 Dr. Purdon has won many awards, including the prestigious National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award, and his work has been covered in the popular media, including programs on Radiolab and NPR.Purdon was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Chula Vista, California.During high school, he was a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent SearchRegeneron Science Talent Search, and was a National Merit Scholar, and the valedictorian of Chula Vista High School.