Recognition for Four Individuals Associated with UC San Diego on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
In a significant recognition of their groundbreaking work, several affiliates of the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Science list in recent years. However, our research uncovered limited publicly available details about those honoured in 2018.
One of the notable UC San Diego scientists, Dinesh Bharadia, was recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Science category in a more recent year (2025). Bharadia, aged 29, is an Assistant Professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering, where he is known for translating fundamental ideas in communication theory to build communication systems that solve practical problems. His research on overlapping data signals at the same time, at the same frequency, has earned him this prestigious accolade.
Another honouree, Natalya Gallo, made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Science category in 2018 for her research on climate change's impact on marine communities and the health of fish and fisheries. Gallo, who is passionate about improving the interface between ocean scientists and policymakers, collaborates with engineers to develop new instruments for studying deep-sea ecosystems, including an autonomous deep-sea lander. She has participated in four international United Nations climate negotiations conferences and aims to use the prestige of the Forbes list to bring greater attention to marine climate change impacts.
Gallo's research focuses on the implications of climate-driven oxygen decline in the ocean, a process called ocean deoxygenation. She hopes to develop new tools for studying oxygen variability in nearshore deep-sea ecosystems. This research was commercialized by Kumu Networks, and Deutsche Telekom has led successful field tests of the technology.
In addition to Bharadia and Gallo, UC San Diego affiliates Emily Callahan and Amber Jackson, both aged 28, are Cofounders of Blue Latitudes. Upon graduation in 2014, the UC San Diego alumnae cofounded Blue Latitudes, an innovative company that aims to transform decommissioned offshore oil platforms into artificial reefs that encourage the growth of thriving ecosystems. The company conducts ecological value assessments, ROV surveys, and environmental support for oil rig decommissioning plans while engaging with regulators, government, and industry stakeholders.
While our research did not uncover specific details about the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 Science honorees from UC San Diego, it is evident that the university continues to foster a thriving environment for groundbreaking research and innovative thinking. For more detailed information about UC San Diego affiliates honored by Forbes in 2018, we recommend checking UC San Diego official announcements or Forbes' archival lists from that year directly.
- The marine biodiversity research by Natalya Gallo, one of the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 Science honorees from UC San Diego, focuses on the implications of climate-driven oxygen decline in the ocean.
- One of the recent recipients of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Science accolade, Dinesh Bharadia, conducts oceanographic research at UC San Diego, where he uses communication theory to develop practical communication systems.
- Recipients of the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 Science award, Emily Callahan and Amber Jackson, have co-founded Blue Latitudes, a company that repurposes decommissioned offshore oil platforms into artificial reefs for the growth of marine ecosystems.
- Pursuing an interest in environmental-science and education-and-self-development, Dinesh Bharadia benefits from online-learning opportunities, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning in the field of science.
