Seven Princeton University faculty members have been named recipients of the 2026 Sloan Research Fellowship, an award that recognizes early-career scientists and engineers in the United States and Canada. The fellowship is given by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to researchers who show promise in their respective fields.
This year’s Princeton honorees are Maria Apostolaki, Benjamin Eysenbach, and Yasaman Ghasempour from the Department of Computer Science; William Jacobs and Erin Stache from the Department of Chemistry; Isobel Ojalvo from the Department of Physics; and Bartolomeo Stellato from the Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering.
Sloan Research Fellowships are awarded across seven disciplines: chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics. Recipients are chosen by independent panels made up of senior scholars in each field.
“The Sloan Research Fellows are among the most promising early-career researchers in the U.S. and Canada, already driving meaningful progress in their respective disciplines,” said Stacie Bloom, president and CEO of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “We look forward to seeing how these exceptional scholars continue to unlock new scientific advancements, redefine their fields, and foster the well-being and knowledge of all.”
Since 1955, a total of 259 Princeton faculty members have received a Sloan Research Fellowship. Each fellowship includes a $75,000 award that can be used flexibly for research purposes.
Maria Apostolaki is an assistant professor whose work focuses on secure networked systems for internet infrastructure and data centers. She integrates machine learning with formal reasoning to improve reliability and safety in complex networks.
Benjamin Eysenbach studies artificial intelligence with an emphasis on reinforcement learning methods that allow AI systems to learn through trial-and-error or without explicit rewards. His research aims to develop simpler solutions for problems relevant to both science and society.
Yasaman Ghasempour researches wireless communication using high-frequency signals like millimeter-wave bands. Her innovations address challenges related to ultra-fast connectivity for future wireless networks.
William Jacobs applies computer simulations to understand how molecules self-assemble into complex structures—a process important for biophysics and materials science.
Isobel Ojalvo investigates particles decaying into Tau leptons at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider near Geneva. She also develops AI-based algorithms for detecting rare particle collision events that could point toward new physics discoveries.
Erin Stache works on chemical recycling methods for plastics by converting light into heat to break down previously unrecyclable materials efficiently.
Bartolomeo Stellato develops algorithms capable of making real-time decisions in areas such as robotics or financial engineering. His work bridges gaps between theoretical predictions about algorithm performance and actual results seen in practice.
The fellowships highlight ongoing contributions by Princeton faculty across multiple scientific domains.
