Sohini Ramachandran, assistant professor of biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, was one of 126 U.S. and Canadian researchers to receive a research fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation this year, the foundation announced on Wednesday. The fellowships are given to early career scientists and scholars whose achievements and potential identify them as rising stars, the next generation of scientific leaders. Besides the recognition, Ramachandran will receive $50,000 to further her research. She said she is honored to receive a research fellowship, noting that her father-in-law, David Mumford, professor emeritus of applied mathematics, received the award early in his academic career. “The freedom of the award gives my research group the opportunity to pursue innovative projects that are difficult to fund traditionally,” Ramachandran said. “This award also recognizes the strong and supportive environment for young faculty at Brown, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and our Center for Computational Molecular Biology.” Ramachandran came to Brown in 2010. She earned her doctorate in biological sciences from Stanford University.