July 2026
July 2026
Northwestern Researchers Join DOE Genesis Mission
Northwestern researchers are participating in four inaugural projects selected for Phase I funding through the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. The national initiative brings together AI, supercomputing, quantum systems and advanced scientific instruments to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, science and national security.
Northwestern-affiliated teams will pursue new materials for lithium isotope separation and fusion energy; AI-enabled design of cryogenic electronics; more efficient quantum-computing workflows; and sustainable manufacturing of a widely used plastic. The projects reflect Northwestern's strengths in materials science, energy and advanced computing, along with its close partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. Phase I teams will develop and test AI-integrated research workflows that could provide a foundation for future investment. Learn more.
In this issue
Research Breakthroughs
- DevSci and Lurie Children's advance research on ultra-rare CerTra syndrome
- A 'detox' for social media feeds
Research News Across Campus
- Northwestern receives $20M for AI-driven protein engineering lab
- Kathryn Macapagal named Impact Institute co-director
- Chad Mirkin receives chemistry's highest honor
- New center to explore regenerative engineering solutions for heart disease
- Northwestern chemist Will Dichtel wins Green Chemistry award
- Data, judgment and the science of building a winning team
- NAISE announces new Argonne co-directors
Important Policy and Guidance Updates
Research Activities Across Campus
Northwestern Receives $20M for AI-Driven Protein Engineering Lab
With a four-year, $20 million award from the National Science Foundation, Northwestern will create the AI-Driven, Rapid, Experimental Automation Machine (DREAM) Cloud Lab for Protein Engineering. One of 20 nodes in NSF's national Programmable Cloud Laboratories Test Bed, DREAM will combine AI, automated experiments and cell-free protein synthesis to accelerate protein design for manufacturing, critical-mineral recovery, healthy aging, agriculture and advanced materials.
Julius Lucks (chemical and biological engineering) leads the project with Northwestern faculty Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Han Liu and Joshua Leonard, along with Michael Jewett (Stanford) and Michelle Hoffmann (Chicago Biomedical Consortium). "DREAM will positively transform our society, spinning out new companies and creating new jobs by accelerating new technologies," Lucks said. Based within Northwestern's Center for Synthetic Biology, the remotely accessible facility will broaden access to advanced equipment and expertise while integrating responsible innovation. Open data, AI models and training programs will strengthen the regional biotechnology ecosystem and support researchers nationwide. Learn more.
Kathryn Macapagal Named Impact Institute Co-Director
Kathryn Macapagal has been named the first co-director of Northwestern University's Impact Institute, an interdisciplinary research hub. Macapagal is an associate professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Feinberg School of Medicine. She first joined the Impact Institute as a postdoctoral fellow in 2013 and was hired as a faculty member in 2014. She will lead Impact with Director Brian Mustanski. Read more.
DevSci and Lurie Children's Advance Research on Ultra-Rare CerTra Syndrome
Northwestern's Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Training Core (ND Core) is partnering with researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago to deepen understanding of CerTra syndrome, an ultra-rare genetic disorder with fewer than 100 diagnosed cases worldwide. Caused by mutations in the CERT1 gene, the condition can lead to developmental delays, autism-related features, seizures, low muscle tone and atypical brain myelination.
The study is led by Lurie physician-scientist Kelly Regan-Fendt, MD, PhD, in collaboration with the ND Core team: Associate Director Brittany Manning, PhD; Coordinator Josie Halporn; Core Director Elizabeth Norton, PhD, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders; and clinical psychologist Erica Anderson, PhD.
The ND Core is part of Northwestern's Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences (DevSci), one of the University's two dozen cross-school research institutes and centers. For the study, the Core developed an individualized protocol to assess cognition, communication, behavior and adaptive functioning across a broad range of developmental abilities.
In June, seven families traveled to Chicago for the first natural history study of CerTra syndrome. Supported by the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and Lottie's Light Foundation, the study will help define the syndrome's neurodevelopmental profile and lay the groundwork for future clinical trials and targeted interventions.
Chad Mirkin Receives Chemistry's Highest Honor
Northwestern nanotechnology pioneer Chad A. Mirkin has been named the recipient of the 2027 Priestley Medal, the American Chemical Society's highest honor. Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology, Mirkin was recognized for landmark contributions to nanochemistry, including spherical nucleic acids and the use of DNA to engineer colloidal crystals—that have transformed how scientists design, synthesize and apply nanoscale materials. His discoveries have advanced fields ranging from diagnostics and therapeutics to manufacturing, electronics and clean energy. Mirkin is only the third Northwestern faculty member to receive the medal, following Fred Basolo and Tobin J. Marks. Read more.
