STAR Achievement Award Winner Announced

June 27, 2025

We heartily congratulate Minhaj Ansari, recipient of the UCSF School of Medicine STAR Achievement Award! This award recognizes and rewards excellence in University service, achievements, and performance with a $7,500 prize.

Minhaj is a data scientist in Geoff Tison's Lab, and was nominated by Josh Barrios. As noted in the nomination summary: 

Minhaj has made outstanding contributions as a staff-level data scientist, far exceeding expectations through his technical expertise and leadership on multiple high-impact projects. Notably, he independently developed a machine learning algorithm to identify risk factors in mitral valve prolapse patients, leading to a first-author publication currently under review—work typically expected of doctoral-level scientists.

STAR Achievement Awards recognize sustained, exceptional performance or significant contributions over an extended period (minimum six months). This may include major accomplishments within large projects or ongoing efforts in professional development that add meaningful value to a unit’s success.