#GradAlums: Six Princeton graduate alumni win early-career presidential science awards

Written by
Liz Fuller-Wright, Office of Communications
Jan. 22, 2025

Two current Princetonians and at least four researchers who are 2024 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) are Princeton graduate alumni. The scientists received their awards on January 14 from President Biden. PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their research careers. 

Established in 1996, “PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers,” said the White House press release. “The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our nation’s future.” The recipients are nominated by one of 14 participating federal agencies.

The two graduate alumni who are current Princetonians and received 2024 awards are:

Nathaniel Ferraro, is the managing principal research physicist in the theory department at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and a 2008 Ph.D. graduate of Princeton. Ferraro was nominated by the Department of Energy and researches magnetized fusion plasmas. He came to Princeton in 2015.

Leslie Schoop, is a professor of chemistry and the director of the Princeton Center for Complex Materials. Schoop was nominated by the Department of Defense and works in both chemistry and physics, using chemical principles to find quantum materials. She is a 2015 Ph.D. graduate of Princeton and joined the Princeton faculty in 2017.

These Princeton graduate alumni were also among this year’s PECASE recipients:

  • Vedika Khemani, a 2016 Ph.D. graduate in physics;
  • Daniel Ruiz, a 2017 Ph.D. graduate in plasma physics;
  • Lorenzo Sironi, a 2011 Ph.D. graduate in astrophysics; and
  • Melanie Matchett Wood, a 2009 Ph.D. graduate in mathematics.

Congratulations to all!