New Center to Explore Regenerative Engineering Solutions for Heart Disease
The Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Center (CVET) recently launched as an affiliate research center within the Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering (QSI RENU). Directed by Igor Efimov, CVET will focus on advancing the fundamental understanding of cardiac arrhythmias, as well as developing biological and device-based therapeutic strategies to preserve or regenerate heart tissue. Read more.
Northwestern Chemist Will Dichtel Wins Green Chemistry Award
Northwestern University chemist William Dichtel has received the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Academic category from the American Chemical Society and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute for developing a new approach to recycling polyurethane materials that are traditionally considered difficult or impossible to recycle. Read more.
New Federal Restrictions Affect Equipment, Services and Research Collaborations
Federally funded researchers should review existing vendors, equipment, service contracts and research collaborations, including co-authors, for ties to restricted entities. Federal agencies have released updated lists of prohibited companies, universities and subsidiaries and are increasingly restricting interactions with these entities, including collaborators who are employed by, affiliated with or receive support from them.
While implementation timelines vary by agency, these requirements may affect both new purchases and existing equipment, services and collaborations. Researchers should begin assessing potential impacts and transitioning to compliant alternatives, where necessary, as soon as possible. See the full guidance and FAQs on ECIC's Research Security website. Contact exportcontrols@northwestern.edu with questions.
Data, Judgment and the Science of Building a Winning Team
How do winning teams make their biggest decisions? For Kellogg professor Joel Shapiro, the answer is not simply more data; it's knowing how to use it well. During the Chicago Cubs' 2026 season, Shapiro is serving as an executive adviser to the team's president and general manager, helping explore how predictive analytics, machine learning and human judgment can work together to guide high-stakes roster investments.
The collaboration brings one of Shapiro's central research principles into the baseball front office: Even the most sophisticated model creates value only when it leads to a better decision. That same idea shapes his leadership of Kellogg's Analytical Consulting Lab and the continued expansion of its Sports Intelligence Project, where data-driven research is helping redefine how organizations build, evaluate and sustain winning teams. Read more.
A 'Detox' for Social Media Feeds
Can social media algorithms be redesigned to promote healthier online conversations? A study published in Nature and led by social psychologist William Brady, an associate of Northwestern's Institute for Policy Research, finds that "diversifying" users' feeds can reduce the amplification of toxic and politically divisive content. By adjusting algorithms to present a broader mix of posts, platforms may be able to curb polarization without diminishing engagement.
The researchers also found an added benefit: Users enjoyed their social media experience more when their feeds featured less divisive content. The findings suggest that relatively modest design changes could make online platforms both healthier and more appealing. Read the full story.
MMM Students Explore Commercialization at The Querrey InQbation Lab
The Q recently welcomed about 40 incoming students from Northwestern's MBA + MS Design Innovation (MMM) Program to the inaugural MMM × Q Summer Innovation Workshop. Working in teams, students developed commercialization strategies for seven early-stage Northwestern technologies spanning healthcare, AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, advanced materials and animal health. They tackled challenges such as market segmentation and go-to-market planning while gaining hands-on experience translating university research into real-world impact. The workshop also strengthened the partnership between The Q and the MMM Program through experiential, interdisciplinary learning. Learn more about The Q's commercialization programs.
NAISE Announces New Argonne Co-Directors
The Northwestern Argonne Institute for Scientific and Engineering Excellence (NAISE) has announced the appointment of Argonne National Laboratory researchers Mathew Cherukara and Meltem Urgun-Demirtas as co-directors. Cherukara, a computational scientist and group leader in Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Urgun-Demirtas, department director for Resource Recovery and Separations in Advanced Energy Technologies, succeed Amanda Petford-Long in leading Argonne's participation in the institute.
Working with Northwestern Co-Director Neelesh Patankar and Research Director Begum Gulsoy, the new co-directors will guide NAISE's strategic priorities and expand research collaboration between Northwestern and Argonne. Established in 2013 and rebranded in 2024, NAISE is a model for university/national laboratory partnerships, bringing together researchers in advanced materials, autonomous science, AI for cyberinfrastructure, biosystems, microelectronics, quantum software and national security. The institute supports collaborative research and offers students and postdoctoral researchers unique educational, training and workforce opportunities. Learn more about NAISE.
