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Beckman Foundation Continues Support for Innovators

In a significant move to sustain vital research projects, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has awarded nearly $800,000 to a dozen young scientists. This funding aims to provide crucial support during federal funding disruptions, ensuring that these researchers can continue their innovative work without interruption.

The 2026 Beckman Bridge Funding Awards, totaling $784,476, have been allocated to 12 exceptional individuals. This initiative is particularly designed for Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows in their final year of training, as well as Beckman Young Investigators in critical phases of their careers. The funding not only supports ongoing research but also helps stabilize programs that may face delays due to external funding challenges.

Dr. Anne Hultgren, the Executive Director of the Beckman Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "These researchers are tackling a broad range of problems with amazing creativity, doing work that is both important and innovative in new methods, processes and instrumentation." The bridge funding is essential to maintaining momentum in the scientific community, especially for projects with the potential for high impact in their respective fields.

Award Recipients

The recipients of the 2026 awards include both Beckman Young Investigators and Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows. Among the awardees are:

• - Margaret Byron, PhD, from The Pennsylvania State University: Exploring fluid dynamics of bio-structures for enhanced locomotion and sensing.
• - Katherine Davis, PhD, from Emory University: Investigating the interplay between metalloenzyme structure and electronics using X-rays.
• - Tania Lupoli, PhD, from New York University: Engineering synthetic bacterial cell surfaces via glycosyltransferases.
• - Brett McGuire, PhD, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Employing microwave femtosecond spectroscopy to broaden our understanding of molecular interactions.
• - Alison Wendlandt, PhD, also from MIT: Developing catalytic tools that innovate glycan synthesis methods.
• - Balyn Zaro, PhD, from UCSF: Delving into bacterial mimicry to explore molecular signals in the human body.
• - Yingjie Zhang, PhD, from the University of Illinois: Pioneering 3D atomic-scale spectromicroscopy techniques.

The Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows receiving the award include:

• - Jaehyeok Jin, PhD, from Columbia University: Focusing on multiscale phase-field modeling for energy storage technologies.
• - Caitlin Randolph, PhD, from Purdue University: Developing an AI-driven platform for single-cell lipidomics.
• - Jonathan Schultz, PhD, from North Carolina Central University: Merging nonlinear spectroscopy with machine learning to analyze molecular pathways.
• - Jacob Spies, PhD, from UC Berkeley: Creating time-resolved spectrometers to assess ultrafast dynamics in materials.
• - Samuel Thompson, PhD, from Stanford University: Expanding synthetic potential in proteins, facilitating novel engineering approaches.

The bridge funding awarded is set for six months, but eligible recipients can apply for renewal, contingent upon their compliance with the Beckman Foundation's requirements. This flexibility aims to ensure that talented researchers can adequately adapt to their funding situations and continue their impactful work.

Commitment to Research Advancement

Founded in 1977 by Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, the Beckman Foundation is dedicated to fostering groundbreaking advancements in chemistry and life sciences. With a commitment to supporting next-generation scientists and their endeavors, this foundation not only provides funding but also promotes interdisciplinary research that can lead to innovative breakthroughs and scientific discoveries.

For more information about the Beckman Foundation and its initiatives, visit beckman-foundation.org. This funding underscores the importance of sustained support for young scientists who are poised to make significant contributions to their fields, propelling forward the frontiers of scientific knowledge.