26 new US Scholar-Elects have been selected as part of the Gates Cambridge Class of 2026
We know that our new US Scholars – and those we announce in early April from other parts of the world – will flourish in the rich, international community at Cambridge and go on to contribute significantly to improving the lives of others.
Professor Eilís Ferran
Twenty-six of the most academically brilliant social leaders in the US have been selected to be part of the 2026 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars at the University of Cambridge.
The US Scholars-elect, who will take up their awards this October, are from a wide range of backgrounds. They come from 26 universities across the United States and beyond, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, which has its first Gates Cambridge Scholar, and Oberlin College in Ohio, Rollins College in Florida and Salisbury University in Maryland, which each have their second Gates Cambridge Scholar. 16 of the Scholars-Elect will pursue PhDs and 10 will undertake one-year master’s degrees.
They include:
Luca Abu El-Haj, who will do a PhD in Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics.His research aims to adapt the theoretical building blocks that have been so successful in particle physics over the last century to a cosmological context.
Stephora Cesar Alberi, who will do a PhD in Biotechnology. Her work will focus on using computer vision to make microscopes smarter and more self-sufficient, greatly improving the imaging process for infectious diseases. She says: “I believe computer vision can accelerate diagnostics and drug discovery for infectious diseases in vulnerable countries in the Global South.”
Tenzin Dhondup, who will do an MPhil in Population Health Sciences. Tenzin, who grew up between New Haven, Connecticut, and the Hunsur Tibetan Refugee Settlement in India, will examine refugee and migrant health outcomes across the life course, with the aim of advancing durable, evidence-driven approaches to humanitarian operations, health governance and resettlement policy.
Mitali Chowdhury, who will do a PhD in Sensor Technologies and Applications. Her research will focus on CRISPR-based diagnostics to address antimicrobial resistance and expand equitable access to care. During her time at MIT she contributed to developing low-cost testing for bacterial water contamination in South Asia. She now works at a start-up advancing sequencing-based diagnostics.
Alix De Saint-Aignan [pictured above], who will do an MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience. She will seek to understand how institutions can navigate uncertainty while preserving legitimacy. She currently researches how counterterrorism measures affect public trust and democratic legitimacy. Alix is also the first cox ever elected captain of the University of North Carolina’s rowing team and has trained with both the US and French national team programmes.
Mac MacKay, who will do a PhD in Psychology. Mac grew up with verbal dyspraxia, meaning speech was not automatic for him. That sparked a lifelong interest in how the brain generates language and why that process sometimes breaks down. His PhD will examine neural-motor systems underlying developmental language disorders and strengthen the link between neuroscience, education and clinical support for children.
Madison Fail, who will do a PhD in Earth Sciences. Her research aims to further our understanding of carbon storage in peatlands. She says: “These ecosystems are enormous stores of carbon and have the potential to mediate climates if protected.” Using machine learning, she will seek to connect micro-scale chemical measurements with remote sensing to estimate carbon budgets in ‘pristine’ and ‘restored’ bogs.
Cassandra Vega, who will do an MPhil in Knowledge, Power and Politics in Education. She aims to understand how we can leverage different education systems to build a politically informed public capable of holding institutions accountable and advancing a more empathetic and equitable society. Cassandra co-founded the Women’s Pre-Law Society and the Fellows in Racial Justice Learning Community, two transformative spaces dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities in their academic and professional pursuits.
The 26 US Scholars-elect will study and research subjects ranging from refugee health and anti-microbial resistance to cement decarbonisation.
The prestigious postgraduate scholarship programme – which fully funds postgraduate study and research in any subject at the University of Cambridge – was established through a US$210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the Gates Foundation in 2000. Since the first class in 2001, Gates Cambridge has awarded 2,355 scholarships to scholars from 112 countries who represent nearly 800 universities globally (more than 200 in the USA) and around 90 academic departments and all 31 Colleges at Cambridge.
In addition to outstanding academic achievement, the programme places an emphasis on social leadership in its selection process. Its aim is to create a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.
The US Scholars-elect will join 50 Scholars from other parts of the world, who will be announced in early April. The full class of 2026 will comprise 76 new Scholars. They will join current Gates Cambridge Scholars in October to form a community of around 250 current Scholars in residence at the world-leading University of Cambridge.
Professor Eilís Ferran, Provost of the Gates Cambridge Trust, said: “I’m delighted to announce our new US Scholars. Since its inception Gates Cambridge has selected scholars based on their outstanding academic achievement and their commitment to changing the world for the better. After studying at Cambridge they go out into the world, creating a ripple effect of change across disciplines and sectors. We know that our new US Scholars – and those we announce in early April from other parts of the world – will flourish in the rich, international community at Cambridge and go on to contribute significantly to improving the lives of others.”
*The directory of our new Scholar-Elects is now available.
