Stony Brook Alumnus Zain Zaidi Earns Prestigious 2026 Soros Fellowship

Stony Brook University alumnus Zain Zaidi, a former Barry Goldwater Scholar and recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence, has been named a 2026 Fellow by The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, one of the nation's most competitive graduate fellowships supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing advanced degrees in the United States.

Selected from more than 3,000 applicants nationwide, with an acceptance rate of less than 1 percent, Zaidi joins a cohort of 30 Fellows whose work spans different disciplines and reflects both academic excellence and a strong commitment to impact. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in funding, along with access to a lifelong network of leaders across fields.

Born in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, Zaidi's journey reflects both intellectual curiosity and a sustained commitment to advancing scientific understanding. After moving to the United States as a young child, he developed an early interest in chemistry that would later take shape through rigorous academic and research experiences.

At Stony Brook University, he immersed himself in chemical physics and became involved in research early in his undergraduate career - an experience shaped by close mentorship and a collaborative academic environment.

Working under Professor Benjamin Levine, the Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS) endowed chair in chemistry, and Arshad Mehmood, IACS senior research scientist, Zaidi explored computational approaches to understanding how molecules behave in excited states. His contributions focused on improving the ability to predict how certain dyes emit light in solution, a problem that has historically been difficult to model efficiently. This work not only advanced the field but also demonstrated the kind of interdisciplinary thinking and persistence fostered through Stony Brook's research ecosystem.

Ashley Staples, director of external fellowships, reflected on Zaidi's early promise: "Working with Zain on his Goldwater Scholarship application when he was a sophomore at Stony Brook University was a delight; he was committed to the process and excited to get his work and his story out to the national stage. I'm so pleased he has been recognized as a Soros Scholar."

Beyond the lab, Zaidi contributed to expanding access to science education. Collaborating with peers in the Society of Physics Students, he helped design a low-cost Mach-Zehnder interferometer kit and curriculum for high school classrooms, making hands-on learning in optics and quantum mechanics more accessible.

Zaidi shares, "At Stony Brook University, I found both the academic rigor and intellectual freedom to challenge myself inside and beyond the classroom. I'm especially grateful to my undergraduate research advisor, Dr. Benjamin Levine, and mentor Dr. Arshad Mehmood for their unwavering support during my undergraduate studies. Their guidance shaped my academic journey and gave me the confidence to pursue a future in science focused on solving real-world problems."

Now a PhD student in theoretical and computational chemistry at Princeton University, Zaidi continues to investigate how energy moves within and between molecular systems, with implications for the design of next-generation materials and sustainable technologies.

Zaidi's recognition as a Soros Fellow reflects not only his academic achievements but also the broader trajectory shaped during his time at Stony Brook - where access to research opportunities, dedicated mentorship and a strong academic community enable students to pursue ambitious ideas. Additionally, he has also been named a Hertz finalist, underscoring the impact of investing in emerging scholars and the role of higher education in advancing discovery, innovation and opportunity.