The Center for the Study of Complex Systems is proud to announce Tianyong Yao and Vivaan Singhvi as the recipients of the 2026 Rick Riolo Undergraduate Research Prize.

The Rick Riolo Undergraduate Research Prize was established to honor the legacy of Rick Riolo, an influential researcher, educator, and mentor in evolutionary modeling and agent-based systems. Awarded annually to two outstanding undergraduate research projects, the prize recognizes work that pushes boundaries, embraces complexity, and contributes meaningful insight across disciplines. This year’s winners exemplify that legacy.

Tianyong Yao was recognized for his project, “Nested Rhythms: Cellular Dopamine Cycles and Behavioral Sleep Patterns.” The selection committee noted:

Vivaan Singhvi was recognized for his project, “A Scalable Trie Building Algorithm for High-Throughput Phyloanalysis of Wafer-Scale Digital Evolution Experiments.” The committee shared:

Together, these projects highlight the breadth of complex systems research—from biological modeling to computational innovation—and reflect the enduring impact of Rick Riolo’s commitment to open inquiry and exploratory thinking.

The prize, endowed by Rick’s colleagues, students, and friends, continues to support and inspire the next generation of researchers to ask bold questions, experiment with new methods, and pursue understanding beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.

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