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Indian-origin student receives M.S. Ghausi Medal at UC Davis
The UC Davis senior will begin a Ph.D. program at MIT after contributing to research in photonics, wearable devices and AI computing systems.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 26, May 2026
- 15:04 EDT
- 33
Hari Rakul Ambethkar / Mario Rodriguez/UC Davis
The University of California, Davis College of Engineering, has awarded Indian-origin student Hari Rakul Ambethkar, the M.S. Ghausi Medal, the highest honor awarded to a graduating senior.
The annual award is named after Mohammed S. Ghausi, the college’s third dean who served from 1983 to 1996 and expanded STEM access initiatives including the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement program and the Women in Engineering program.
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According to the university announcement, Ambethkar maintained a perfect GPA while contributing to research in two laboratories at UC Davis. In his first quarter, he joined the Jeong Research Laboratory under Assistant Professor Hyoyoung Jeong, where he worked on the design of a wearable non-invasive medical monitoring device for jaundice. The research later resulted in a paper published by SPIE.
Ambethkar later joined the laboratory of Distinguished Professor S.J. Ben Yoo, where he researched the use of photonics in high-bandwidth and energy-efficient computing systems aimed at advancing artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing technologies.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the medal,” Ambethkar told the University press. “The past four years have not been a linear trajectory, involving much exploration and shifting goals.”
“These research experiences provided me with the skills to gain internships and broaden my perspectives outside of academia,” Ambethkar said.
During his undergraduate studies, Ambethkar also interned at Sandia National Laboratories, Tesla and SpaceX, gaining experience in embedded systems and electronics design.
In 2025, he received a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he researched micro-electro-mechanical systems nanofabrication under Professor Troy Olsson.
Beyond research, Ambethkar served as an undergraduate lab assistant for introductory engineering courses, mentoring students in circuits and analog systems.
Following graduation, Ambethkar will begin an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in electrical engineering and photonics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In addition to the M.S. Ghausi Medal, Ambethkar also received the Outstanding Senior Award in electrical engineering.
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