Recognizing MIT’s Innovative Minds: 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship Awardees

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has recognized 126 outstanding early-career researchers with the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowships, including seven faculty members and 21 alumni from MIT. This prestigious fellowship aims to honor exceptional individuals at educational institutions across the U.S. and Canada whose innovative research and creativity position them as the future leaders in their respective fields.

Diverse Disciplines and Flexible Support

Recipients of the fellowship are drawn from a diverse range of departments, including Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Economics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics, alongside the Music and Theater Arts Section and MIT Sloan School of Management.

The fellowship provides winners with a two-year grant of $75,000, which can be utilized flexibly to propel their research endeavors. Adam F. Falk, president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, emphasizes that the Sloan Research Fellows embody the highest standards of early-career science, demonstrating the creativity and ambition necessary to advance discovery.

MIT’s Legacy of Excellence

Since its inception in 1955, a total of 333 faculty members from MIT have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships. Notably, this year, MIT and Northwestern University each have seven faculty members recognized in the 2025 cohort.

Highlighted Recipients and Their Impactful Research

Among the distinguished MIT recipients is Ariel L. Furst, a Chemical Engineering professor whose research merges biological, chemical, and materials engineering to tackle challenges related to human health and environmental sustainability. Her lab focuses on creating accessible technologies for low-resource settings, ensuring equitable access to vital advancements.

Mohsen Ghaffari, an associate professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is celebrated for his influential research in distributed and parallel computation. His work on algorithmic problems has earned him several accolades, highlighting his contributions to resolving longstanding issues in computing.

Marzyeh Ghassemi, also from EECS and IMES, has made significant strides in the application of machine learning in healthcare. Her research aims to develop robust models that enhance health equity and policy implications, earning her recognition as one of MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35.

Darcy McRose is pioneering the study of microbial activity and its role in nutrient cycling as an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. By leveraging genetics and chemistry techniques, her work aims to foster agricultural sustainability and ecosystem health.

In the field of astrophysics, Sarah Millholland investigates extrasolar planets and their dynamics. Her research focuses on understanding how gravitational interactions influence planetary properties, contributing valuable insights to our understanding of exoplanet systems.

Emil Verner’s research at MIT Sloan School of Management delves into the intersection of finance and macroeconomics, particularly analyzing the causes of financial crises. His findings offer critical insights into banking behavior and the effects of economic policies.

Christian Wolf specializes in macroeconomics and time series econometrics. His research advances empirical methods that address key macroeconomic questions, providing a deeper understanding of monetary policy and economic variables.

The Sloan Research Fellows embody the highest standards of early-career science, demonstrating the creativity and ambition necessary to advance discovery.

Celebrating Alumni Achievements

In addition to current faculty members, several MIT alumni have also been honored with fellowships this year. Their collective achievements further exemplify the rich tradition of innovation and excellence cultivated at MIT.