In a celebration of scientific excellence and innovation, four Indian-American researchers have been named 2026 Sloan Fellows, one of the most coveted early career recognitions in science, mathematics and engineering. The annual Sloan Research Fellowship program, operated by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, honors outstanding early career scholars whose work demonstrates extraordinary creativity and the potential to conduct transformative research. Recipients will receive a two-year, $75,000 scholarship to support their independent research efforts, providing flexible funding to accelerate breakthroughs in basic science and technology.This year’s participants include Aayush Jain, Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla and Aditi Raghunathan from Carnegie Mellon University; Anand Natarajan from MIT. Their selection from a pool of 126 Sloan Fellows underscores the growing influence of Indian-origin researchers in cutting-edge science shaping the future of computing, artificial intelligence, cryptography and quantum information.
What does the Sloan Scholarship stand for?
Established in 1955, the Sloan Research Fellowships are one of the oldest and most respected programs supporting young scientific talent in the United States and Canada. It aims to identify researchers at a “critical stage” in their careers, i.e. those who are poised to become leaders in their fields. Fellows are selected through a rigorous nomination process involving fellow scientists, ensuring that only those with outstanding promise and impactful work are recognized. Past Sloan Fellows have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award and other top honors, suggesting that the fellowship often heralds future scientific stars. This prestigious award helps early career researchers access resources, establish collaborations, and pursue bold research directions with fewer funding constraints.
Meet Indian Americans and their fields of study
- Aayush Jain – Cryptography and Secure Computing: Aayush Jain, assistant professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, focuses his research on the mathematical foundations of modern cryptography, the science that underpins secure digital communications. His work addresses the computational difficulty assumptions that form the backbone of cryptography and aims to enhance the long-term security of cryptographic systems, including efforts to close the gap in post-quantum cryptography, the next frontier in secure communications against the threat of quantum computing. By addressing these fundamental questions, Jain’s research directly contributes to ensuring that digital infrastructure remains robust against evolving cyber threats, an area of ​​increasing importance globally as society digitizes.
- Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla – Statistics and Predictive Learning: Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla, associate professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Carnegie Mellon University, develops advanced statistical techniques to address fundamental challenges in uncertainty quantification and predictive learning. His work has been influential in areas such as machine learning, where understanding the accuracy and reliability of predictions is important. Kuchibotla is particularly known for creating “honest statistical procedures,” methods that provide reliable inference even in complex, high-dimensional environments where traditional tools often fail. These techniques have applications in everything from financial forecasting to causal analysis of health and economic data.
- Aditi Raghunathan – Safe and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: Aditi Raghunathan, assistant professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, is tackling one of today’s most critical challenges: trustworthy and reliable artificial intelligence. Her research focuses on identifying where artificial intelligence systems fail and developing methods to make them more robust and reliable in real-world settings. Raghunathan leads the AI ​​Reliability Lab, which conducts rigorous scientific analysis of AI safety issues, an area of ​​increasing concern as automated systems impact industries such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems. Her work helps ensure that artificial intelligence behaves consistently and transparently even under unpredictable conditions.
- Anand Natarajan – Quantum Complexity Theory: Associate Professor
and Anand Natarajan is a principal investigator at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the MIT-IBM Watson AI Laboratory, where his research explores quantum complexity theory, the study of what can be efficiently computed in a quantum environment. By studying how quantum systems compute and interact, Natarajan’s work aims to define the fundamental limits and capabilities of quantum computers, thereby building a bridge between theoretical computer science and emerging quantum technologies. His research has important implications for the future of cryptography, quantum system simulation, and computing hardware.
The recognition of these Indian-American researchers as Sloan Fellows reflects not only their individual talents but also the growing influence of overseas scientists in the global research ecosystem. From cryptography and AI security to statistical theory and quantum computing, their work spans core areas shaping the future technology landscape. In recent years, a number of Indian-origin researchers have come to prominence, including being selected as Sloan Fellows multiple times in their past research; this trend highlights that Indian talent continues to be at the forefront of scientific innovation.These achievements also demonstrate how early career support through scholarships and research grants can advance science. Programs like the Sloan Fellowship provide necessary resources to help researchers pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas that may be overlooked by traditional funding.
Sloan Fellowships and the Broader Vision for Early Career Science Recognition
Sloan Fellowships are part of a broader ecosystem of awards and scholarships that recognize emerging researchers. For example, institutions across the United States regularly announce Sloan Prize winners, including faculty from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, emphasizing the competitive and dynamic research environment.Such recognition helps raise a researcher’s profile, attract collaborators, and secure future funding—an important step in building long-term research programs, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, and addressing global challenges.
What’s next for Indian-American Sloan fellow
While a Sloan Fellowship typically does not dictate specific deliverables, it provides fellows with the flexibility to pursue ambitious projects. Whether deepening theoretical foundations, designing more secure artificial intelligence systems, or exploring the quantum frontier, this award enables these researchers to move their fields forward without the constraints of funding.Given the remarkable track record these scholars have achieved, from fundamental cryptographic frameworks to groundbreaking approaches to artificial intelligence reliability, the coming years promise exciting contributions to technology, science, and academia at large.Four Indian-American researchers have been named 2026 Sloan Fellows, earning prestigious support for early-career scientific research. The researchers are from Carnegie Mellon University and MIT, and their work spans cryptography, statistics, artificial intelligence reliability and quantum computing. The Sloan Fellowship is one of the most respected early career awards in science, helping researchers pursue bold, impactful ideas. Their recognition highlights the global impact of Indian-origin scientists and the strength of the diaspora’s research excellence.
