- Eighteen early-career scientists have been named Finalists for the 2026 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, competing for three unrestricted $250,000 Laureate prizes
- Since 2007, the Awards have invested more than $20 million in over 500 scientists worldwide
- The investment has led to the founding of more than 50 companies, five of which are publicly traded and collectively valued at over $40 billion
NEW YORK, September 16, 2026 – New York – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences today named 18 Finalists for the 2026 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists. The Awards recognize scientific advances made by researchers in the United States across the following disciplines: Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.
The 2026 Blavatnik National Awards Laureates will be announced on October 6, 2026, during the Blavatnik Awards ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Each Laureate will receive a prize of $250,000 — the largest unrestricted scientific award available to early-career scientists in the United States. The remaining 15 Finalists will each receive $15,000 in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
This year's Finalists were selected by an independent jury of distinguished scientists. In total, 372 young scientists were nominated, representing 187 academic and research institutions across 43 states and the District of Columbia. The 2026 Finalists are:
Chemical Sciences
Anubhav Jain, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Theoretical Chemistry)
Recognized for creating AI-driven computational platforms and software tools for autonomous laboratories that accelerate discovery of advanced materials for batteries, energy conversion, catalysis, and next-generation technologies.
Song Lin, Cornell University (Organic Chemistry)
Recognized for advancing organic electrosynthesis by using electricity to invent cleaner reactions, accelerate drug discovery, build accessible reactors, and create recyclable polymers for sustainable chemistry and manufacturing.
David Nagib, The Ohio State University (Organic Chemistry)
Recognized for developing radical and carbene chemistry to selectively edit carbon-hydrogen bonds, enabling faster and safer access to complex molecules for discovery of better medicines.
David E. Olson, University of California, Davis (Chemical Biology)
Recognized for revealing how psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and engineering non-hallucinogenic analogues that could lead to safer treatments for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.
Brenda Rubenstein, Brown University (Theoretical Chemistry) Recognized for developing computational methods that make chemistry faster, cheaper, and smaller by predicting quantum materials, modeling protein structures, and storing data in molecules with greater speed and accuracy.
Joel Yuen-Zhou, University of California San Diego (Theoretical Chemistry)
Recognized for developing theoretical frameworks that explain how molecules interact with trapped light and how electron spins in organic molecules control chemical reactions and advance quantum technologies.
Life Sciences
Erin Calipari, Vanderbilt University (Neuroscience)
Recognized for redefining dopamine’s role in the brain, revealing how the brain determines what deserves attention and reshaping understanding of learning, behavior, addiction, and disease.
Edward Chouchani, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Recognized for discovering how molecules produced when cells break down nutrients act as signals that control fundamental biological processes, opening new paths to treat cancer and metabolic diseases.
Ryan Flynn, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard University (Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Recognized for uncovering a new class of RNA molecules on cell surfaces, reshaping scientific understanding of cell communication, immunity, and cancer.
Patrick Hsu, Arc Institute and Stanford University (Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology)
Recognized for pioneering programmable molecular technologies that redefine genome and transcriptome engineering, accelerating biological discovery and the development of new therapies.
Samuel Sternberg, Columbia University (Molecular & Cellular Biology)
Recognized for discovering natural, RNA-guided biological systems that catalyze gene insertion, gene silencing, and gene activation, transforming genome engineering, synthetic biology, and future biotechnology applications.
Li Ye, Scripps Research Institute (Neuroscience)
Recognized for revealing how the brain senses and controls the body’s energy use, opening new approaches to treating obesity, diabetes, and neurological disease.
Physical Sciences & Engineering
Qian Chen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Materials Science & Nanotechnology)
Recognized for pioneering “electron videography” to film nanoparticles and proteins in motion, enabling new designs of programmable materials in photonics, sensing, energy, and biomedicine.
Jessica Fitzsimmons, Texas A&M University (Physical Earth Sciences)
Recognized for revealing how iron and other metals flow through the ocean, from deep-sea hydrothermal vents to melting glaciers, shaping marine ecosystems and Earth's climate.
Deep Jariwala, University of Pennsylvania (Materials Science & Nanotechnology)
Recognized for inventing next-generation electronic materials and devices that are advancing computer memory, optical sensors, and quantum technologies, with prototype chips now being built for the aerospace industry.
Elisabeth Krause, University of Arizona (Astrophysics & Cosmology)
Recognized for leading the analysis of galaxy surveys and gravitational lensing measurements to deliver the most precise tests of dark energy and the universe's expansion.
Paris Perdikaris, University of Pennsylvania (Applied Mathematics)
Recognized for creating physics-aware artificial intelligence, including Aurora, a global weather forecasting model that runs thousands of times faster than traditional supercomputer simulations.
Jonathan Rivnay, Northwestern University (Materials Science & Nanotechnology)
Recognized for pioneering bioelectronic materials and implantable “living pharmacies” that combine engineered cells with electronics, advancing personalized therapies for cancer, diabetes, and sleep disorders.
Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, said: “The discoveries of the scientists we honor today remind us that investing in outstanding early career researchers is essential to advance scientific progress, fuel innovation, and help ensure a better future for all people.”
Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, noted, “Scientific progress depends on bold ideas, rigorous inquiry, and the courage to explore the unknown. The 2026 Blavatnik National Awards Finalists embody these qualities through research that is redefining fields as diverse as chemistry, biology, engineering, artificial intelligence, and astrophysics. Their work not only deepens our understanding of the natural world but also lays the foundation for breakthroughs that will improve human health, strengthen our technological future, and enhance our stewardship of the planet.”
Internationally celebrated by the scientific community, the Blavatnik Awards have played a vital role in identifying outstanding early-career scientists and providing the support needed to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. By the close of 2026, the Blavatnik Awards will have awarded more than $20 million to over 500 scientists across 120 research institutions around the world.
Unlike awards that recognize scientists later in their careers, the Blavatnik Awards identify and support exceptional researchers at a pivotal early stage, when recognition and flexible funding can have the greatest impact. At a time when intense competition for research funding makes it increasingly challenging for early-career scientists to establish independent programs and pursue ambitious ideas, the Awards provide unrestricted prize funding that gives recipients the freedom to explore bold, curiosity-driven research. By investing in outstanding scientists when they are building their careers, the Blavatnik Awards help strengthen the pipeline of scientific talent and accelerate discoveries with the potential to address society's most pressing challenges.
Beyond the lab, Blavatnik Awards honorees are driving global economic growth by pursuing high-risk, high-reward research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded over 50 companies after receiving the award, raising $2.8 billion in outside funding. Five companies, founded by honorees, are publicly traded and collectively valued at more than $40 billion.
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists honor America’s most innovative young faculty-rank scientists and engineers. Since its inception in 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards have recognized 236 outstanding researchers from 73 institutions across the United States, awarding $10.4 million to drive future innovation
About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists recognize exceptional early-career scientists and engineers whose discoveries are driving the next generation of scientific innovation. Established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, the Awards are the largest unrestricted prizes available to young scientists. The program now spans the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, awarding more than $2 million annually. Since its inception, the Awards have recognized more than 500 honorees with over $20 million in unrestricted funding. To follow the progress of the Blavatnik Awards, please visit blavatnikawards.org or follow us on Facebook and X.
About the Blavatnik Family Foundation
The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides many of the world’s best researchers, scientists and future leaders with the support and funding needed to solve humankind’s greatest challenges. Led by Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery and creativity to benefit the whole of society. To date, the Foundation has contributed over $1.5 billion to more than 250 organizations. See more at blavatnikfoundation.org.
About The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 15,000 members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM-related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences, the social sciences, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at nyas.org.
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