Russell Schwartz, a computational biologist at Carnegie Mellon University, is one of 58 people this year to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed on young U.S. researchers.

Schwartz, who joined Carnegie Mellon as an assistant professor of biological sciences in 2002, develops computer techniques that accelerate research into the basic mechanisms of cells and aid in drug discovery.

He was selected for the presidential award after receiving an $838,000 Faculty Career Development award from the National Science Foundation a year ago.