Four Indian American researchers have been selected as 2026 Sloan Research Fellows, earning one of the most prestigious early-career honours in science, mathematics and engineering in the United States and Canada. Each fellow will receive a two-year grant of $75,000 to support independent research.
Awarded annually by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sloan Research Fellowship recognises exceptional young scholars whose work demonstrates creativity, innovation and the potential to make transformative contributions to their fields.
This year’s honourees include Aayush Jain, Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla and Aditi Raghunathan from Carnegie Mellon University, and Anand Natarajan from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They are among 126 researchers chosen nationwide, underscoring the growing impact of Indian-origin scientists in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, cryptography, statistics and quantum computing.
What the Sloan Fellowship signifies
Established in 1955, the Sloan Research Fellowship is widely regarded as one of North America’s most respected recognitions for early-career scientists. Candidates are nominated by peers and selected through a rigorous evaluation process. The fellowship provides flexible funding, enabling recipients to pursue bold, high-impact research that may not yet attract traditional grant support.
Meet the 2026 Indian American Fellows
1️. Aayush Jain – Cryptography and secure computation
Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon, Aayush Jain works on the mathematical foundations of modern cryptography — the backbone of secure digital communication. His research addresses core computational hardness assumptions and strengthens long-term encryption security, including advancements in post-quantum cryptography to counter emerging quantum threats.
2️. Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla – Statistics and predictive learning
An Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Carnegie Mellon, Arun Kumar Kuchibhotla develops advanced statistical tools for uncertainty quantification and predictive modelling. He is known for designing “honest statistical procedures” that provide reliable inference in high-dimensional, complex data environments — with applications ranging from finance to healthcare analytics.
3️. Aditi Raghunathan – Safe and trustworthy AI
Aditi Raghunathan, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon, focuses on improving the reliability and robustness of artificial intelligence systems. Through her AI Reliability Lab, she studies how AI systems fail and develops safeguards to ensure consistent and transparent performance in real-world applications, including healthcare, finance and autonomous systems.
4️. Anand Natarajan – Quantum complexity theory
An Associate Professor at MIT and principal investigator at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Anand Natarajan explores quantum complexity theory — examining what quantum computers can compute efficiently. His research bridges theoretical computer science and quantum technologies, with implications for cryptography, quantum simulation and next-generation computing hardware.
A broader reflection of diaspora excellence
The selection of these four researchers highlights the expanding influence of Indian-origin scholars in global research ecosystems. From securing digital infrastructure and building trustworthy AI systems to redefining statistical learning and advancing quantum computing, their work shapes technologies central to the future.
The Sloan Fellowship not only recognises scientific promise but also provides crucial early-career support, empowering researchers to pursue ambitious ideas that could redefine entire disciplines.
