James L. Carmon Scholarship Award 2026

Omid Arhami, a doctoral student in the Institute of Bioinformatics (IoB), is recognized for innovative research that advances the ability to predict infectious disease threats by linking viral evolution to population-level outbreaks. Working under the advisement of IoB’s Pejman Rohani, Arhami conducts research at the intersection of bioinformatics, statistics, and epidemiology, developing new computational methods to identify which viral mutations drive meaningful changes in immune response—an essential challenge in vaccine design and pandemic preparedness. Arhami is the developer of Topolow, a novel algorithm that transforms sparse and incomplete viral data into accurate antigenic maps, overcoming limitations that have constrained the field for decades. Published in Bioinformatics and released as open-source software, the method is already being adopted by researchers across immunology and related life sciences. Arhami’s work also connects molecular change to epidemic dynamics, with applications to influenza and other rapidly evolving pathogens, reflecting an ambitious and impactful research profile. 

Qitao Tan, a doctoral student in the School of Computing, is recognized for research that advances how powerful artificial intelligence models can be trained and deployed on resource-limited devices. Working under the advisement of Geng Yuan, Tan develops new algorithms that make it possible to adapt large-scale AI models—such as large language models—without their typical heavy computational demands. His work addresses a long-standing disconnect between AI algorithms and the hardware on which they must ultimately run. Tan has already published multiple first-authored papers in highly selective international venues. One of his papers received a Best Paper nomination at the International Conference on Computer-Aided Design, a top-tier conference in electronic automation design. Together, these accomplishments reflect an unusually strong record of innovation, productivity, and interdisciplinary impact.