News

2026

PSD faculty earn NSF CAREER Awards

May 20, 2026

NSF CAREER Awards

Congratulations to the PSD faculty members who have received NSF CAREER Awards. According to the NSF, the prestigious CAREER award supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
 


2026 Frontiers of Science Award winners

May 19, 2026

International Congress of Basic Science | 2026 Frontiers of Science Award | Physics | Truth & Beauty

Congratulations to the PSD community members who have been recognized with 2026 Frontiers of Science Awards. Michael Levin, Professor in Physics and the JFI, and Physics alum Carolyn Zhang, PhD'23, are recognized for the field of condensed matter physics. Yoav Afik, a postdoctoral scholar in the EFI who works on the ATLAS experiment, is recognized for research in particle physics phenomenology.


PSD Spotlight: Bruxanne El-Kammash

May 19, 2026

Bruxanne El-Kammash

Senior Pre-Award Lead Administrator Bruxanne El-Kammash, Senior Pre-Award Lead Administrator in PSD’s Local Business Center, joined the PSD in April 2025. We interviewed Bruxanne about her interests and experiences.


AI for Science and autonomous labs to come together at SciFM 26

May 18, 2026

A graphic showcasing computers, robots, and other hardware.

The SciFM 26 conference will be hosted at UChicago from May 27-29.


UChicago chemists invent new way to swap nitrogen into molecules

May 18, 2026

A new technique allows researchers to more quickly create new molecules by easily swapping nitrogen atoms in the place of carbonyl groups, which may help speed the process of drug discovery.

Breakthrough could speed up new drug discovery.


Deep in the ice, Antarctic detectors pick up incoming cosmic rays from outer space

May 18, 2026

Scientists at work installing cables and electronic components for the Askaryan Radio Array, a detector for incoming cosmic particles located at the South Pole.

Detection by Askaryan Radio Array holds promise for future research into sources, nature of cosmic rays and neutrinos. 


2026 AI + science hackathon tackles real-world scientific challenges using AI

May 18, 2026

Shira Lupkin presents the Leveraging Multi-Agent Frameworks to Extract Clinical Information from Medical Transcripts project to Hackathon participants.

Schmidt AI in Science Fellows mentored twelve interdisciplinary student teams that applied machine learning to advance scientific discovery.


University of Chicago launches joint MD/MS in Applied Data Science Program

May 18, 2026

Photo of a doctor folding their arms.

The University of Chicago has announced a new joint-degree program that combines a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Pritzker School of Medicine with a Master of Science in Applied Data Science from the Data Science Institute and Physical Sciences Division.


Prize Winners for Educational Excellence 2026

May 15, 2026

students in classroom

This year, eight PSD instructors and students have been honored for excellence in teaching the next generation of physical and mathematical scientists.


UChicago announces 2026 winners of Quantrell and Ph.D. teaching awards

May 14, 2026

Nick Feamster

Congrats to Nick Feamster, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science, who has won a Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.


Julius Jellinek, pioneering theorist in cluster and nanoscale chemistry, 1946–2026

May 13, 2026

Julius Jellinek

Julius Jellinek, a Senior Fellow in the University of Chicago’s Computation Institute from 2006 to 2018 and Senior Scientist Emeritus at Argonne National Laboratory, passed away on April 6. He was 80.


University of Chicago names Lorraine and Yuji Suzuki Center in honor of alumni

May 12, 2026

Suzuki Center with students seated outdoors at picnic tables

In recognition of their longstanding support of the University of Chicago and generous contributions to expanding data science education and research, the University has named the Data Science Institute’s new home at 5460 S. University Ave. in honor of Yuji Suzuki, SM’70, and in memory of his late wife, Lorraine Suzuki, PhD’73.


Four UChicago undergraduates awarded 2026 Goldwater Scholarship

May 11, 2026

clockwise from top left: Arthur Costa, Shelley Fernando, Mason McCormack, and Vincent Wang

Third-years Arthur Costa, Shelley Fernando, Mason McCormack, and Vincent Wang, all of whom study PSD or joint-PSD subjects, earn the prestigious award for their research.


A stable solution

May 11, 2026

a video still of viscous fingers forming

How UChicago physicists delayed the formation of viscous fingers between fluids.


Scientists get best-ever look at distant planet’s surface with Webb telescope

May 11, 2026

An artist’s illustration showing what exoplanet Kua’kua (LHS 3844 b) could look like. The Webb telescope has given us new detail about the surface of this faraway planet—including that it’s likely covered in dark, weathered powder.

Data analyzed by UChicago scientists reveals exoplanet Kua’kua is dark and rocky, offering clues to search for habitable worlds.