultra-low noise laser that serves as the basis for ultra-precision clock technologies.
- An innovative circuit interface that extends the use of ultra-stable cavities for photonic circuit technologies.
“But what truly sets Ethen apart is his extraordinary commitment to building community,” Brock said.
Yale Engineering Dean Jeffrey Brock
Lund won the Harding Bliss Prize, which consists of an engraved silver bowl and is awarded each year to the student who has completed their Ph.D. thesis during the current academic year and has done the most to further the intellectual life of the department.
Lund completed his Ph.D. thesis, "Ductility and Deformation in Bulk Metallic Glass" under the guidance of Professor Jan Schroers. His research on metallic glasses has taken him to internships at Apple's materials recovery division and Commonwealth Fusion System, where he helped design new materials for energy fusion.
“But what truly sets Ethen apart is his extraordinary commitment to building community,” Brock said.
As part of the Graduate Engineering Community Organization (GECO), Lund helped organize tailgates for the Yale-Harvard football game, and numerous other events that draw an ever-growing community well beyond engineering.
As the driving force behind the realization of the Mann Center, a student center for all engineering students, Lund created a vital space for connection, innovation, and collaboration. In addition to being a hang-out spot for students, it’s been the site of many department coffee hours, mentorship events, GECO TGIFs, and Engineering Hoodie Day.
Lund established the MEMS Peer Mentor program that pairs incoming graduate students with current student mentors – a program that has proven invaluable for new students navigating graduate life. He also served as a Tsai CITY Fellow, as a Yale Engineering AGLP Fellow, and has regularly represented Yale at Ivy League-wide research symposiums.
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Published Date
May 15, 2025
