Dr. Paula Moraga, Assistant Professor at CEMSE, received the Letten Prize earlier this year. The prize is awarded biennially to researchers under the age of 45 for their “contributions to the fields of health, development, environment and equality in all aspects of human life”. She is the third winner since the prize’s inception in 2018. Dr. Moraga was recognized for her groundbreaking work that enables the early detection of epidemics worldwide through the development of innovative and cost-effective disease surveillance systems.

Dr. Moraga was the unanimous winner of among 164 applicants. In addition to Dr. Moraga, KAUST Associate Professor Peiying Hong was one of the five finalists.

Ultimately, Dr. Moraga is motivated by having her research impact public health.

“I would like to provide national health organizations with comprehensive tools that empower them to utilize their data to make better-informed decisions effectively. KAUST has provided me with extraordinary opportunities and facilities that have allowed me to advance my research in spatial statistics and data science to address important challenges in public health,” she said.

The prize comes with 2.5 million Norwegian krone ($235,000), the majority of which is designated for research use.

Learn more about Dr. Moraga and why she earned the prize here.