Early Career Combustion Investigator Award

The U.S. Sections of The Combustion Institute are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 U.S. Early Career Combustion Investigator Award: Sili Deng from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prof. Deng was selected from a competitive field of deserving candidates, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.​

When asked about her selection as the awardee, Deng said, "Receiving this award motivates me to continue advancing combustion science and tackling critical challenges in energy research. I am deeply grateful to my team, collaborators, and mentors, whose hard work and support have been instrumental in this achievement."

This prestigious award is presented biannually at the U.S. National Combustion Meeting during which the recipient presents the Early Career Investigator Plenary Lecture. The award recognizes excellence in combustion research, the potential for future leadership in the field and service to the combustion research community.