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UC research takes center stage — and the prizes!

May 6, 2026

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UC award winners
UC researchers recognized in April 2026. (First row, left to right: UC Grad Slam winners and finalists; Terrie M. Williams, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, UC Santa Cruz; and Henry T. Yang, chancellor emeritus and distinguished professor of mechanical engineering, UC Santa Barbara. Second row: Yashwanth Balaji, project scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Molecular Foundry; Marisol de la Cadena, professor of anthropology and science and technology studies, UC Davis; and David J. Gross, director, UC Santa Barbara Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Yashwanth Balaji holding glass trophy
Yashwanth Balaji holds his award for Best Presentation, Scientific Discovery, at the National Lab Research Slam. Credit: Berkeley Lab

In April, UC researchers inspired people around California and the country with their groundbreaking discoveries!

  • April 15: Yashwanth Balaji, project scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Molecular Foundry, won the Scientific Discovery category at the 2026 National Lab Research SLAM in Washington, D.C. Colleagues tuned in remotely to root for his compelling talk, “Shielding quantum computers from the chaos of cosmic rays.” 
  • April 18: During a star-studded annual gala, two UC Berkeley faculty members, a UCLA physicist and a UC Santa Barbara Nobel laureate were awarded Breakthrough Prizes — aka the “Oscars® of Science” — honoring their incredible contributions to advancing science with a level of celebrity and glamour usually reserved for Hollywood stars.  
Yvette and Tahira
Tahirah Williams (right) accepts her Grad Slam certificate from Yvette Gullatt, vice president for graduate and undergraduate affairs, vice provost for equity, diversity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, UC. Credit: Robert Durell

  • April 22: 10 UC grad students showcased their work at the systemwide Grad Slam competition, distilling years of research into compelling, three-minute stories. The coveted “Slammy” trophy and People’s Choice award went to UC Merced Ph.D. student Tahirah Williams, who celebrated mucus — an often-maligned bodily product — for its abilities to prevent serious infections, including Valley Fever. “It is not just gross!” she proved.
  • April 30: 25 UC-affiliated scholars, 23 UC alumni, and several honorees with UC ties were among the new members inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ 2026 class. One of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies, chartered in 1780, the Academy honors people whose work has made significant contributions to their fields and unites members around addressing major societal challenges. 

Congratulations to all of our inspiring UC colleagues and community members! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.

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