Top row, left: Azmain Almagir, Guillermo Arroyo Ataz, Manon Bulliard. Bottom row, left: Tina Huang, Vanessa Kelley, Brett Pogostin.
MIT Koch Institute
November 13, 2026
The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 awardees of the Convergence Scholars Program. Founded in 2017, the Convergence Scholars Program (CSP) is designed to enhance the career development of aspiring independent scientists with diverse interests across academia, industry, science communication, and STEM outreach.
To achieve this mission, CSP organizes thematic workshops, one-on-one mentoring, networking opportunities, and interactive group social hours. Scholars are also encouraged to develop new research collaborations with other class members, particularly at the intersection of biology and engineering, and refine their “brand” of science and its impact on society. By tailoring individual goals with training opportunities and connections through MIT, the program ultimately seeks to prepare postdocs for a critically important yet often overlooked component of a scientist – life beyond the bench.
“CSP was built on the belief that the most meaningful advances in oncology happen when young scientists are equipped to work across disciplines. The program has been a highlight of my time at MIT, giving me the privilege of working each year with such talented, multifaceted researchers,” said Tarek Fadel, the Associate Director of the Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine.
“I am thrilled to welcome this new class of scholars and look forward to supporting them as they build the collaborations and skills that will shape their futures, and lead beyond the lab,” he continued.
Please join us in congratulating the Class of 2026 Convergence Scholars:
- Azmain Alamgir (Hammond Lab) is researching tumor-selective delivery in ovarian cancer using nanoparticles.
- Guillermo Arroy Ataz (Nabel Lab) is researching the biological hallmarks of thymic epithelial tumors, a rare cancer.
- Manon Bulliard (Yilmaz Lab) is developing an integrated experimental and computational platform to expand clinically relevant information collected in routine histopathology for colorectal cancer.
- Tina Huang (Jaklenec and Langer Labs) is engineering AI-guided microcapsule platforms for longer-lasting immunotherapy against melanoma.
- Vanessa Kelley (Bhatia, Love and Adalsteinsson Labs) is researching approaches to selectively enrich tumor DNA in blood to enhance liquid biopsy sensitivity for the early detection of cancer.
- Brett Pogostin (Spranger Lab) is investigating whether a protein-engineered cytokine can generate protective immunity in lung tumors.
As part of their award package, CSP scholars will receive a supplemental stipend for use towards their career development. The Koch Institute and CSP leadership are grateful to our broader community for their support in bolstering postdoctoral resources and investing in future scientific leaders.
The Koch Institute’s Convergence Scholars Program is supported in part by the Prabha Kannan and Amar Kendale Convergence Scholars Program Endowed Fund, with additional support from Michael and Lisa Ullmann.
All Convergence Scholars since 2017.