Polina Anikeeva is a distinguished materials scientist whose pioneering work bridges the fields of materials science and neuroscience. She currently serves as the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor and the Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since July 1, 2025, where she also holds a dual appointment as Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Additionally, she directs the K. Lisa Yang Brain-Body Center and serves as Associate Director of the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT, maintaining faculty affiliations with the McGovern Institute for Brain Research. Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1982, Anikeeva demonstrated exceptional scientific aptitude from an early age, gaining admission to the Physical-Technical High School at twelve before pursuing undergraduate studies in physics at St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University. She received a PhD in materials science and engineering from MIT in 2009 under Vladimir Bulović, followed by postdoctoral training in bioengineering at Stanford University.
Anikeeva's research has revolutionized neurotechnology through the development of minimally invasive, biologically inspired tools that mimic the mechanical properties of neural tissues. Her laboratory pioneered the creation of flexible, hair-thin polymer fiber probes that closely approximate the brain's elasticity, overcoming limitations of traditional metal and glass implants that were cumbersome and less compatible with nervous system tissue. The team has engineered scalable fiber-based devices capable of recording and modulating neural activity across both central and autonomic nervous systems in freely moving rodents, enabling unprecedented studies of complex neural circuits. Particularly notable is her development of wireless deep brain stimulation systems using magnetic nanotransducers, which represent a significant advancement over current invasive deep brain stimulation techniques that require bulky electrodes.
Her innovative approaches have profound implications for understanding neurological disorders and developing therapeutic interventions for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and major depressive disorder. Anikeeva's early work on quantum dot light-emitting devices during her doctoral studies was successfully commercialized and acquired by a company that later became part of Samsung, demonstrating her consistent ability to translate research into practical applications. She has received numerous prestigious recognitions including the NIH Pioneer Award, the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise, and the MIT Technology Review Innovator Under 35 designation. Beyond her research contributions, Anikeeva plays a vital leadership role in academia as the Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since July 1, 2025, mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers while continuing to advance the frontiers of bioelectronics and brain-body communication.
