$1.5 Million Grant From Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Bolsters Postdoctoral Research at Rutgers-New Brunswick

Grant supports 37 postdoctoral researchers across three university schools

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has received a $1.5 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support 37 postdoctoral researchers across a dozen scientific disciplines.

The funding strengthens research in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, advancing discovery in areas such as astrophysics, quantum and condensed matter physics, materials science, molecular and cellular biology, and microbiology.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Commitment supports scholars across 13 departments and 12 scientific fields at Rutgers-New Brunswick, providing one- and two-year appointments tailored to school and department priorities.

Rutgers-New Brunswick is one of 30 research universities in the United States selected to receive support through the foundation, which is investing $55 million nationally in natural science research.

"As competition intensifies across the nation's scientific workforce, this investment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation comes at a pivotal moment," said Sheila Borges Rajguru, executive director of research development and strategy in the Office for Research at Rutgers-New Brunswick and principal investigator of the grant, who will oversee and administer the award. "When we support postdoctoral scholars, we strengthen the laboratories, students and research programs that depend on them. Their work drives innovation and moves discoveries from the bench toward real-world impact."

The grant supplements faculty-supported postdoctoral positions and creates opportunities for strategic hires. In a shifting funding landscape that has made consistent support for highly trained researchers more challenging, the award provides stability for early-career scientists, Borges Rajguru said.

Throughout Rutgers-New Brunswick, postdoctoral fellows are tackling urgent scientific questions. They are studying brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Tourette syndrome, investigating how cancer develops, designing advanced materials for faster and more energy-efficient electronics, exploring quantum systems and examining how Earth's climate has changed over time.

For example, Hector Alatriste-León, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, is investigating how critical brain neurochemicals, including serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine, work together to shape reward learning and motivation. Using advanced optical imaging tools to track these signals in real time in living brain tissue, his research seeks to better understand how disruptions in these systems contribute to depression, addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

In the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, postdoctoral associate James Eguchi studies how massive volcanic events influence Earth's climate and long-term habitability. By combining fieldwork at volcanic sites, laboratory measurements of rock samples and computer modeling, Eguchi examines how carbon moves between Earth's interior and its surface. His work helps scientists understand how ancient volcanic activity reshaped the climate and what that may mean for the planet's future.

"The research of our postdoctoral fellows spans from the smallest building blocks of cells to planet-wide systems, shaping advances in medicine, environmental science and our understanding of the natural world," said Wendie Cohick, vice provost and vice chancellor for research at Rutgers-New Brunswick. "This award allows us to sustain talented scientists who have invested years in rigorous training and who are essential to maintaining research momentum across the university."

In the School of Arts and Sciences, postdoctoral researchers are exploring how the brain forms memories; how genes are regulated inside cells; and how distant cosmic events such as supernovas help scientists measure the expansion rate of the universe.

"Postdoctoral researchers are a lifeblood of discovery, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in SAS," said Mike Kiledjian, vice dean for research and graduate education and distinguished professor of cell biology and neuroscience in the School of Arts and Sciences. "From neuroscience to astrophysics, their expertise and creativity fuel the breakthroughs that shape medicine, technology and our understanding of the universe."

In the School of Engineering, fellows will advance the field of condensed matter physics by exploring the applications of quantum materials, soft matter, and polymers. This research aims to develop materials with tunable properties, enabling the creation of more adaptable and resilient mechanical components for next-generation flexible electronics, robotic systems and other critical industries.

"Support from the Moore Foundation empowers the School of Engineering to bridge fundamental discovery and real-world impact in the biomedical and materials sciences," said Wade Trappe, associate dean for research and development at the School of Engineering. "Whether pioneering quantum materials or accelerating next-generation gene therapies, Rutgers engineers are positioned to pursue high-risk, high-reward innovations that address complex national challenges."

At the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, researchers are investigating volcanic carbon emissions, tracing the chemical history of Earth's mantle and studying how ecosystems respond to environmental stress.

"Investing in our early-career research workforce is critical, particularly for postdoctoral researchers who are building independent careers while advancing scientific discovery," said Josh Kohut, dean of research in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and director of research for the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

Borges Rajguru said that postdoctoral training represents one of the most formative stages in a scientist's career. By stabilizing salary support and sustaining research momentum, the Moore Foundation investment allows researchers to continue producing high-impact science while preparing for independent careers.

"We are pleased to provide this one-time infusion of funding to help universities support these scientists at a critical juncture of their careers," said Aileen Lee, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. "Advancing scientific discovery is core to our mission and we strive to invest where we can make long-term, measurable difference, including supporting talented people whose ideas will shape the future."

Learn more about the postdoctoral researchers and their work.