Indian-origin MIT graduate Avni Ahuja has received the prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar Award. The honor is one of the institution’s top honors for undergraduate engineering students and celebrates academic excellence, leadership and future promise. During her tenure at MIT, Ahuja conducted research in power electronics, robotics, and women’s health technologies. He also received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2025. This autumn she will begin her PhD in power electronics at MIT with plans to explore applications in health care and women’s health research.
Avni Ahuja receives one of MIT’s top engineering honors
The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is presented to a senior undergraduate student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and strong leadership potential in engineering and society.The award places Ahuja among a select group of MIT students who are recognized not only for their academic performance but also for their potential to make significant contributions to the engineering profession.Reflecting on the honor, Ahuja said, “I am honored and humbled to receive this award. It was especially an honor to meet Dean Hammond.”
Research that helped earn the award
Ahuja’s undergraduate career was marked by research in several engineering disciplines.His most recent work in the Kode Research Group focused on capacitive wireless power transfer. This technology could eventually be used to wirelessly charge electric vehicles and power implantable medical devices.He also conducted robotics research under Professor Sangbae Kim, whose laboratory is known for advanced legged and bio-inspired robots.Ahuja described research as one of the defining aspects of his MIT experience.“My most important experiences at MIT have included being involved in research, whether it was women’s health research under Professor Canon Dagdeviren in the MIT Media Lab, robotics research under Professor Sangbae Kim, or power electronics research under Professor Samantha Codey.”His ability to work in health care technologies, robotics, and electrical engineering helped establish him as one of MIT’s most accomplished undergraduate researchers.
Her work in women’s health technology
One of Ahuja’s strongest interests is women’s health research.She worked with Professor Canon Dagdeviren at the MIT Media Lab where she contributed to projects focused on medical technologies for women.According to MIT his research included work related to a wearable breast ultrasound patch designed to make breast cancer screening more accessible.The experience inspired his long-term goal of applying engineering innovations to health care challenges.“I hope that one day after completing my PhD, I will be able to apply power electronics to the field of women’s health research,” she said.
The Goldwater Scholarship added to his growing list of accomplishments
Ahuja was selected as a 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholar before receiving the Henry Ford II Scholar Award.The scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious graduate awards in science, engineering and mathematics in the United States. Only a few hundred students are selected across the country each year.This recognition highlighted both his research achievements and his potential as a future engineer and researcher.
What’s next for Avni Ahuja?
Ahuja will remain at MIT this fall as a PhD student in power electronics within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.His future work will focus on power electronics and exploring opportunities to apply those technologies to health care and medical devices.He has also expressed interest in pursuing a long-term career in research and education.
life beyond the laboratory
Along with her engineering studies, Ahuja remained active in campus life through events like MIT Oms MIT Live and even line dancing classes.“I’ve also really enjoyed getting involved in extracurricular opportunities on campus, whether it’s participating in the MIT Oms through MIT Live or taking line dancing lessons in the Student Center,” she said.Ahuja also completed a minor in gender studies and credits professors Hafsa Arain and Mara Gubar for broadening her perspective.“As a gender studies minor I have to thank Professor Hafsa Arain and Professor Mara Gubar for offering me amazing WGS and CMS classes that have truly changed the way I think about the world around me.”
The gurus who shaped his journey
Ahuja credits several mentors and faculty members for supporting her throughout her tenure at MIT.He thanked Professor Samantha Codey, Professor Maria Yang and Professor Canon Dagdeviren, along with graduate students Colin Marcus and Sarah Fernandez and Associate Dean Kimberly Benard.“I also want to thank the entire Code Research group for being a great support system,” she said.As she prepares to begin her PhD, Ahuja’s accomplishments are already placing her on MIT’s list of rising young engineers whose research interests span power electronics robotics and women’s health care innovation.