The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) proudly celebrates Dr. Emery N. Brown, an innovative neuroscientist, statistician, and anesthesiologist, for receiving the prestigious National Medal of Science—the highest honor bestowed upon scientists and engineers in the United States. Dr. Brown, a trailblazer in computational neuroscience, was recognized at a White House ceremony on January 3, 2025, where he was presented the medal by Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Dr. Brown’s work exemplifies the intersection of mathematics, neuroscience, and medicine, making groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of brain function and anesthesia. As a professor at MIT and Harvard Medical School, and an anesthesiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, he has led innovative research in signal processing and statistical methods that have advanced multiple fields of science.
His research has focused on how neurons encode signals, how anesthesia affects brain function, and how mathematical models can enhance patient care. His pioneering work has not only revolutionized anesthesiology but has also provided fundamental insights into human consciousness, learning, and memory. These contributions continue to impact mathematical biology, computational neuroscience, and biomedical engineering.
Brown’s official citation at the White House ceremony highlighted his transformational work in neuroscience and anesthesiology, stating:
“Emery Brown's neuroscientific approach to understanding anesthesia’s exact impact on the brain has been transformational for relieving patient suffering and has provided a new foundation for how we think about the very thing that makes us human, our consciousness.”
His research into EEG monitoring during surgery has provided precise methods for anesthetic dosing, leading to improved patient safety and reducing post-operative side effects. In 2023, his lab demonstrated a closed-loop EEG system that adjusts anesthesia levels in real time, paving the way for future clinical applications. His work is also being applied to fields such as sleep medicine, psychiatry, and coma recovery, showing the far-reaching implications of his discoveries.
As a Black mathematician and scientist, Dr. Brown’s achievements are particularly inspiring to the NAM community. His career exemplifies the power of mathematical and statistical reasoning in solving real-world problems, a core principle that NAM seeks to promote among students and early-career researchers.
His success also underscores the critical role of mentorship and representation in STEM fields. Brown is a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and has received numerous accolades, including the Gruber Prize in Neuroscience, the Swartz Prize in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, and the Pierre Galletti Prize of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Dr. Brown’s latest initiative, the Brain Arousal State Control Innovation Center, is poised to unify anesthesiology research with broader neuroscience applications, including the treatment of depression and the development of improved sleep aids. His ability to bridge mathematical modeling with medical applications continues to set new standards for interdisciplinary research.
The National Association of Mathematicians extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Emery N. Brown for this well-deserved honor. His work stands as a testament to the transformative power of mathematics in neuroscience, medicine, and beyond. As NAM continues its mission to uplift and support Black mathematicians, Brown’s success serves as an inspiration for the next generation of scholars and innovators.
---
Articled written by Zerotti Woods, Ph.D. and Michole Washington, Ph.D.
Photo from Phillips Exeter Academy
